Moldova North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Moldova

Minimum Wage

L32.54 /hr

$1.90 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

L15,500 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +715% Moldova vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Moldova mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $906/mo in Moldova versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 8.2:1 ratio. Moldova has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.5% compared to 3.5%.

Moldova's unemployment rate is 1.5% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Moldova and North Korea
Metric	Moldova	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	L32.54 $1.90	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	L5,500 $321.45	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	L66,000 $3,857.39	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	L15,500 /mo $905.90	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+715.3%
Avg. net salary /mo	L12,400 /mo $724.72	₩90,000 /mo $100	+624.7%
Median individual income /yr	L84,000 /yr $4,909.41	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Moldova: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hrs/day). Reduced hours (35 hrs/week) for hazardous conditions. Overtime limited to 120 hours per year (240 with employee consent). Overtime premium at least 50% for first 2 hours and 100% thereafter. Night work (22:00-06:00) premium at least 50%.
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: Moldova mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Moldova with...

Moldova vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Moldova vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Moldova vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Moldova vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Moldova vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Moldova vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Moldova vs France € 12.02 /hr

Moldova vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Moldova vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Moldova vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Moldova vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Moldova vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Moldova vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Moldova vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Moldova vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Moldova vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Moldova vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Moldova vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Moldova vs Switzerland

Moldova vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Moldova vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Moldova vs Sweden

Moldova vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Moldova vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Moldova or North Korea?

In Moldova, the minimum wage is L32.54/hr ($1.90 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Moldova is L15,500/mo ($905.90 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Moldova earn approximately 715% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Moldova and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Moldova earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Moldova and North Korea?

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