Belgium North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Belgium

Minimum Wage

€13.30 /hr

$15.49 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€3,886 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +3973% Belgium vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Belgium mandates a wage floor of $15/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,525/mo in Belgium versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 40.7:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 5.9%.

Belgium's unemployment rate is 5.9% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Belgium and North Korea
Metric	Belgium	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	€13.30 $15.49	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	€2,189.81 $2,550.15	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	€26,277.72 $30,601.75	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	€3,886 /mo $4,525.45	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+3972.9%
Avg. net salary /mo	€2,450 /mo $2,853.15	₩90,000 /mo $100	+2753.2%
Median individual income /yr	€33,000 /yr $38,430.19	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Belgium: 38 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 38 hours (Labour Act). Daily maximum is 8 hours (9 hours with flexible schedules). Overtime requires authorization and must be compensated at 150% on weekdays and 200% on Sundays/public holidays. Compensatory time off is also required. EU Working Time Directive caps average at 48 hrs/week.
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: Belgium mandates 38 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Belgium with...

Belgium vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Belgium vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Belgium vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Belgium vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Belgium vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Belgium vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Belgium vs France € 12.02 /hr

Belgium vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Belgium vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Belgium vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Belgium vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Belgium vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Belgium vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Belgium vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Belgium vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Belgium vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Belgium vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Belgium vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Belgium vs Switzerland

Belgium vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Belgium vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Belgium vs Sweden

Belgium vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Belgium vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Belgium or North Korea?

In Belgium, the minimum wage is €13.30/hr ($15.49 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Belgium is €3,886/mo ($4,525.45 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Belgium earn approximately 3973% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Belgium and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Belgium earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Belgium and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 38 hours in Belgium. Workers in Belgium work 38 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Belgium 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.