Nepal North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Nepal

Minimum Wage

Rs112.81 /hr

$0.83 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Rs32,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +111% Nepal vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Nepal mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $234/mo in Nepal versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 2.1:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 10.5%.

Nepal's unemployment rate is 10.5% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Nepal and North Korea
Metric	Nepal	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	Rs112.81 $0.83	None	—
Minimum wage /day	Rs651.67 $4.77	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	Rs19,550 $143.22	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	Rs234,600 $1,718.68	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	Rs32,000 /mo $234.43	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+111.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	Rs29,500 /mo $216.12	₩90,000 /mo $100	+116.1%
Median individual income /yr	Rs180,000 /yr $1,318.68	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Nepal: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Act 2017 sets maximum working hours at 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week. Overtime: 150% of normal rate, limited to 4 hours/day and 24 hours/week. Weekly rest of at least one day (Saturday is the traditional rest day). Tea estate and some other sector workers may have different arrangements under sectoral orders.
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.

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

Compare Nepal with...

Nepal vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Nepal vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Nepal vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Nepal vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Nepal vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Nepal vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Nepal vs France € 12.02 /hr

Nepal vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Nepal vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Nepal vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Nepal vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Nepal vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Nepal vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Nepal vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Nepal vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Nepal vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Nepal vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Nepal vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Nepal vs Switzerland

Nepal vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Nepal vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Nepal vs Sweden

Nepal vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Nepal vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Nepal or North Korea?

In Nepal, the minimum wage is Rs112.81/hr ($0.83 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Nepal is Rs32,000/mo ($234.43 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Nepal earn approximately 111% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Nepal and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Nepal earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Nepal and North Korea?

Both Nepal and North Korea mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.