Key Facts: Barbados vs North Korea Wages
- Barbados Minimum Wage
- Bds$10.71/hr ($5.36 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Barbados Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Bds$3,900 /mo ($1,950 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector — Barbados (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Barbados 
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Barbados mandates a wage floor of $5/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,950/mo in Barbados versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 17.6:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.5%.
Barbados' unemployment rate is 6.5% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Barbados | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Bds$10.71 $5.36 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | Bds$1,855.07 $927.54 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | Bds$22,260.80 $11,130.40 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Bds$3,900 /mo $1,950 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Bds$3,120 /mo $1,560 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | Bds$28,000 /yr $14,000 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Barbados is higher.
Work Week
- Barbados
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). The Shops Act allows up to 48 hours in some retail sectors. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. Work on Sundays and public holidays typically paid at 2x the regular rate.
- 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: Barbados mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Barbados
Compare Barbados with...
Barbados vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Barbados vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Barbados vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Barbados vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Barbados vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Barbados vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Barbados vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Barbados vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Barbados vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Barbados vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Barbados vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Barbados vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Barbados vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Barbados vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Barbados vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Barbados vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Barbados vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Barbados vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Barbados vs Switzerland 
Barbados vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Barbados vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Barbados vs Sweden 
Barbados vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Barbados vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Barbados or North Korea?
In Barbados, the minimum wage is Bds$10.71/hr ($5.36 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Barbados compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Barbados is Bds$3,900/mo ($1,950 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Barbados earn approximately 1655% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Barbados and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Barbados earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Barbados and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Barbados. Workers in Barbados work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Barbados 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.