Key Facts: North Korea vs Dominican Republic Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Dominican Republic Minimum Wage
- RD$91.30/hr ($1.50 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Dominican Republic Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- RD$32,000 /mo ($526.32 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo — República Dominicana (2026-02-24)
North Korea
Dominican Republic
Updated 2026-02-25
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while the Dominican Republic sets a floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $526/mo in the Dominican Republic, a 4.7:1 ratio.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to the Dominican Republic's 5.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Dominican Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | RD$91.30 $1.50 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | RD$21,000 $345.39 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | RD$273,000 $4,490.13 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | RD$32,000 /mo $526.32 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | RD$28,480 /mo $468.42 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | RD$204,000 /yr $3,355.26 |
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.
- Dominican Republic
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.35x pay
Código de Trabajo (Labour Code) sets the standard workweek at 44 hours and workday at 8 hours. Night work (6pm-6am) maximum 36 hours/week. Mixed shifts maximum 40 hours/week. Overtime paid at 35% premium for the first 68 hours/month (beyond the standard 44-hour week), and 100% premium thereafter. Sunday and holiday work paid at double the regular rate.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while the Dominican Republic mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Dominican Republic's perspective: Dominican Republic vs North Korea
Compare North Korea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Dominican Republic?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In the Dominican Republic, it is RD$91.30/hr ($1.50 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Dominican Republic?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to RD$32,000/mo ($526.32 USD) in the Dominican Republic. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 374% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Dominican Republic is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Dominican 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 Dominican Republic?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in the Dominican 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 Dominican 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.