Key Facts: North Korea vs China Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- China Minimum Wage
- ¥25/hr ($3.70 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- China Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥10,343 /mo ($1,528.88 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS); regional rates verified via china-briefing.com aggregator (April 2026) (2026-05-04)
North Korea 
China
Updated 2026-05-04
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while China sets a floor of $4/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $1,529/mo in China, a 13.8:1 ratio.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to China's 4.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | China |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | ¥25 $3.70 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | ¥2,740 $405.02 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | ¥32,880 $4,860.24 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | ¥10,343 /mo $1,528.88 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | ¥8,274 /mo $1,223.04 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ¥34,707 /yr $5,130.30 |
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.
- China
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 40 hours/week standard (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Overtime limited to 36 hours/month. Weekday overtime: 150%, rest day overtime: 200%, statutory holiday overtime: 300%. The '996' culture (9am-9pm, 6 days/week) is widespread in tech but was ruled illegal by the Supreme People's Court in 2021.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while China mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from China's perspective: China vs North Korea
Compare North Korea with...
North Korea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
North Korea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
North Korea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
North Korea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
North Korea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
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 
North Korea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
North Korea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
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 
North Korea vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
North Korea vs Sweden 
North Korea vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
North Korea vs Singapore 
North Korea vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or China?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In China, it is ¥25/hr ($3.70 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to China?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to ¥10,343/mo ($1,528.88 USD) in China. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 1276% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and China is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in China 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 China?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in China. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in China 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.