Key Facts: Somalia vs Yemen Wages
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Somalia 
Yemen
Updated 2026-02-25
Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Yemen sets a floor of $88/mo. Average salaries are lower in Somalia at $263/mo compared to $356/mo in Yemen.
Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Somalia | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
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.
- Yemen
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 48 hours/week. Thursday–Friday is the traditional weekend. Normal labour law enforcement has effectively ceased. Informal employment — petty trade, agriculture, and subsistence activities — dominates the economy.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Somalia
Compare Somalia with...
Somalia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Somalia vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Somalia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Somalia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Somalia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Somalia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Somalia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Somalia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Somalia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Somalia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Somalia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Somalia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Somalia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Somalia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Somalia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Somalia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Somalia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Somalia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Somalia vs Switzerland 
Somalia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Somalia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Somalia vs Sweden 
Somalia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Somalia vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Yemen?
In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 36% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Yemen 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 Yemen?
Both Somalia and Yemen mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.