Burundi North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Burundi

Minimum Wage

FBu4,160 /mo

$1.40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FBu60,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -82% Burundi vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Burundi mandates a wage floor of $1/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $20/mo in Burundi versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 5.5:1 ratio. Burundi has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 0.9% compared to 3.5%.

Burundi's unemployment rate is 0.9% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Burundi and North Korea
Metric	Burundi	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /day	FBu160 $0.05	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	FBu4,160 $1.40	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	FBu60,000 /mo $20.19	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	-81.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	—

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

Work Week

Burundi: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. The Code du Travail is French-language, reflecting Belgian colonial heritage. Overtime capped at 45 hours total. Enforcement is minimal outside the formal sector.
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: Burundi mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Burundi with...

Burundi vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Burundi vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Burundi vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Burundi vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Burundi vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Burundi vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Burundi vs France € 12.02 /hr

Burundi vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Burundi vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Burundi vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Burundi vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Burundi vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Burundi vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Burundi vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Burundi vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Burundi vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Burundi vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Burundi vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Burundi vs Switzerland

Burundi vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Burundi vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Burundi vs Sweden

Burundi vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Burundi vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Burundi or North Korea?

In Burundi, the minimum wage is FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much less does the average worker earn in Burundi compared to North Korea?

The average gross salary in Burundi is FBu60,000/mo ($20.19 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Burundi earn approximately 450% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Burundi and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in North Korea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Burundi.

How do work hours compare between Burundi and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Burundi. Workers in Burundi work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Burundi 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.