Malawi North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Malawi

Minimum Wage

MK240.40 /hr

$0.14 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

MK120,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -38% Malawi vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Malawi mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average salaries are lower in Malawi at $69/mo compared to $111/mo in North Korea.

Malawi's unemployment rate is 5.1% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Malawi and North Korea
Metric	Malawi	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	MK240.40 $0.14	None	—
Minimum wage /day	MK1,923 $1.11	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	MK50,000 $28.82	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	MK600,000 $345.82	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	MK120,000 /mo $69.16	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	-37.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	—
Median individual income /yr	MK360,000 /yr $207.49	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Malawi: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act (Cap 55:02) sets maximum ordinary working hours at 48 per week (8 hrs/day, 6 days) or 45 hours over 5 days. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Night work (6pm–6am) attracts a premium. Public holidays are compensated at double time if worked. Workers are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leave after 12 months.
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.

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

Compare Malawi with...

Malawi vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Malawi vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Malawi vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Malawi vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Malawi vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Malawi vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Malawi vs France € 12.02 /hr

Malawi vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Malawi vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Malawi vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Malawi vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Malawi vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Malawi vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Malawi vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Malawi vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Malawi vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Malawi vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Malawi vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Malawi vs Switzerland

Malawi vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Malawi vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Malawi vs Sweden

Malawi vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Malawi vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Malawi or North Korea?

In Malawi, the minimum wage is MK240.40/hr ($0.14 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much less does the average worker earn in Malawi compared to North Korea?

The average gross salary in Malawi is MK120,000/mo ($69.16 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Malawi earn approximately 61% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malawi and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in North Korea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Malawi.

How do work hours compare between Malawi and North Korea?

Both Malawi and North Korea mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.