Kosovo North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Kosovo

Minimum Wage

€1.57 /hr

$1.83 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€650 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +581% Kosovo vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Kosovo mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $757/mo in Kosovo versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 6.8:1 ratio.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Kosovo and North Korea
Metric	Kosovo	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	€1.57 $1.83	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	€264 $307.44	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	€3,168 $3,689.30	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	€650 /mo $756.96	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+581.3%
Avg. net salary /mo	€580 /mo $675.44	₩90,000 /mo $100	+575.4%
Median individual income /yr	€3,600 /yr $4,192.38	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Kosovo: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.3x pay

Labour Law No. 03/L-212 sets the standard working week at 40 hours (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week (overtime limit: 8 hrs/week, 40 hrs/month, 240 hrs/year). Overtime is compensated at 130% of regular pay. Night work (22:00–06:00) carries a 26% premium. Weekend work is compensated at 150%. Workers are entitled to 18 days of paid annual leave (minimum); employees with disabilities and younger workers get more.
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: Kosovo mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Kosovo with...

Kosovo vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Kosovo vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Kosovo vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Kosovo vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Kosovo vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Kosovo vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Kosovo vs France € 12.02 /hr

Kosovo vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Kosovo vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Kosovo vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Kosovo vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Kosovo vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Kosovo vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Kosovo vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Kosovo vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Kosovo vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Kosovo vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Kosovo vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Kosovo vs Switzerland

Kosovo vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Kosovo vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Kosovo vs Sweden

Kosovo vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Kosovo vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Kosovo or North Korea?

In Kosovo, the minimum wage is €1.57/hr ($1.83 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Kosovo is €650/mo ($756.96 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Kosovo earn approximately 581% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kosovo and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kosovo earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Kosovo and North Korea?

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