Ireland North Korea

Updated 2026-03-02

Ireland

Minimum Wage

€14.15 /hr

$16.48 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€4,350 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +4459% Ireland vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Ireland mandates a wage floor of $16/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,066/mo in Ireland versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 45.6:1 ratio.

Ireland's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Ireland and North Korea
Metric	Ireland	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	€14.15 $16.48	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	€2,452.62 $2,856.20	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	€29,432 $34,275.07	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	€4,350 /mo $5,065.80	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+4459.2%
Avg. net salary /mo	€3,100 /mo $3,610.11	₩90,000 /mo $100	+3510.1%
Median individual income /yr	€40,000 /yr $46,582.04	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Ireland: 39 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

There is no single statutory standard workweek; 39 hours is the most common. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 limits average weekly hours to 48 over a 4-month reference period. There is no statutory overtime rate; overtime pay is determined by employment contract or collective agreement.
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: Ireland mandates 39 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Ireland with...

Ireland vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Ireland vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Ireland vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Ireland vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Ireland vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Ireland vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Ireland vs France € 12.02 /hr

Ireland vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Ireland vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Ireland vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Ireland vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Ireland vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Ireland vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Ireland vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Ireland vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Ireland vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Ireland vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Ireland vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Ireland vs Switzerland

Ireland vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Ireland vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Ireland vs Sweden

Ireland vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Ireland vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Ireland or North Korea?

In Ireland, the minimum wage is €14.15/hr ($16.48 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Ireland is €4,350/mo ($5,065.80 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Ireland earn approximately 4459% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ireland and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ireland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Ireland and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 39 hours in Ireland. Workers in Ireland work 39 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ireland 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.