Key Facts: Japan vs North Korea Wages
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Japan 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-23
Unlike North Korea, 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 $111/mo in North Korea, a 22.5:1 ratio.
Japan's unemployment rate is 2.5% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Japan | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| 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%.
- 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: Japan mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea 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 North Korea?
In Japan, the minimum wage is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Japan compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Japan is ¥398,333/mo ($2,497.54 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Japan earn approximately 2148% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Japan and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Japan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Japan and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Japan. Workers in Japan work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Japan 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.