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Key Facts: Somalia vs Ivory Coast Wages

Somalia Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Ivory Coast Minimum Wage
CFA432.70/hr ($0.78 USD)
Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
Ivory Coast Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
CFA337,000 /mo ($605.03 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Protection Sociale — Côte d'Ivoire (2026-05-04)

Somalia flag Somalia Ivory Coast flag Ivory Coast

Updated 2026-05-04

Somalia flag Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Ivory Coast flag Ivory Coast

Minimum Wage

CFA432.70 /hr

$0.78 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA337,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -57% Somalia vs Ivory Coast

Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Ivory Coast sets a floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $605/mo in Ivory Coast, a 2.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Ivory Coast is 4.8x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $7,669). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Ivory Coast's 2.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Somalia and Ivory Coast
Metric Somalia Ivory Coast
Minimum wage /hr None CFA432.70 $0.78
Minimum wage /mo None CFA75,000 $134.65
Minimum wage /yr None CFA900,000 $1,615.80
Avg. gross salary /mo Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 CFA337,000 /mo $605.03
Avg. net salary /mo Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 CFA280,000 /mo $502.69
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr CFA960,000 /yr $1,723.52

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.

Ivory Coast

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.15x pay

Labour Code sets standard working hours at 40 per week (non-agricultural) and 48 hours for agricultural workers. Overtime rates: 115% for the first 8 hours of weekly overtime, 150% for subsequent hours. Night work (9pm-5am) and holiday work have higher multipliers.

What This Means for Workers

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

See this comparison from Ivory Coast's perspective: Ivory Coast vs Somalia

Compare Somalia with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Ivory Coast?

In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Ivory Coast, it is CFA432.70/hr ($0.78 USD).

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

The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to CFA337,000/mo ($605.03 USD) in Ivory Coast. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 130% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Ivory Coast is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ivory Coast 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 Ivory Coast?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Ivory Coast has the higher GDP per capita at $7,669, which is 4.8x 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.