Photo: AMISOM · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Somalia: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Somalia is placed 180th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 27.43 (2025); Labour Income Share 37.55 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
180th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Somalia on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
27.43
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Somalia: 27.43. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 82.89 Madagascar
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 66.19 · Kenya 63.71
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
18.95
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Somalia: 18.95. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.922 Burundi
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 3.323 · Kenya 5.449
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
45.97
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Somalia: 45.97. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 14.88 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 84.15 · Kenya 63.83
02Over time
Which way Somalia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
SomaliaWorld median
Somalia fell from 27.72 in 2000 to 27.43 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Somalia World median 2025 27.433 57.720 2024 27.477 57.694 2023 27.480 58.158 2022 27.438 57.688 2021 27.100 56.066 2020 27.163 55.691 2019 27.623 57.871 2018 27.693 56.911 2017 27.809 56.738 2016 27.782 56.845 2015 27.840 56.788 2014 27.823 56.774 2013 27.820 56.229 2012 27.807 56.289 2011 27.894 56.297 2010 27.984 56.212 2009 28.018 56.255 2008 28.041 57.308 2007 28.041 56.933 2006 27.971 56.685 2005 27.898 56.129 2004 27.840 55.465 2003 27.803 55.630 2002 27.773 55.843 2001 27.747 56.018 2000 27.720 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
SomaliaWorld median
Somalia rose from 37.19 in 2004 to 37.55 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Somalia World median 2025 37.553 46.230 2024 37.364 46.060 2023 37.346 45.900 2022 37.609 45.615 2021 36.898 45.433 2020 39.097 47.267 2019 37.905 46.277 2018 38.023 46.187 2017 36.111 46.467 2016 37.274 46.798 2015 36.753 46.876 2014 36.973 47.281 2013 36.667 46.887 2012 37.303 46.231 2011 37.294 45.679 2010 37.291 46.024 2009 37.287 47.071 2008 37.284 45.312 2007 37.282 45.246 2006 37.288 45.670 2005 37.190 46.265 2004 37.187 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
SomaliaWorld median
Somalia rose from 18.68 in 2000 to 18.95 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Somalia World median 2025 18.948 5.08 2024 18.949 5.15 2023 18.960 5.21 2022 19.112 5.34 2021 19.662 6.04 2020 19.414 6.38 2019 18.828 5.36 2018 18.700 5.35 2017 18.455 5.59 2016 18.611 5.90 2015 18.495 6.41 2014 18.595 6.58 2013 18.655 6.71 2012 18.771 6.79 2011 18.761 6.90 2010 18.741 7.04 2009 18.724 6.67 2008 18.714 5.79 2007 18.687 6.00 2006 18.705 6.50 2005 18.671 7.09 2004 18.653 6.80 2003 18.648 6.95 2002 18.658 6.91 2001 18.665 6.96 2000 18.678 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
SomaliaWorld median
Somalia fell from 51.67 in 2000 to 45.97 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Somalia World median 2025 45.973 28.67 2024 46.041 29.04 2023 46.090 29.33 2022 46.120 29.67 2021 46.128 30.01 2020 46.662 30.54 2019 45.544 29.98 2018 45.726 30.15 2017 45.986 29.93 2016 46.352 29.91 2015 46.664 30.26 2014 47.030 30.47 2013 47.395 31.14 2012 47.776 31.00 2011 48.134 31.41 2010 48.625 32.37 2009 49.092 32.59 2008 49.554 31.76 2007 50.009 33.47 2006 49.906 34.27 2005 50.244 34.66 2004 50.588 35.51 2003 50.918 35.90 2002 51.228 35.96 2001 51.463 35.27 2000 51.665 35.67
03In context
Somalia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Somalia and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ethiopia | 116th | 66.19 | 38.52 | 3.323 | 84.15 |
 Kenya | 139th | 63.71 | 33.28 | 5.449 | 63.83 |
| Somalia | 180th | 27.43 | 37.55 | 18.95 | 45.97 |
| Somaliland | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Somalia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Somalia is ahead of the world, and behind
21 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which Somalia does better than the middle country measured.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3143▲ Improved since 2015
Somalia: 14 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0737.3832.07No earlier reading
Somalia: 37.38 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8140.9241.81No earlier reading
Somalia: 40.92 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 96th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Somalia does worse than the middle country measured.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6811.816.68No earlier reading
Somalia: 11.8 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 93rd of 139 · derived.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7680.7336.76No earlier reading
Somalia: 80.73 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 19th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.169.17219.16No earlier reading
Somalia: 9.172 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 149th of 179 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.166.0422.16No real change since 2015
Somalia: 6.04 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 152nd of 182 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,3849,57547,384No real change since 2015
Somalia: 9,575 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 148th of 168 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8334.2312.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Somalia: 34.23 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 14th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3620.753.36No real change since 2015
Somalia: 20.7 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 172nd of 182 · derived.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88578.24.885No real change since 2015
Somalia: 78.2 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6633.8561.66No real change since 2015
Somalia: 33.85 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 179th of 182 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.9045.9No earlier reading
Somalia: 0 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▼ Worsened since 2015
Somalia: 98 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Somalia: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.0130.9515.01No earlier reading
Somalia: 30.95 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 12th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8452.1831.84No real change since 2015
Somalia: 52.18 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 56th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3830.0314.38Moved since 2015
Somalia: 30.03 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 58th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8817.7518.88Moved since 2015
Somalia: 17.75 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 109th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5152.2259.51Moved since 2015
Somalia: 52.22 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 115th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8930.538.89Moved since 2015
Somalia: 30.5 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 169th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Somalia
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Compliance with Labour Rights (last 2018), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2019), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2019), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2022), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2022), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2022), Statutory Minimum Wage and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Somalia’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Somalia’s 9th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability26th of 1863/4 keys
- Energy97th of 1652/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade159th of 1773/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 168th of 1834/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties182nd of 1983/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions180th of 1944/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 185th of 1983/4 keys
- Peace & Security170th of 1773/4 keys
- Work & Labour180th of 1824/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 194th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge197th of 1982/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing199th of 2002/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation176th of 1762/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture184th of 1843/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience193rd of 1933/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Somalia can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Nigeria16th4/4 keysHighest in Eastern Africa
Tanzania=29th4/4 keysThis page
Somalia180th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Somalia and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Somalia on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Somalia rank on work & labour?
Somalia is placed 180th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Somalia?
27.43 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Somalia?
37.55 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Somalia compare with Ethiopia on work & labour?
Ethiopia is placed 116th of 182, and Somalia 180th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Ethiopia 66.19, Somalia 27.43; Labour Income Share: Ethiopia 38.52, Somalia 37.55; Unemployment Rate: Ethiopia 3.323, Somalia 18.95; Vulnerable Employment: Ethiopia 84.15, Somalia 45.97.
How have Somalia’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 27.72 in 2000 to 27.43 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 37.19 in 2004 to 37.55 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 18.68 in 2000 to 18.95 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 51.67 in 2000 to 45.97 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Somalia?
No current reading is published for Somalia on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Compliance with Labour Rights, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 21 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Somalia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Somalia (banner) — AMISOM, CC0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Somalia: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/somalia/work