Key Facts: Malta vs North Korea Wages
- Malta Minimum Wage
- €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Malta Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,100 /mo ($2,445.56 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER); 2026 rate per DIER Resource Pack (dier.gov.mt) (2026-05-27), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Malta 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-27
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Malta mandates a wage floor of $7/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,446/mo in Malta versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 22.0:1 ratio.
Malta's unemployment rate is 2.9% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Malta | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €5.74 $6.68 | None |
| Minimum wage /wk | €229.44 $267.19 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | €994.24 $1,157.84 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | €11,930.88 $13,894.12 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €2,100 /mo $2,445.56 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,750 /mo $2,037.96 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | €17,000 /yr $19,797.37 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Malta is higher.
Work Week
- Malta
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Maximum 48 hours/week averaged over a 17-week reference period. Overtime premium is at least 50% for weekdays and 100% for Sundays and public holidays.
- 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: Malta mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Malta
Compare Malta with...
Malta vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Malta vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Malta vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Malta vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Malta vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Malta vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Malta vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Malta vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Malta vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Malta vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Malta vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Malta vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Malta vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Malta vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Malta vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Malta vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Malta vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Malta vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Malta vs Switzerland 
Malta vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Malta vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Malta vs Sweden 
Malta vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Malta vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Malta or North Korea?
In Malta, the minimum wage is €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Malta compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Malta is €2,100/mo ($2,445.56 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Malta earn approximately 2101% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malta and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malta earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Malta and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Malta. Workers in Malta work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Malta 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.