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Key Facts: Somalia vs Sweden Wages

Somalia Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Sweden Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24)

Somalia flag Somalia Sweden flag Sweden

Updated 2026-02-25

Somalia flag Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Sweden flag Sweden

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr40,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -94% Somalia vs Sweden

Neither Somalia nor Sweden has a statutory minimum wage, relying instead on collective bargaining or sectoral agreements. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $4,318/mo in Sweden, a 16.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Sweden is 44.8x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $71,845). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Sweden's 8.7%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Somalia and Sweden
Metric Somalia Sweden
Avg. gross salary /mo Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74
Avg. net salary /mo Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29

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.

Sweden

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Arbetstidslagen). Maximum overtime is 48 hours over 4 weeks or 200 hours per calendar year. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements, not statute. Many agreements provide overtime at 150-200% of normal pay. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.

What This Means for Workers

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

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

Compare Somalia with...

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD) in Sweden. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 1544% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Sweden is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sweden 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 Sweden?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Sweden has the higher GDP per capita at $71,845, which is 44.8x 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.