Key Facts: North Korea vs Brunei Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Brunei Minimum Wage
- B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Brunei Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- B$2,500 /mo ($1,968.50 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Labour Department, Ministry of Home Affairs — Brunei Darussalam (2026-02-25)
North Korea 
Brunei
Updated 2026-02-25
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Brunei sets a floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $1,969/mo in Brunei, a 17.7:1 ratio.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Brunei's 5.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Brunei |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | B$2.62 $2.06 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | B$500 $393.70 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | B$6,000 $4,724.41 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means North Korea is higher.
Work Week
- North Korea
-
48 hrs/wk standard
The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.
- Brunei
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Brunei mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Brunei's perspective: Brunei vs North Korea
Compare North Korea with...
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North Korea vs France € 12.02 /hr 
North Korea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
North Korea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
North Korea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
North Korea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
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North Korea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
North Korea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
North Korea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
North Korea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
North Korea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
North Korea vs Switzerland 
North Korea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
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North Korea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Brunei?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Brunei, it is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Brunei?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD) in Brunei. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 1672% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Brunei is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brunei 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 Brunei?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Brunei. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Brunei 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.