Key Facts: Chad vs North Korea Wages
- Chad Minimum Wage
- FCFA60,000/mo ($107.72 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Chad Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA180,000 /mo ($323.16 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministère de la Fonction Publique, du Travail et du Dialogue Social (Chad) (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Chad
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Chad mandates a wage floor of $108/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $323/mo in Chad versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 2.9:1 ratio. Chad has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.1% compared to 3.5%.
Chad's unemployment rate is 1.1% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chad | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA60,000 $107.72 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA180,000 /mo $323.16 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | FCFA180,000 /yr $323.16 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Chad is higher.
Work Week
- Chad
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week in the formal sector. Overtime compensated at 1.5x. These provisions apply only to a narrow formal-sector workforce.
- 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: Chad mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Chad
Compare Chad with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Chad or North Korea?
In Chad, the minimum wage is FCFA60,000/mo ($107.72 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Chad compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Chad is FCFA180,000/mo ($323.16 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Chad earn approximately 191% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Chad and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Chad earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Chad and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Chad. Workers in Chad work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Chad 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.