Key Facts: Czech Republic vs North Korea Wages
- Czech Republic Minimum Wage
- Kč134.40/hr ($6.31 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Czech Republic Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Kč44,500 /mo ($2,088.52 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MPSV); 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)
Czech Republic
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, the Czech Republic mandates a wage floor of $6/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,089/mo in the Czech Republic versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 18.8:1 ratio.
The Czech Republic's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Czech Republic | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Kč134.40 $6.31 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | Kč22,400 $1,051.30 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | Kč268,800 $12,615.57 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Kč44,500 /mo $2,088.52 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Kč34,500 /mo $1,619.19 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | Kč360,000 /yr $16,895.86 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Czech Republic is higher.
Work Week
- Czech Republic
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Overtime limited to 8 hours/week averaged over 26 weeks (up to 150 hours/year, extendable to 416 by agreement). Overtime premium at least 25% of average earnings.
- 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: the Czech Republic mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Czech Republic
Compare Czech Republic with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Czech Republic or North Korea?
In the Czech Republic, the minimum wage is Kč134.40/hr ($6.31 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Czech Republic compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in the Czech Republic is Kč44,500/mo ($2,088.52 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in the Czech Republic earn approximately 1780% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Czech Republic and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Czech Republic earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Czech Republic and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in the Czech Republic. Workers in the Czech Republic work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Czech Republic 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.