Key Facts: North Korea vs Angola Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Angola Minimum Wage
- Kz167.60/hr ($0.18 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Angola Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Kz150,000 /mo ($162.16 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Angolan Ministry of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security (MAPTSS) / ILO (2026-02-25)
North Korea
Angola
Updated 2026-02-25
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Angola sets a floor of $0/hr. Average salaries are lower in North Korea at $111/mo compared to $162/mo in Angola. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 14.1%.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Angola's 14.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Angola |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | Kz167.60 $0.18 |
| Minimum wage /day | None | Kz1,342 $1.45 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | Kz32,181 $34.79 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | Kz386,172 $417.48 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | Kz150,000 /mo $162.16 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Kz432,000 /yr $467.03 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means North Korea is higher.
Work 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.
- Angola
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 54 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
General Labour Law (Lei Geral do Trabalho) sets standard hours at 44/week (8 hrs/day over 5.5 days). Maximum total (including overtime) is 54 hours/week. Overtime hours 1–2 are compensated at 150%; hours beyond 2 at 175%; Sunday/holiday at 200%. Night work (9pm–6am) carries a 25% premium. Workers receive a mandatory 13th-month salary bonus annually.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Angola mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Angola's perspective: Angola vs North Korea
Compare North Korea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Angola?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Angola, it is Kz167.60/hr ($0.18 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Angola?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to Kz150,000/mo ($162.16 USD) in Angola. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 46% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Angola is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Angola earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between North Korea and Angola?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Angola. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Angola 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.