Key Facts: Djibouti vs North Korea Wages
- Djibouti Minimum Wage
- Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Djibouti Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Fdj120,000 /mo ($675.22 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Djibouti (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Djibouti 
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Djibouti mandates a wage floor of $197/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $675/mo in Djibouti versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 6.1:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 26.0%.
Djibouti's unemployment rate is 26.0% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Djibouti | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | Fdj1,400 $7.88 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | Fdj35,000 $196.94 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Fdj120,000 /mo $675.22 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Djibouti is higher.
Work Week
- Djibouti
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Arabic and French are official languages. The labour force is supplemented by a large number of migrant workers from Ethiopia and Somalia.
- North Korea
-
48 hrs/wk standard
The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Djibouti mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Djibouti
Compare Djibouti with...
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Djibouti vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Djibouti vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Djibouti vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Djibouti vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Djibouti vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Djibouti vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Djibouti vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Djibouti vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Djibouti vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Djibouti vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Djibouti vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Djibouti vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Djibouti vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Djibouti vs Switzerland 
Djibouti vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
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Djibouti vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Djibouti vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Djibouti or North Korea?
In Djibouti, the minimum wage is Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Djibouti compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Djibouti is Fdj120,000/mo ($675.22 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Djibouti earn approximately 508% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Djibouti and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Djibouti earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Djibouti and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Djibouti. Workers in Djibouti work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Djibouti 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.