Chile North Korea

Updated 2026-05-27

Chile

Minimum Wage

CLP2,994 /hr

$3.26 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CLP750,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +635% Chile vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Chile mandates a wage floor of $3/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $817/mo in Chile versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 7.4:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 9.0%.

Chile's unemployment rate is 9.0% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Chile and North Korea
Metric	Chile	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	CLP2,994 $3.26	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	CLP539,000 $587.15	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	CLP7,007,000 $7,632.90	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	CLP750,000 /mo $816.99	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+635.3%
Avg. net salary /mo	CLP622,500 /mo $678.10	₩90,000 /mo $100	+578.1%
Median individual income /yr	CLP6,000,000 /yr $6,535.95	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Chile: 43 hrs/wk standard

Max 43 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Ley de 40 horas (Ley 21.561) is reducing the workweek in steps: 45h → 44h (April 2024) → 43h (April 2026) → 40h (April 2028). As of April 26, 2026 the standard is 43h. Final reduction to 40h takes effect April 2028. Overtime paid at 50% premium, maximum 2 hours/day. Distributed across 5 or 6 working days.
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: Chile mandates 43 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Chile with...

Chile vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Chile vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Chile vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Chile vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Chile vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Chile vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Chile vs France € 12.02 /hr

Chile vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Chile vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Chile vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Chile vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Chile vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Chile vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Chile vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Chile vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Chile vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Chile vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Chile vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Chile vs Switzerland

Chile vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Chile vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Chile vs Sweden

Chile vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Chile vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Chile or North Korea?

In Chile, the minimum wage is CLP2,994/hr ($3.26 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Chile is CLP750,000/mo ($816.99 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Chile earn approximately 635% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Chile and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Chile earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Chile and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 43 hours in Chile. Workers in Chile work 43 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Chile 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.