Key Facts: Latvia vs North Korea Wages
- Latvia Minimum Wage
- €4.50/hr ($5.24 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Latvia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,600 /mo ($1,863.28 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- State Revenue Service (Valsts ieņēmumu dienests); 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Latvia 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Latvia mandates a wage floor of $5/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,863/mo in Latvia versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 16.8:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.6%.
Latvia's unemployment rate is 6.6% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Latvia | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €4.50 $5.24 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | €780 $908.35 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | €9,360 $10,900.20 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €1,600 /mo $1,863.28 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,180 /mo $1,374.17 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | €10,200 /yr $11,878.42 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Latvia is higher.
Work Week
- Latvia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Overtime is limited and must be compensated at 100% premium (double rate). Night work premium at least 50%. Overtime not to exceed 144 hours in a 4-month period.
- 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: Latvia mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Latvia
Compare Latvia with...
Latvia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Latvia vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Latvia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Latvia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Latvia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Latvia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Latvia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Latvia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Latvia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Latvia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Latvia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Latvia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Latvia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Latvia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Latvia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Latvia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Latvia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Latvia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Latvia vs Switzerland 
Latvia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Latvia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Latvia vs Sweden 
Latvia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Latvia vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Latvia or North Korea?
In Latvia, the minimum wage is €4.50/hr ($5.24 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Latvia compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Latvia is €1,600/mo ($1,863.28 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Latvia earn approximately 1577% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Latvia and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Latvia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Latvia and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Latvia. Workers in Latvia work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Latvia 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.