Skip to main content

Key Facts: North Korea vs Cameroon Wages

North Korea Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Cameroon Minimum Wage
FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD)
North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
Cameroon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
FCFA200,000 /mo ($359.07 USD)
Data Sources
ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Ministère du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale — Cameroon (2026-02-25)

North Korea flag North Korea Cameroon flag Cameroon

Updated 2026-02-25

North Korea flag North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Cameroon flag Cameroon

Minimum Wage

FCFA254 /hr

$0.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FCFA200,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -69% North Korea vs Cameroon

North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Cameroon sets a floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $359/mo in Cameroon, a 3.2:1 ratio.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Cameroon's 3.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and Cameroon
Metric North Korea Cameroon
Minimum wage /hr None FCFA254 $0.46
Minimum wage /mo None FCFA43,969 $78.94
Minimum wage /yr None FCFA527,628 $947.27
Avg. gross salary /mo ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 FCFA200,000 /mo $359.07
Avg. net salary /mo ₩90,000 /mo $100 FCFA170,000 /mo $305.21
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr FCFA600,000 /yr $1,077.20

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.

Cameroon

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.2x pay

Labour Code sets standard working hours at 40 per week for non-agricultural workers and 48 hours for agricultural workers. Overtime rates: 120% for first 8 hours of weekly overtime, 140% for subsequent hours. Night work and holiday work have higher multipliers.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Cameroon mandates 40 hours.

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

Compare North Korea with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Cameroon?

In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Cameroon, it is FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD).

How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Cameroon?

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to FCFA200,000/mo ($359.07 USD) in Cameroon. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 223% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Cameroon is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Cameroon 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 Cameroon?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Cameroon. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cameroon 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.