Key Facts: Brazil vs North Korea Wages
- Brazil Minimum Wage
- R$7.37/hr ($1.47 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Brazil Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- R$3,200 /mo ($636.88 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Brazilian Ministry of Labour and Employment (2026-03-02), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Brazil 
North Korea
Updated 2026-03-02
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Brazil mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $637/mo in Brazil versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 5.7:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.0%.
Brazil's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Brazil | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | R$7.37 $1.47 | None |
| Minimum wage /day | R$54.04 $10.76 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | R$1,621 $322.62 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | R$21,073 $4,194.05 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | R$3,200 /mo $636.88 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | R$2,700 /mo $537.37 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | R$22,800 /yr $4,537.76 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Brazil is higher.
Work Week
- Brazil
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Constitutional limit of 44 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Overtime minimum 50% premium (often higher by collective agreement). Sundays and holidays: 100% premium.
- 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: Brazil mandates 44 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Brazil
Compare Brazil with...
Brazil vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Brazil vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Brazil vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Brazil vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Brazil vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Brazil vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Brazil vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Brazil vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Brazil vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Brazil vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Brazil vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Brazil vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Brazil vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Brazil vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Brazil vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Brazil vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Brazil vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Brazil vs Switzerland 
Brazil vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Brazil vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Brazil vs Sweden 
Brazil vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Brazil vs Singapore 
Brazil vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Brazil or North Korea?
In Brazil, the minimum wage is R$7.37/hr ($1.47 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Brazil compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Brazil is R$3,200/mo ($636.88 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Brazil earn approximately 473% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Brazil and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brazil earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Brazil and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Brazil. Workers in Brazil work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Brazil 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.