Israel North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Israel

Minimum Wage

₪35.40 /hr

$12.57 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₪12,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +3736% Israel vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Israel mandates a wage floor of $13/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,262/mo in Israel versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 38.4:1 ratio.

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

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Israel and North Korea
Metric	Israel	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	₪35.40 $12.57	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	₪6,443.85 $2,288.71	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	₪77,326.20 $27,464.46	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+3735.9%
Avg. net salary /mo	₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59	₩90,000 /mo $100	+3096.6%
Median individual income /yr	₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Israel: 42 hrs/wk standard

Max 42 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.
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: Israel mandates 42 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Israel with...

Israel vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Israel vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Israel vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Israel vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Israel vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Israel vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Israel vs France € 12.02 /hr

Israel vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Israel vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Israel vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Israel vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Israel vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Israel vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Israel vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Israel vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Israel vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Israel vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Israel vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Israel vs Switzerland

Israel vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Israel vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Israel vs Sweden

Israel vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Israel vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Israel or North Korea?

In Israel, the minimum wage is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Israel is ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Israel earn approximately 3736% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Israel and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Israel and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 42 hours in Israel. Workers in Israel work 42 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Israel 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.