Key Facts: Cyprus vs North Korea Wages
- Cyprus Minimum Wage
- €6.28/hr ($7.31 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cyprus Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,200 /mo ($2,562.01 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Cyprus 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Cyprus mandates a wage floor of $7/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,562/mo in Cyprus versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 23.1:1 ratio.
Cyprus' unemployment rate is 4.9% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cyprus | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €6.28 $7.31 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | €1,088 $1,267.03 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | €13,056 $15,204.38 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €2,200 /mo $2,562.01 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,850 /mo $2,154.42 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | €17,000 /yr $19,797.37 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cyprus is higher.
Work Week
- Cyprus
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is typically 38-40 hours depending on sector (most common is 40 hours in 5 days). Maximum 48 hours/week averaged over 4 months. Overtime premium depends on collective agreements, typically 50%.
- 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: Cyprus mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Cyprus
Compare Cyprus with...
Cyprus vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Cyprus vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Cyprus vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Cyprus vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Cyprus vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Cyprus vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Cyprus vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Cyprus vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Cyprus vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Cyprus vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Cyprus vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Cyprus vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Cyprus vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Cyprus vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Cyprus vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Cyprus vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Cyprus vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Cyprus vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Cyprus vs Switzerland 
Cyprus vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Cyprus vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Cyprus vs Sweden 
Cyprus vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Cyprus vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cyprus or North Korea?
In Cyprus, the minimum wage is €6.28/hr ($7.31 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Cyprus compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Cyprus is €2,200/mo ($2,562.01 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Cyprus earn approximately 2206% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cyprus and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Cyprus earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Cyprus and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Cyprus. Workers in Cyprus work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cyprus 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.