Key Facts: Somalia vs Oman Wages
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Oman Minimum Wage
- OMR1.88/hr ($4.88 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Oman Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- OMR850 /mo ($2,207.79 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Sultanate of Oman (2026-02-25)
Somalia
Oman
Updated 2026-02-25
Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Oman sets a floor of $5/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $2,208/mo in Oman, a 8.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Oman is 26.1x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $41,740). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Oman's 3.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Somalia | Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | OMR1.88 $4.88 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | OMR325 $844.16 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | OMR3,900 $10,129.87 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 | OMR850 /mo $2,207.79 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 | OMR820 /mo $2,129.87 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | OMR5,400 /yr $14,025.97 |
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.
- Oman
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Law sets maximum working hours at 9 hours/day or 45 hours/week. During Ramadan, Muslim workers' hours are reduced to 6 hours/day or 30 hours/week. Overtime paid at 125% for regular days and 150% for holidays/weekends.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Somalia mandates 48 hours while Oman mandates 45 hours.
See this comparison from Oman's perspective: Oman vs Somalia
Compare Somalia with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Oman?
In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Oman, it is OMR1.88/hr ($4.88 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Oman?
The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to OMR850/mo ($2,207.79 USD) in Oman. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 740% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Oman is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Oman 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 Oman?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Oman. Workers in Somalia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Oman 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 Oman?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Oman has the higher GDP per capita at $41,740, which is 26.1x 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.