North Korea Hong Kong

Updated 2026-05-04

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Hong Kong

Minimum Wage

HK$42.10 /hr

$5.37 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

HK$20,500 /mo

Avg. salary: -96% North Korea vs Hong Kong

North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Hong Kong sets a floor of $5/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $2,616/mo in Hong Kong, a 23.5:1 ratio.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Hong Kong's 2.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and Hong Kong
Metric	North Korea	Hong Kong	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	None	HK$42.10 $5.37	—
Minimum wage /mo	None	HK$7,297 $931.08	—
Minimum wage /yr	None	HK$87,568 $11,173.52	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76	-95.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98	-96.0%
Median individual income /yr	N/A/yr	HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16	—

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.
Hong Kong: hrs/wk standard

Hong Kong has NO statutory standard working hours or maximum working hours for most employees (a rare situation globally). The government has considered legislation but has not enacted a standard hours law. Working hours are determined by individual employment contracts. Average actual working hours are ~40-44 hrs/week. Overtime pay is not legally mandated except for certain specific occupations.

See this comparison from Hong Kong's perspective: Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong?

In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Hong Kong, it is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD).

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

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD) in Hong Kong. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 2254% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Hong Kong is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Hong Kong earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.