Key Facts: Guinea vs North Korea Wages
- Guinea Minimum Wage
- FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FG1,500,000 /mo ($174.01 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Fonction Publique (Guinea) (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Guinea
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Guinea mandates a wage floor of $51/mo. Average salaries are higher in Guinea at $174/mo compared to $111/mo in North Korea.
Guinea's unemployment rate is 5.2% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guinea | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | FG440,000 $51.04 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FG1,500,000 /mo $174.01 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | FG3,000,000 /yr $348.03 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Guinea is higher.
Work Week
- Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week for formal-sector employees. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for weekday hours, 2x for work on rest days. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.
- 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: Guinea mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Guinea
Compare Guinea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea or North Korea?
In Guinea, the minimum wage is FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Guinea compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Guinea is FG1,500,000/mo ($174.01 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Guinea earn approximately 57% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in 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 Guinea and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea. Workers in Guinea work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in 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.