Key Facts: Ghana vs North Korea Wages
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) / Ministry of Finance (MOFEP) / National Tripartite Committee; 2025-2026 daily rates per official gazettements (2026-05-27), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Ghana 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-27
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Ghana mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $236/mo in Ghana versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 2.1:1 ratio.
Ghana's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ghana | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | GH₵2.72 $0.18 | None |
| Minimum wage /day | GH₵21.77 $1.47 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | GH₵565.02 $38.05 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ghana is higher.
Work Week
- Ghana
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Overtime must be paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on rest days or public holidays at 2x.
- 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: Ghana mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Ghana
Compare Ghana with...
Ghana vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Ghana vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Ghana vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Ghana vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Ghana vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Ghana vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Ghana vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Ghana vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Ghana vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Ghana vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Ghana vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Ghana vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Ghana vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Ghana vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Ghana vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Ghana vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Ghana vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Ghana vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Ghana vs Switzerland 
Ghana vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Ghana vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Ghana vs Sweden 
Ghana vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Ghana vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ghana or North Korea?
In Ghana, the minimum wage is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Ghana compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Ghana is GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Ghana earn approximately 112% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ghana and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ghana earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Ghana and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Ghana. Workers in Ghana work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ghana 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.