Key Facts: Turkey vs Somalia Wages
- Turkey Minimum Wage
- ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD)
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Turkey Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₺25,482 /mo ($555.24 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı); 2026 figure announced by Minister Vedat Işıkhan, verified via Daily Sabah (dailysabah.com) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)
Turkey
Somalia
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Turkey mandates a wage floor of $4/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $555/mo in Turkey versus $263/mo in Somalia, a 2.1:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Turkey is 28.5x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Turkey has higher GDP per capita ($45,639 vs $1,602). Turkey's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Turkey | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₺164.94 $3.59 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₺33,030 $719.70 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₺396,360 $8,636.42 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₺25,482 /mo $555.24 | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₺20,021 /mo $436.24 | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Turkey is higher.
Work Week
- Turkey
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours under the Labour Act (No. 4857). Can be distributed unevenly across days of the week, but no more than 11 hours/day. Overtime is limited to 270 hours/year. Overtime premium is 50%; weekend/holiday work is at 100% premium if the worker does not get a substitute rest day.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Turkey mandates 45 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia vs Turkey
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Turkey or Somalia?
In Turkey, the minimum wage is ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Turkey compared to Somalia?
The average gross salary in Turkey is ₺25,482/mo ($555.24 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Turkey earn approximately 111% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkey and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Turkey earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Turkey and Somalia?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Turkey. Workers in Turkey work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Turkey 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 Turkey and Somalia?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Turkey has the higher GDP per capita at $45,639, which is 28.5x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Turkey's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.