Namibia North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Namibia

Minimum Wage

N$18 /hr

$1.13 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

N$13,500 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +661% Namibia vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Namibia mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $845/mo in Namibia versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 7.6:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 19.3%.

Namibia's unemployment rate is 19.3% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Namibia and North Korea
Metric	Namibia	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	N$18 $1.13	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	N$3,510 $219.79	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	N$42,120 $2,637.45	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	N$13,500 /mo $845.34	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+660.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	N$11,000 /mo $688.79	₩90,000 /mo $100	+588.8%
Median individual income /yr	N$48,000 /yr $3,005.64	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Namibia: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime limited to 10 hours/week and 3 hours/day. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Rest days at 2x. Daily rest period of at least 12 consecutive hours. Weekly rest of at least 36 consecutive hours (ideally including Sunday). Annual leave: 20 working days for 5-day week.
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: Namibia mandates 45 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Namibia with...

Namibia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Namibia vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Namibia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Namibia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Namibia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Namibia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Namibia vs France € 12.02 /hr

Namibia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Namibia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Namibia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Namibia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Namibia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Namibia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Namibia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Namibia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Namibia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Namibia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Namibia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Namibia vs Switzerland

Namibia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Namibia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Namibia vs Sweden

Namibia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Namibia vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Namibia or North Korea?

In Namibia, the minimum wage is N$18/hr ($1.13 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Namibia is N$13,500/mo ($845.34 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Namibia earn approximately 661% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Namibia and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Namibia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Namibia and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Namibia. Workers in Namibia work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Namibia 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.