Key Facts: Somalia vs Eritrea Wages
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Somalia 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Eritrea sets a floor of $40/mo. Average salaries are lower in Somalia at $263/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 18.9%.
Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Somalia | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
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.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Somalia mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Somalia
Compare Somalia with...
Somalia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Somalia vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Somalia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Somalia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Somalia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Somalia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Somalia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Somalia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Somalia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Somalia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Somalia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Somalia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Somalia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Somalia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Somalia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Somalia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Somalia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Somalia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Somalia vs Switzerland 
Somalia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Somalia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Somalia vs Sweden 
Somalia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Somalia vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Eritrea?
In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 52% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea 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 Eritrea?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Somalia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.