Key Facts: North Korea vs Honduras Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Honduras Minimum Wage
- L50.80/hr ($1.92 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Honduras Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- L18,265 /mo ($688.73 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Secretaría de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (STSS) — Honduras (2026-02-25)
North Korea 
Honduras
Updated 2026-02-25
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Honduras sets a floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $689/mo in Honduras, a 6.2:1 ratio.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Honduras' 4.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Honduras |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | L50.80 $1.92 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | L12,191.70 $459.72 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | L158,492.10 $5,976.32 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | L18,265 /mo $688.73 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | L15,500 /mo $584.46 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | L108,000 /yr $4,072.40 |
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.
- Honduras
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum at 44 hours/week for daytime work (8 hours/day, 6 days). Nighttime shifts max at 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Mixed shifts at 42 hours/week (7 hours/day). Overtime paid at 1.5x the normal rate.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Honduras mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Honduras's perspective: Honduras vs North Korea
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North Korea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
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North Korea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Honduras?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Honduras, it is L50.80/hr ($1.92 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Honduras?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to L18,265/mo ($688.73 USD) in Honduras. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 520% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Honduras is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Honduras 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 Honduras?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Honduras. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Honduras 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.