Key Facts: Algeria vs North Korea Wages
- Algeria Minimum Wage
- DZD138.46/hr ($1.02 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Algeria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- DZD55,000 /mo ($405.90 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Council of Ministers / Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Sécurité Sociale — Algeria (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Algeria
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Algeria mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $406/mo in Algeria versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 3.7:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 11.6%.
Algeria's unemployment rate is 11.6% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Algeria | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | DZD138.46 $1.02 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | DZD24,000 $177.12 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | DZD288,000 $2,125.46 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | DZD55,000 /mo $405.90 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | DZD43,000 /mo $317.34 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | DZD300,000 /yr $2,214.02 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Algeria is higher.
Work Week
- Algeria
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law (Law 90-11) sets standard working hours at 40 per week for most sectors and 44 hours for certain sectors. Weekly rest is Friday and Saturday. Overtime paid at 150% of normal rate for first 4 hours and 200% for subsequent hours.
- 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: Algeria mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Algeria
Compare Algeria with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Algeria or North Korea?
In Algeria, the minimum wage is DZD138.46/hr ($1.02 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Algeria compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Algeria is DZD55,000/mo ($405.90 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Algeria earn approximately 265% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Algeria and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Algeria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Algeria and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Algeria. Workers in Algeria work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Algeria 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.