Brunei North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Brunei

Minimum Wage

B$2.62 /hr

$2.06 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

B$2,500 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +1672% Brunei vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Brunei mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,969/mo in Brunei versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 17.7:1 ratio.

Brunei's unemployment rate is 5.3% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Brunei and North Korea
Metric	Brunei	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	B$2.62 $2.06	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	B$500 $393.70	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	B$6,000 $4,724.41	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+1671.7%
Avg. net salary /mo	B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50	₩90,000 /mo $100	+1868.5%
Median individual income /yr	B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Brunei: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/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: Brunei mandates 44 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Brunei with...

Brunei vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Brunei vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Brunei vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Brunei vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Brunei vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Brunei vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Brunei vs France € 12.02 /hr

Brunei vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Brunei vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Brunei vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Brunei vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Brunei vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Brunei vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Brunei vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Brunei vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Brunei vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Brunei vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Brunei vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Brunei vs Switzerland

Brunei vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Brunei vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Brunei vs Sweden

Brunei vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Brunei vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Brunei or North Korea?

In Brunei, the minimum wage is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Brunei is B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Brunei earn approximately 1672% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Brunei and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brunei earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Brunei and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Brunei. Workers in Brunei work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Brunei 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.