Kazakhstan North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Kazakhstan

Minimum Wage

₸496 /hr

$1.05 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₸380,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +625% Kazakhstan vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Kazakhstan mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $805/mo in Kazakhstan versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 7.2:1 ratio.

Kazakhstan's unemployment rate is 4.8% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Kazakhstan and North Korea
Metric	Kazakhstan	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	₸496 $1.05	None	—
Minimum wage /day	₸2,833 $6.00	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	₸85,000 $180.08	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	₸1,020,000 $2,161.02	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₸380,000 /mo $805.08	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+624.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	₸342,000 /mo $724.58	₩90,000 /mo $100	+624.6%
Median individual income /yr	₸2,400,000 /yr $5,084.75	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Kazakhstan: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets standard working time at 40 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 2 hours/day and must be compensated at 150% of the normal rate. Reduced working hours apply to workers aged 14-18 and those in hazardous conditions. Five-day work week is standard.
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: Kazakhstan mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Kazakhstan with...

Kazakhstan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Kazakhstan vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Kazakhstan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Kazakhstan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Kazakhstan vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Kazakhstan vs France € 12.02 /hr

Kazakhstan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Kazakhstan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Switzerland

Kazakhstan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Kazakhstan vs Sweden

Kazakhstan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Kazakhstan vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Kazakhstan or North Korea?

In Kazakhstan, the minimum wage is ₸496/hr ($1.05 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Kazakhstan is ₸380,000/mo ($805.08 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Kazakhstan earn approximately 625% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kazakhstan and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kazakhstan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Kazakhstan and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Kazakhstan. Workers in Kazakhstan work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Kazakhstan 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.