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Key Facts: Somalia vs Ukraine Wages

Somalia Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Ukraine Minimum Wage
₴48/hr ($1.15 USD)
Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
Ukraine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₴20,000 /mo ($478.47 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Ministry of Economy of Ukraine / State Statistics Service (2026-02-24)

Somalia flag Somalia Ukraine flag Ukraine

Updated 2026-02-25

Somalia flag Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Ukraine flag Ukraine

Minimum Wage

₴48 /hr

$1.15 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₴20,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -45% Somalia vs Ukraine

Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Ukraine sets a floor of $1/hr. Average salaries are lower in Somalia at $263/mo compared to $478/mo in Ukraine. GDP per capita (PPP) in Ukraine is 11.6x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $18,550). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Ukraine's 9.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Somalia and Ukraine
Metric Somalia Ukraine
Minimum wage /hr None ₴48 $1.15
Minimum wage /day None ₴266.67 $6.38
Minimum wage /mo None ₴8,000 $191.39
Minimum wage /yr None ₴96,000 $2,296.65
Avg. gross salary /mo Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 ₴20,000 /mo $478.47
Avg. net salary /mo Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 ₴16,400 /mo $392.34
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr ₴120,000 /yr $2,870.81

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.

Ukraine

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Labour Code sets standard working time at 40 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at double the normal rate and limited to 4 hours over 2 consecutive days, 120 hours/year. Under martial law (from Feb 2022), employers may increase working hours to 60/week and suspend certain labour protections with government approval.

What This Means for Workers

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

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

Compare Somalia with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Ukraine?

In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Ukraine, it is ₴48/hr ($1.15 USD).

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

The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to ₴20,000/mo ($478.47 USD) in Ukraine. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 82% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Ukraine is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ukraine 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 Ukraine?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Ukraine has the higher GDP per capita at $18,550, which is 11.6x 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.