Key Facts: Canada vs North Korea Wages
- Canada Minimum Wage
- C$18.10/hr ($13.09 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Canada Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- C$5,708 /mo ($4,127.26 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of Canada - Labour Program (2026-05-28), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Canada 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-28
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Canada mandates a wage floor of $13/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,127/mo in Canada versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 37.1:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.9%.
Canada's unemployment rate is 6.9% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Canada | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | C$18.10 $13.09 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | C$3,137.33 $2,268.50 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | C$37,648 $27,221.98 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | C$5,708 /mo $4,127.26 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | C$4,334 /mo $3,133.77 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | C$44,000 /yr $31,814.90 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Canada is higher.
Work Week
- Canada
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Federal standard is 40 hours/week with overtime after 40 hours at 1.5x. Maximum 48 hours/week unless authorized. Provincial rules vary (e.g., Ontario overtime after 44 hrs).
- 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: Canada mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Canada
Compare Canada with...
Canada vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Canada vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Canada vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Canada vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Canada vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Canada vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Canada vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Canada vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Canada vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Canada vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Canada vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Canada vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Canada vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Canada vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Canada vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Canada vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Canada vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Canada vs Switzerland 
Canada vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Canada vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Canada vs Sweden 
Canada vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Canada vs Singapore 
Canada vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Canada or North Korea?
In Canada, the minimum wage is C$18.10/hr ($13.09 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Canada compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Canada is C$5,708/mo ($4,127.26 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Canada earn approximately 3615% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Canada and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Canada earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Canada and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Canada. Workers in Canada work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Canada 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.