Key Facts: North Korea vs Indonesia Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Indonesia Minimum Wage
- Rp33,058/hr ($1.85 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Indonesia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Rp3,500,000 /mo ($196.24 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Ministry of Manpower (Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan); 2026 DKI Jakarta UMP verified via Keputusan Gubernur DKI Jakarta No. 1142 Tahun 2025 (jdih.jakarta.go.id/dokumen/detail/14763) (2026-05-04)
North Korea 
Indonesia
Updated 2026-05-04
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Indonesia sets a floor of $2/hr. Average salaries are lower in North Korea at $111/mo compared to $196/mo in Indonesia.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Indonesia's 3.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | Rp33,058 $1.85 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | Rp5,729,876 $321.27 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | Rp68,758,512 $3,855.26 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | Rp3,500,000 /mo $196.24 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | Rp3,150,000 /mo $176.62 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Rp24,000,000 /yr $1,345.67 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means North Korea is higher.
Work Week
- North Korea
-
48 hrs/wk standard
The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.
- Indonesia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Manpower Law sets 40 hours/week: either 7 hrs/day for 6 days, or 8 hrs/day for 5 days. Overtime limited to 4 hrs/day, 18 hrs/week. First hour of overtime: 1.5x; subsequent hours: 2x. Rest day overtime starts at 2x rate.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Indonesia mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Indonesia's perspective: Indonesia vs North Korea
Compare North Korea with...
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North Korea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
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North Korea vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Indonesia?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Indonesia, it is Rp33,058/hr ($1.85 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Indonesia?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to Rp3,500,000/mo ($196.24 USD) in Indonesia. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 77% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Indonesia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Indonesia 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 Indonesia?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Indonesia. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Indonesia 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.