Key Facts: Equatorial Guinea vs North Korea Wages
- Equatorial Guinea Minimum Wage
- FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Equatorial Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA350,000 /mo ($628.37 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministerio de Trabajo de Guinea Ecuatorial (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Equatorial Guinea 
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Equatorial Guinea mandates a wage floor of $232/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $628/mo in Equatorial Guinea versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 5.7:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 8.3%.
Equatorial Guinea's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Equatorial Guinea | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | FCFA5,161 $9.27 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA129,035 $231.66 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA350,000 /mo $628.37 | ₩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 Equatorial Guinea is higher.
Work Week
- Equatorial Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code (Spanish-heritage) sets 40 hours/week standard, 48 hours maximum including overtime. Oil sector may have different contractual arrangements. Spanish and French are official languages.
- 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: Equatorial Guinea mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Equatorial Guinea
Compare Equatorial Guinea with...
Equatorial Guinea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Equatorial Guinea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Equatorial Guinea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Switzerland 
Equatorial Guinea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Equatorial Guinea vs Sweden 
Equatorial Guinea vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Equatorial Guinea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Equatorial Guinea or North Korea?
In Equatorial Guinea, the minimum wage is FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Equatorial Guinea compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Equatorial Guinea is FCFA350,000/mo ($628.37 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Equatorial Guinea earn approximately 466% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Equatorial Guinea and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Equatorial Guinea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Equatorial Guinea and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Equatorial Guinea. Workers in Equatorial Guinea work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Equatorial Guinea 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.