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Key Facts: Somalia vs Guyana Wages

Somalia Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Guyana Minimum Wage
G$347/hr ($1.66 USD)
Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
Guyana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
G$100,000 /mo ($477.90 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Guyana (2026-02-25)

Somalia flag Somalia Guyana flag Guyana

Updated 2026-02-25

Somalia flag Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Guyana flag Guyana

Minimum Wage

G$347 /hr

$1.66 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

G$100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -45% Somalia vs Guyana

Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Guyana sets a floor of $2/hr. Average salaries are lower in Somalia at $263/mo compared to $478/mo in Guyana. GDP per capita (PPP) in Guyana is 50.0x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $80,155). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Guyana's 12.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Somalia and Guyana
Metric Somalia Guyana
Minimum wage /hr None G$347 $1.66
Minimum wage /mo None G$60,147 $287.44
Avg. gross salary /mo Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 G$100,000 /mo $477.90
Avg. net salary /mo Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 G$80,000 /mo $382.32
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr G$600,000 /yr $2,867.38

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.

Guyana

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate on weekdays and 2x on public holidays. Governed by the Labour Act. Some sectors (sugar, mining) may have different arrangements through collective agreements.

What This Means for Workers

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

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

Compare Somalia with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Guyana?

In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Guyana, it is G$347/hr ($1.66 USD).

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

The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to G$100,000/mo ($477.90 USD) in Guyana. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 82% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Guyana is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guyana 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 Guyana?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Guyana has the higher GDP per capita at $80,155, which is 50.0x 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.