China North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

China

Minimum Wage

¥25 /hr

$3.68 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

¥10,343 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +1270% China vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, China mandates a wage floor of $4/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,522/mo in China versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 13.7:1 ratio.

China's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between China and North Korea
Metric	China	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	¥25 $3.68	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	¥2,740 $403.27	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	¥32,880 $4,839.21	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	¥10,343 /mo $1,522.26	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+1270.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	¥8,274 /mo $1,217.75	₩90,000 /mo $100	+1117.7%
Median individual income /yr	¥34,707 /yr $5,108.10	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

China: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law sets 40 hours/week standard (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Overtime limited to 36 hours/month. Weekday overtime: 150%, rest day overtime: 200%, statutory holiday overtime: 300%. The '996' culture (9am-9pm, 6 days/week) is widespread in tech but was ruled illegal by the Supreme People's Court in 2021.
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: China mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare China with...

China vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

China vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

China vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

China vs India ₹ 4,628 /mo

China vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

China vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

China vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

China vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

China vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

China vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

China vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

China vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

China vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

China vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

China vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

China vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

China vs Switzerland

China vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

China vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

China vs Sweden

China vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

China vs Singapore

China vs Norway

China vs Malaysia RM 8.72 /hr

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in China or North Korea?

In China, the minimum wage is ¥25/hr ($3.68 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in China is ¥10,343/mo ($1,522.26 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in China earn approximately 1270% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between China and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in China earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between China and North Korea?

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