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Key Facts: Somalia vs Guinea Wages

Somalia Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Guinea Minimum Wage
FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD)
Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
FG1,500,000 /mo ($174.01 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Fonction Publique (Guinea) (2026-02-25)

Somalia flag Somalia Guinea flag Guinea

Updated 2026-02-25

Somalia flag Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Guinea flag Guinea

Minimum Wage

FG440,000 /mo

$51.04 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FG1,500,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +51% Somalia vs Guinea

Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Guinea sets a floor of $51/mo. Average salaries are higher in Somalia at $263/mo compared to $174/mo in Guinea. GDP per capita (PPP) in Guinea is 2.8x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $4,565). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Guinea's 5.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Somalia and Guinea
Metric Somalia Guinea
Minimum wage /mo None FG440,000 $51.04
Avg. gross salary /mo Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 FG1,500,000 /mo $174.01
Avg. net salary /mo Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr FG3,000,000 /yr $348.03

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.

Guinea

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week for formal-sector employees. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for weekday hours, 2x for work on rest days. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.

What This Means for Workers

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

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

Compare Somalia with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Guinea?

In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Guinea, it is FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD).

How much more does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Guinea?

The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to FG1,500,000/mo ($174.01 USD) in Guinea. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 51% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Guinea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Somalia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea.

How do work hours compare between Somalia and Guinea?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Guinea has the higher GDP per capita at $4,565, which is 2.8x 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.