North Korea Colombia

Updated 2026-05-27

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Colombia

Minimum Wage

COP7,295.44 /hr

$1.77 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

COP2,200,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -79% North Korea vs Colombia

North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Colombia sets a floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $533/mo in Colombia, a 4.8:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 8.3%.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Colombia's 8.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and Colombia
Metric	North Korea	Colombia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	None	COP7,295.44 $1.77	—
Minimum wage /mo	None	COP1,750,905 $423.95	—
Minimum wage /yr	None	COP22,761,765 $5,511.32	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	COP2,200,000 /mo $532.69	-79.1%
Avg. net salary /mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	COP1,936,000 /mo $468.77	-78.7%
Median individual income /yr	N/A/yr	COP16,800,000 /yr $4,067.80	—

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.
Colombia: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Colombia is reducing the workweek from 48 to 42 hours under Ley 2101 de 2021 in annual steps. As of 2026-01-01, the maximum is 44 hours/week. The final step (44h → 42h) takes effect July 2026. Daytime overtime: 25% premium. Night overtime: 75% premium. Sunday/holiday work: 75% premium (175% if also overtime).

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Colombia mandates 44 hours.

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

Compare North Korea with...

North Korea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

North Korea vs China ¥ 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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Colombia?

In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Colombia, it is COP7,295.44/hr ($1.77 USD).

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

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to COP2,200,000/mo ($532.69 USD) in Colombia. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 379% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Colombia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Colombia 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 Colombia?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Colombia. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Colombia 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.