Iran North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Iran

Minimum Wage

﷼692,731 /hr

$1.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼400,000,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +429% Iran vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Iran mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $588/mo in Iran versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 5.3:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 8.3%.

Iran's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iran and North Korea
Metric	Iran	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	﷼692,731 $1.02	None	—
Minimum wage /day	﷼5,541,850 $8.15	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	﷼166,255,500 $244.49	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+429.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	—
Median individual income /yr	﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65	N/A/yr	—

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Iran is higher.

Work Week

Iran: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.
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: Iran mandates 44 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Iran

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iran or North Korea?

In Iran, the minimum wage is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much more does the average worker earn in Iran compared to North Korea?

The average gross salary in Iran is ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Iran earn approximately 429% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iran and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Iran and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Iran. Workers in Iran work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Iran 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.

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Detailed Comparison

Work Week

What This Means for Workers

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Frequently Asked Questions