Afghanistan North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Afghanistan

Minimum Wage

؋5,500 /mo

$87.05 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

؋30,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +327% Afghanistan vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Afghanistan mandates a wage floor of $87/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $475/mo in Afghanistan versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 4.3:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 13.3%.

Afghanistan's unemployment rate is 13.3% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Afghanistan and North Korea
Metric	Afghanistan	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /mo	؋5,500 $87.05	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	؋30,000 /mo $474.83	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+327.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	؋26,000 /mo $411.52	₩90,000 /mo $100	+311.5%

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Afghanistan is higher.

Work Week

Afghanistan: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law (last version under previous government) set 40 hours/week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Under Taliban administration, Thursday is sometimes also observed as a rest day. Women's employment is severely restricted under Taliban policies.
North Korea: 48 hrs/wk standard

The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Afghanistan mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Afghanistan

Compare Afghanistan with...

Afghanistan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Afghanistan vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Afghanistan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Afghanistan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Afghanistan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Afghanistan vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Afghanistan vs France € 12.02 /hr

Afghanistan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Afghanistan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Afghanistan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Afghanistan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Afghanistan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Afghanistan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Afghanistan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Afghanistan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Afghanistan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Afghanistan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Afghanistan vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Afghanistan vs Switzerland

Afghanistan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Afghanistan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Afghanistan vs Sweden

Afghanistan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Afghanistan vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Afghanistan or North Korea?

In Afghanistan, the minimum wage is ؋5,500/mo ($87.05 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much more does the average worker earn in Afghanistan compared to North Korea?

The average gross salary in Afghanistan is ؋30,000/mo ($474.83 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Afghanistan earn approximately 327% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Afghanistan and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Afghanistan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Afghanistan and North Korea?

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