Kenya North Korea

Updated 2026-05-27

Kenya

Minimum Wage

KSh93 /hr

$0.61 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

KSh50,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +193% Kenya vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Kenya mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $326/mo in Kenya versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 2.9:1 ratio.

Kenya's unemployment rate is 5.5% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Kenya and North Korea
Metric	Kenya	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	KSh93 $0.61	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	KSh16,113.75 $104.98	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	KSh50,000 /mo $325.73	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+193.2%
Avg. net salary /mo	KSh38,500 /mo $250.81	₩90,000 /mo $100	+150.8%
Median individual income /yr	KSh180,000 /yr $1,172.64	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Kenya: 52 hrs/wk standard

Max 52 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act sets maximum normal working hours at 52 per week. Most formal sector employees work 40-45 hours by contract. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Work on rest days paid at 2x. Public holidays at 2x.
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: Kenya mandates 52 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Kenya with...

Kenya vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Kenya vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Kenya vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Kenya vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Kenya vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Kenya vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Kenya vs France € 12.02 /hr

Kenya vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Kenya vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Kenya vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Kenya vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Kenya vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Kenya vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Kenya vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Kenya vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Kenya vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Kenya vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Kenya vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Kenya vs Switzerland

Kenya vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Kenya vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Kenya vs Sweden

Kenya vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Kenya vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Kenya or North Korea?

In Kenya, the minimum wage is KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Kenya is KSh50,000/mo ($325.73 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Kenya earn approximately 193% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kenya and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kenya earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Kenya and North Korea?

Kenya has a longer standard work week at 52 hours, compared to 48 hours in North Korea. Workers in Kenya work 52 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in North Korea 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.