Iraq North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Iraq

Minimum Wage

ع.د1,823 /hr

$1.40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ع.د700,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +383% Iraq vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Iraq mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $536/mo in Iraq versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 4.8:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 15.5%.

Iraq's unemployment rate is 15.5% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iraq and North Korea
Metric	Iraq	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	ع.د1,823 $1.40	None	—
Minimum wage /day	ع.د14,583 $11.17	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	ع.د350,000 $268.20	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+382.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	—
Median individual income /yr	ع.د3,360,000 /yr $2,574.71	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Iraq: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 per day / 48 per week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Work on official holidays is paid at 200%. Ramadan working hours are reduced. Public sector employees typically work ~40 hours/week in practice.
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.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iraq or North Korea?

In Iraq, the minimum wage is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Iraq is ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Iraq earn approximately 383% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iraq and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iraq earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Iraq and North Korea?

Both Iraq and North Korea mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.