Skip to main content

Key Facts: Somalia vs Poland Wages

Somalia Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Poland Minimum Wage
zł31.40/hr ($8.64 USD)
Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
Poland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
zł8,800 /mo ($2,421.11 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Ministry of Family and Social Policy (Ministerstwo Rodziny i Polityki Spolecznej) (2026-05-15)

Somalia flag Somalia Poland flag Poland

Updated 2026-05-15

Somalia flag Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Poland flag Poland

Minimum Wage

zł31.40 /hr

$8.64 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

zł8,800 /mo

Avg. salary: -89% Somalia vs Poland

Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Poland sets a floor of $9/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $2,421/mo in Poland, a 9.2:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Poland is 32.0x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $51,263). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Poland's 3.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Somalia and Poland
Metric Somalia Poland
Minimum wage /hr None zł31.40 $8.64
Minimum wage /mo None zł4,806 $1,322.25
Minimum wage /yr None zł57,672 $15,867.06
Avg. gross salary /mo Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 zł8,800 /mo $2,421.11
Avg. net salary /mo Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 zł6,410 /mo $1,763.56
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr zł79,692 /yr $21,925.33

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.

Poland

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days. Overtime premium: 50% for weekdays, 100% for nights, Sundays, and public holidays. Annual overtime cap of 150 hours unless modified by collective agreement.

What This Means for Workers

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

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

Compare Somalia with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Poland?

In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Poland, it is zł31.40/hr ($8.64 USD).

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

The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to zł8,800/mo ($2,421.11 USD) in Poland. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 822% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Poland is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Poland 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 Poland?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Poland has the higher GDP per capita at $51,263, which is 32.0x 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.