Key Facts: Somalia vs Ireland Wages
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Ireland Minimum Wage
- €14.15/hr ($16.48 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Ireland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €4,350 /mo ($5,065.80 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) (2026-03-02)
Somalia
Ireland
Updated 2026-03-02
Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Ireland sets a floor of $16/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $5,066/mo in Ireland, a 19.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Ireland is 83.3x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $133,437). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Ireland's 4.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Somalia | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | €14.15 $16.48 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | €2,452.62 $2,856.20 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | €29,432 $34,275.07 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 | €4,350 /mo $5,065.80 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 | €3,100 /mo $3,610.11 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €40,000 /yr $46,582.04 |
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.
- Ireland
-
39 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
There is no single statutory standard workweek; 39 hours is the most common. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 limits average weekly hours to 48 over a 4-month reference period. There is no statutory overtime rate; overtime pay is determined by employment contract or collective agreement.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Somalia mandates 48 hours while Ireland mandates 39 hours.
See this comparison from Ireland's perspective: Ireland vs Somalia
Compare Somalia with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Ireland?
In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Ireland, it is €14.15/hr ($16.48 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Ireland?
The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to €4,350/mo ($5,065.80 USD) in Ireland. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 1828% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Ireland is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ireland 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 Ireland?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 39 hours in Ireland. Workers in Somalia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ireland 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 Ireland?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Ireland has the higher GDP per capita at $133,437, which is 83.3x 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.