Key Facts: Indonesia vs North Korea Wages
- Indonesia Minimum Wage
- Rp33,058/hr ($1.85 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Indonesia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Rp3,500,000 /mo ($196.24 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan); 2026 DKI Jakarta UMP verified via Keputusan Gubernur DKI Jakarta No. 1142 Tahun 2025 (jdih.jakarta.go.id/dokumen/detail/14763) (2026-05-04), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Indonesia 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Indonesia mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average salaries are higher in Indonesia at $196/mo compared to $111/mo in North Korea.
Indonesia's unemployment rate is 3.2% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Indonesia | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Rp33,058 $1.85 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | Rp5,729,876 $321.27 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | Rp68,758,512 $3,855.26 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Rp3,500,000 /mo $196.24 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Rp3,150,000 /mo $176.62 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | Rp24,000,000 /yr $1,345.67 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Indonesia is higher.
Work Week
- Indonesia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Manpower Law sets 40 hours/week: either 7 hrs/day for 6 days, or 8 hrs/day for 5 days. Overtime limited to 4 hrs/day, 18 hrs/week. First hour of overtime: 1.5x; subsequent hours: 2x. Rest day overtime starts at 2x rate.
- 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: Indonesia mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Indonesia
Compare Indonesia with...
Indonesia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Indonesia vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Indonesia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Indonesia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Indonesia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Indonesia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Indonesia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Indonesia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Indonesia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Indonesia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Indonesia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Indonesia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Indonesia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Indonesia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Indonesia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Indonesia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Indonesia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Indonesia vs Switzerland 
Indonesia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Indonesia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Indonesia vs Sweden 
Indonesia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Indonesia vs Singapore 
Indonesia vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Indonesia or North Korea?
In Indonesia, the minimum wage is Rp33,058/hr ($1.85 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Indonesia compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Indonesia is Rp3,500,000/mo ($196.24 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Indonesia earn approximately 77% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Indonesia and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Indonesia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Indonesia and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Indonesia. Workers in Indonesia work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Indonesia 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.