Mongolia North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Mongolia

Minimum Wage

₮4,714 /hr

$1.31 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₮2,000,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +400% Mongolia vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Mongolia mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $556/mo in Mongolia versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 5.0:1 ratio.

Mongolia's unemployment rate is 5.2% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mongolia and North Korea
Metric	Mongolia	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	₮4,714 $1.31	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	₮792,000 $220.06	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	₮9,504,000 $2,640.73	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₮2,000,000 /mo $555.71	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+400.1%
Avg. net salary /mo	₮1,700,000 /mo $472.35	₩90,000 /mo $100	+372.4%
Median individual income /yr	₮12,000,000 /yr $3,334.26	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Mongolia: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 56 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day). The Labour Law sets a maximum of 56 hours/week including overtime. Maximum daily overtime is 4 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. Work on public holidays is compensated at 2x the regular rate. The government sector typically works 40 hours/week (Monday-Friday).
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: Mongolia mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Mongolia with...

Mongolia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Mongolia vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Mongolia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Mongolia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Mongolia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Mongolia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Mongolia vs France € 12.02 /hr

Mongolia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Mongolia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Mongolia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Mongolia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Mongolia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Mongolia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Mongolia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Mongolia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Mongolia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Mongolia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Mongolia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Mongolia vs Switzerland

Mongolia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Mongolia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Mongolia vs Sweden

Mongolia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Mongolia vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mongolia or North Korea?

In Mongolia, the minimum wage is ₮4,714/hr ($1.31 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Mongolia is ₮2,000,000/mo ($555.71 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Mongolia earn approximately 400% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mongolia and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mongolia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Mongolia and North Korea?

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