Key Facts: Burkina Faso vs North Korea Wages
- Burkina Faso Minimum Wage
- CFA259.62/hr ($0.47 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Burkina Faso Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA89,000 /mo ($159.78 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministere du Travail (Ministry of Labour) / Decree No. 2023-1450 (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Burkina Faso 
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Burkina Faso mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average salaries are higher in Burkina Faso at $160/mo compared to $111/mo in North Korea.
Burkina Faso's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Burkina Faso | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | CFA259.62 $0.47 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA45,000 $80.79 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | CFA540,000 $969.48 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA89,000 /mo $159.78 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | CFA75,000 /mo $134.65 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | CFA360,000 /yr $646.32 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Burkina Faso is higher.
Work Week
- Burkina Faso
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.15x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, Monday-Friday). First 8 overtime hours paid at 115% of normal rate; subsequent hours at 135%. Nighttime overtime earns 150% premium. Work on Sundays/public holidays at 160% (nighttime: 220%).
- North Korea
-
48 hrs/wk standard
The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Burkina Faso mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Burkina Faso
Compare Burkina Faso with...
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Burkina Faso vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Burkina Faso vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Burkina Faso vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
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Burkina Faso vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Burkina Faso vs Switzerland 
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Burkina Faso vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Burkina Faso or North Korea?
In Burkina Faso, the minimum wage is CFA259.62/hr ($0.47 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Burkina Faso compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Burkina Faso is CFA89,000/mo ($159.78 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Burkina Faso earn approximately 44% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Burkina Faso and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Burkina Faso earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Burkina Faso and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Burkina Faso. Workers in Burkina Faso work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Burkina Faso 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.