Key Facts: North Korea vs Czech Republic Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Czech Republic Minimum Wage
- Kč134.40/hr ($6.45 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Czech Republic Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Kč44,500 /mo ($2,133.99 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MPSV); 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04)
North Korea 
Czech Republic
Updated 2026-05-04
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while the Czech Republic sets a floor of $6/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $2,134/mo in the Czech Republic, a 19.2:1 ratio.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to the Czech Republic's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Czech Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | Kč134.40 $6.45 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | Kč22,400 $1,074.19 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | Kč268,800 $12,890.23 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | Kč44,500 /mo $2,133.99 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | Kč34,500 /mo $1,654.44 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Kč360,000 /yr $17,263.70 |
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.
- Czech Republic
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Overtime limited to 8 hours/week averaged over 26 weeks (up to 150 hours/year, extendable to 416 by agreement). Overtime premium at least 25% of average earnings.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while the Czech Republic mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Czech Republic's perspective: Czech Republic 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 Czech Republic?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In the Czech Republic, it is Kč134.40/hr ($6.45 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Czech Republic?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to Kč44,500/mo ($2,133.99 USD) in the Czech Republic. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 1821% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Czech Republic is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Czech Republic 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 Czech Republic?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in the Czech Republic. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Czech Republic 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.