Mali North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Mali

Minimum Wage

CFA192.30 /hr

$0.35 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA120,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +94% Mali vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Mali mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average salaries are higher in Mali at $215/mo compared to $111/mo in North Korea.

Mali's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mali and North Korea
Metric	Mali	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	CFA192.30 $0.35	None	—
Minimum wage /day	CFA1,538 $2.76	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	CFA40,000 $71.81	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	CFA480,000 $861.76	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	CFA120,000 /mo $215.44	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+93.9%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	—
Median individual income /yr	CFA360,000 /yr $646.32	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Mali: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.15x pay

Labour Code (Law No. 92-020 of 23 September 1992, amended) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime rates: 115% for day hours; 130% for hours between 21:00 and 05:00 on weekdays; 150% for Sunday daytime; 200% for night hours on Sundays/holidays. Workers are entitled to 2.5 days of paid leave per month worked (30 days/year). Friday prayers (Jumu'ah) are accommodated — Mali is ~90% Muslim.
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: Mali mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mali or North Korea?

In Mali, the minimum wage is CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Mali is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Mali earn approximately 94% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mali and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mali earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Mali and North Korea?

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