Key Facts: Somalia vs Norway Wages
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Norway Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Norway Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr55,150 /mo ($5,953.34 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) (2026-05-28)
Somalia
Norway
Updated 2026-05-28
Neither Somalia nor Norway has a statutory minimum wage, relying instead on collective bargaining or sectoral agreements. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $5,953/mo in Norway, a 22.7:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Norway is 63.7x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $102,038). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Norway's 4.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Somalia | Norway |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 | kr55,150 /mo $5,953.34 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 | kr38,600 /mo $4,166.80 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | kr570,000 /yr $61,530.49 |
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.
- Norway
-
37.5 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Somalia mandates 48 hours while Norway mandates 37.5 hours.
See this comparison from Norway's perspective: Norway vs Somalia
Compare Somalia with...
Frequently Asked Questions
How much less does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Norway?
The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to kr55,150/mo ($5,953.34 USD) in Norway. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 2166% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Norway is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway 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 Norway?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 37.5 hours in Norway. Workers in Somalia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Norway 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 Norway?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Norway has the higher GDP per capita at $102,038, which is 63.7x 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.