Egypt North Korea

Updated 2026-05-27

Egypt

Minimum Wage

E£29.17 /hr

$0.57 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

E£6,833 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +21% Egypt vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Egypt mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average salaries are higher in Egypt at $135/mo compared to $111/mo in North Korea. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.8%.

Egypt's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Egypt and North Korea
Metric	Egypt	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	E£29.17 $0.57	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	E£7,000 $137.80	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	E£84,000 $1,653.54	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	E£6,833 /mo $134.51	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+21.1%
Avg. net salary /mo	E£6,150 /mo $121.06	₩90,000 /mo $100	+21.1%

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

Work Week

Egypt: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.35x pay

Labour Law No. 12 of 2003 sets maximum working hours at 8 hours/day or 48 hours/week (excluding meal breaks). Overtime premium: 35% during the day, 70% at night. Maximum 2 overtime hours/day. Friday is the default weekly rest day. During Ramadan, working hours are commonly reduced in practice.
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.

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

Compare Egypt with...

Egypt vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Egypt vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Egypt vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Egypt vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Egypt vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Egypt vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Egypt vs France € 12.02 /hr

Egypt vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Egypt vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Egypt vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Egypt vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Egypt vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Egypt vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Egypt vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Egypt vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Egypt vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Egypt vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Egypt vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Egypt vs Switzerland

Egypt vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Egypt vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Egypt vs Sweden

Egypt vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Egypt vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Egypt or North Korea?

In Egypt, the minimum wage is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Egypt is E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Egypt earn approximately 21% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Egypt and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Egypt earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Egypt and North Korea?

Both Egypt and North Korea mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.