Kyrgyzstan North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Kyrgyzstan

Minimum Wage

сом17.16 /hr

$0.20 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

сом37,361 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +285% Kyrgyzstan vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Kyrgyzstan mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $427/mo in Kyrgyzstan versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 3.8:1 ratio.

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

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Kyrgyzstan and North Korea
Metric	Kyrgyzstan	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	сом17.16 $0.20	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	сом2,863 $32.74	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	сом34,356 $392.91	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	сом37,361 /mo $427.28	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+284.5%
Avg. net salary /mo	сом33,625 /mo $384.55	₩90,000 /mo $100	+284.5%
Median individual income /yr	сом180,000 /yr $2,058.55	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Kyrgyzstan: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hrs/day). Reduced hours (36 hrs) for workers aged 16-18 and hazardous conditions. Overtime limited to 120 hours per year. Overtime premium at least 50%. Night work (22:00-06:00) premium at least 50%. Holiday work at double rate.
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: Kyrgyzstan mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Kyrgyzstan with...

Kyrgyzstan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Kyrgyzstan vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs France € 12.02 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Kyrgyzstan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Switzerland

Kyrgyzstan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Kyrgyzstan vs Sweden

Kyrgyzstan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Kyrgyzstan vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Kyrgyzstan or North Korea?

In Kyrgyzstan, the minimum wage is сом17.16/hr ($0.20 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Kyrgyzstan is сом37,361/mo ($427.28 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Kyrgyzstan earn approximately 285% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kyrgyzstan and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kyrgyzstan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Kyrgyzstan and North Korea?

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