Key Facts: Somalia vs Dominican Republic Wages
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Dominican Republic Minimum Wage
- RD$91.30/hr ($1.50 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Dominican Republic Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- RD$32,000 /mo ($526.32 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo — República Dominicana (2026-02-24)
Somalia
Dominican Republic
Updated 2026-02-25
Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while the Dominican Republic sets a floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $526/mo in the Dominican Republic, a 2.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Dominican Republic is 17.2x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $27,542). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to the Dominican Republic's 5.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Somalia | Dominican Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | RD$91.30 $1.50 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | RD$21,000 $345.39 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | RD$273,000 $4,490.13 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 | RD$32,000 /mo $526.32 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 | RD$28,480 /mo $468.42 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | RD$204,000 /yr $3,355.26 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Somalia is higher.
Work Week
- Somalia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
No reliable standardised workweek provisions are enforced. Friday is the weekly rest day. Labour conditions vary widely between sectors — from formal NGO employment with international standards to highly exploitative informal arrangements. Somaliland and Puntland have some locally administered labour rules.
- Dominican Republic
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.35x pay
Código de Trabajo (Labour Code) sets the standard workweek at 44 hours and workday at 8 hours. Night work (6pm-6am) maximum 36 hours/week. Mixed shifts maximum 40 hours/week. Overtime paid at 35% premium for the first 68 hours/month (beyond the standard 44-hour week), and 100% premium thereafter. Sunday and holiday work paid at double the regular rate.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Somalia mandates 48 hours while the Dominican Republic mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Dominican Republic's perspective: Dominican Republic vs Somalia
Compare Somalia with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Dominican Republic?
In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In the Dominican Republic, it is RD$91.30/hr ($1.50 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Dominican Republic?
The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to RD$32,000/mo ($526.32 USD) in the Dominican Republic. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 100% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Dominican Republic is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Dominican Republic earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Somalia and Dominican Republic?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in the Dominican Republic. Workers in Somalia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Dominican Republic working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.
What is the cost of living difference between Somalia and Dominican Republic?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Dominican Republic has the higher GDP per capita at $27,542, which is 17.2x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Somalia's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.