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Key Facts: Somalia vs Finland Wages

Somalia Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Finland Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
Finland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
€3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö) (2026-02-24)

Somalia flag Somalia Finland flag Finland

Updated 2026-02-25

Somalia flag Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Finland flag Finland

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

€3,900 /mo

Avg. salary: -94% Somalia vs Finland

Neither Somalia nor Finland has a statutory minimum wage, relying instead on collective bargaining or sectoral agreements. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $4,542/mo in Finland, a 17.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Finland is 40.8x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $65,378). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Finland's 9.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Somalia and Finland
Metric Somalia Finland
Avg. gross salary /mo Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 €3,900 /mo $4,541.75
Avg. net salary /mo Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 €2,700 /mo $3,144.29
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr €35,000 /yr $40,759.29

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.

Finland

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Työaikalaki). Regular daily working hours are 8 hours. Overtime for the first 2 hours is compensated at 150% and subsequent hours at 200%. Maximum overtime is 250 hours per calendar year. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Somalia mandates 48 hours while Finland mandates 40 hours.

See this comparison from Finland's perspective: Finland vs Somalia

Compare Somalia with...

Frequently Asked Questions

How much less does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Finland?

The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in Finland. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 1629% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Finland is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Finland 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 Finland?

Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Finland. Workers in Somalia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Finland 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 Finland?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Finland has the higher GDP per capita at $65,378, which is 40.8x 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.