Malaysia North Korea

Updated 2026-05-27

Malaysia

Minimum Wage

RM8.72 /hr

$2.20 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

RM4,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +808% Malaysia vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Malaysia mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,009/mo in Malaysia versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 9.1:1 ratio.

Malaysia's unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Malaysia and North Korea
Metric	Malaysia	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	RM8.72 $2.20	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	RM1,700 $428.75	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	RM20,400 $5,145.02	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	RM4,000 /mo $1,008.83	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+807.9%
Avg. net salary /mo	RM3,520 /mo $887.77	₩90,000 /mo $100	+787.8%
Median individual income /yr	RM31,200 /yr $7,868.85	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Malaysia: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act 1955 (amended 2022) reduced maximum working hours from 48 to 45 hours/week, effective 1 January 2023. Maximum 8 hours/day or 45 hours/week. Overtime at 1.5x on normal days, 2x on rest days, 3x on public holidays. Maximum overtime: 104 hours/month. Applies to employees earning up to MYR 4,000/mo (threshold raised from MYR 2,000 in 2023 amendments).
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: Malaysia mandates 45 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Malaysia with...

Malaysia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Malaysia vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Malaysia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Malaysia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Malaysia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Malaysia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Malaysia vs France € 12.02 /hr

Malaysia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Malaysia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Malaysia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Malaysia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Malaysia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Malaysia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Malaysia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Malaysia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Malaysia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Malaysia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Malaysia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Malaysia vs Switzerland

Malaysia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Malaysia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Malaysia vs Sweden

Malaysia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Malaysia vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Malaysia or North Korea?

In Malaysia, the minimum wage is RM8.72/hr ($2.20 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Malaysia is RM4,000/mo ($1,008.83 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Malaysia earn approximately 808% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malaysia and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malaysia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Malaysia and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Malaysia. Workers in Malaysia work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Malaysia 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.