Myanmar North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Myanmar

Minimum Wage

K975 /hr

$0.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

K450,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +93% Myanmar vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Myanmar mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average salaries are higher in Myanmar at $214/mo compared to $111/mo in North Korea.

Myanmar's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Myanmar and North Korea
Metric	Myanmar	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	K975 $0.46	None	—
Minimum wage /day	K7,800 $3.71	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	K202,800 $96.57	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	K2,433,600 $1,158.86	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	K450,000 /mo $214.29	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+92.9%
Avg. net salary /mo	K400,000 /mo $190.48	₩90,000 /mo $100	+90.5%
Median individual income /yr	K1,800,000 /yr $857.14	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Myanmar: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Factories Act sets normal working hours at 44 hours per week for factories. Shops and Establishments Law allows up to 48 hours. Overtime is paid at double the normal rate.
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: Myanmar mandates 44 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Myanmar with...

Myanmar vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Myanmar vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Myanmar vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Myanmar vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Myanmar vs India ₹ 4,628 /mo

Myanmar vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Myanmar vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Myanmar vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Myanmar vs Australia A$ 26.44 /hr

Myanmar vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Myanmar vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Myanmar vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Myanmar vs Switzerland

Myanmar vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Myanmar vs Singapore

Myanmar vs Malaysia RM 8.72 /hr

Myanmar vs Philippines ₱ 18,070 /mo

Myanmar vs Vietnam ₫ 25,500 /hr

Myanmar vs Ireland € 14.15 /hr

Myanmar vs Portugal € 5.31 /hr

Myanmar vs Bangladesh ৳ 12,500 /mo

Myanmar vs Brunei B$ 2.62 /hr

Myanmar vs Cambodia $ 0.875 /hr

Myanmar vs Egypt E£ 29.17 /hr

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Myanmar or North Korea?

In Myanmar, the minimum wage is K975/hr ($0.46 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Myanmar is K450,000/mo ($214.29 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Myanmar earn approximately 93% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Myanmar and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Myanmar earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Myanmar and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Myanmar. Workers in Myanmar work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Myanmar 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.