Key Facts: Germany vs North Korea Wages
- Germany Minimum Wage
- €13.90/hr ($16.19 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Germany Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €4,784 /mo ($5,571.21 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS), 2026 (2026-05-24), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Germany 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-24
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Germany mandates a wage floor of $16/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,571/mo in Germany versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 50.1:1 ratio.
Germany's unemployment rate is 3.7% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Germany | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €13.90 $16.19 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | €2,408.67 $2,805.02 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | €28,904 $33,660.18 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €4,784 /mo $5,571.21 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €3,000 /mo $3,493.65 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Germany is higher.
Work Week
- Germany
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Arbeitszeitgesetz limits working time to 8 hrs/day (extendable to 10 hrs if averaged over 6 months). Overtime compensation set by contract or collective agreement.
- 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: Germany mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Germany
Compare Germany with...
Germany vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Germany vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Germany vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Germany vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Germany vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Germany vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Germany vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Germany vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Germany vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Germany vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Germany vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Germany vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Germany vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Germany vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Germany vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Germany vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Germany vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Germany vs Switzerland 
Germany vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Germany vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Germany vs Sweden 
Germany vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Germany vs Singapore 
Germany vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Germany or North Korea?
In Germany, the minimum wage is €13.90/hr ($16.19 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Germany compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Germany is €4,784/mo ($5,571.21 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Germany earn approximately 4914% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Germany and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Germany earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Germany and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Germany. Workers in Germany work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Germany 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.