Key Facts: New Caledonia vs Japan Wages
- New Caledonia Minimum Wage
- ₣991.73/hr ($7.04 USD)
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- Data Sources
- WageIndicator Foundation (2026-05-04), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23)
New Caledonia 
Japan
Updated 2026-05-23
New Caledonia Minimum Wage
₣991.73 /hr
$7.04 USD
Both high-income economies, New Caledonia and Japan set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New Caledonia | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₣991.73 $7.04 | ¥1,121 $7.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₣167,602 $1,189.76 | ¥194,303 $1,218.28 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₣2,011,224 $14,277.08 | ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | N/A/mo | ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means New Caledonia is higher.
Work Week
- New Caledonia
-
39 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 39 hours in New Caledonia (differs from metropolitan France's 35 hours). Overtime: 25% premium for hours 40-43, 50% premium beyond 43 hours.
- Japan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Japan to New Caledonia would see a 0% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: New Caledonia mandates 39 hours while Japan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in New Caledonia are $275 vs $281 in Japan.
See this comparison from Japan's perspective: Japan vs New Caledonia
Compare New Caledonia with...
New Caledonia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
New Caledonia vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
New Caledonia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
New Caledonia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
New Caledonia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
New Caledonia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
New Caledonia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Switzerland 
New Caledonia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
New Caledonia vs Sweden 
New Caledonia vs Singapore 
New Caledonia vs Norway 
New Caledonia vs Austria 
New Caledonia vs Denmark 
New Caledonia vs Israel ₪ 35.4 /hr 
New Caledonia vs New Zealand NZ$ 23.5 /hr Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in New Caledonia or Japan?
In New Caledonia, the minimum wage is ₣991.73/hr ($7.04 USD). In Japan, it is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). New Caledonia has the higher rate by 0% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Japan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How do work hours compare between New Caledonia and Japan?
Japan has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 39 hours in New Caledonia. Workers in New Caledonia work 39 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in New Caledonia 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.