Key Facts: Japan vs Faroe Islands Wages
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- Faroe Islands Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- Faroe Islands Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr34,278 /mo ($5,341.42 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23), Statistics Faroe Islands (hagstova.fo) (2026-05-04)
Japan 
Faroe Islands
Updated 2026-05-23
Unlike Faroe Islands, which has no statutory minimum wage, Japan mandates a wage floor of $7/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,498/mo in Japan versus $5,341/mo in Faroe Islands, a 2.1:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Japan | Faroe Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ¥1,121 $7.03 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | ¥194,303 $1,218.28 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 | kr34,278 /mo $5,341.42 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Japan is higher.
Work Week
- Japan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.
- Faroe Islands
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Working conditions governed by collective agreements.
See this comparison from Faroe Islands's perspective: Faroe Islands vs Japan
Compare Japan with...
Japan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Japan vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Japan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Japan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Japan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Japan vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Japan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Japan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Japan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Japan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Japan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Japan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Japan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Japan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Japan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Japan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Japan vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Japan vs Switzerland 
Japan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Japan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Japan vs Sweden 
Japan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Japan vs Singapore 
Japan vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Japan or Faroe Islands?
In Japan, the minimum wage is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). In Faroe Islands, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Japan compared to Faroe Islands?
The average gross salary in Japan is ¥398,333/mo ($2,497.54 USD), compared to kr34,278/mo ($5,341.42 USD) in Faroe Islands. In USD terms, workers in Japan earn approximately 114% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Japan and Faroe Islands is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Faroe Islands earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Japan.
How do work hours compare between Japan and Faroe Islands?
Both Japan and Faroe Islands mandate a similar standard work week of 40 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.