North Korea Malaysia

Updated 2026-05-27

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Malaysia

Minimum Wage

RM8.72 /hr

$2.20 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

RM4,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -89% North Korea vs Malaysia

North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Malaysia sets a floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $1,009/mo in Malaysia, a 9.1:1 ratio.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Malaysia's 3.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and Malaysia
Metric	North Korea	Malaysia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	None	RM8.72 $2.20	—
Minimum wage /mo	None	RM1,700 $428.75	—
Minimum wage /yr	None	RM20,400 $5,145.02	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	RM4,000 /mo $1,008.83	-89.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	RM3,520 /mo $887.77	-88.7%
Median individual income /yr	N/A/yr	RM31,200 /yr $7,868.85	—

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.
Malaysia: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act 1955 (amended 2022) reduced maximum working hours from 48 to 45 hours/week, effective 1 January 2023. Maximum 8 hours/day or 45 hours/week. Overtime at 1.5x on normal days, 2x on rest days, 3x on public holidays. Maximum overtime: 104 hours/month. Applies to employees earning up to MYR 4,000/mo (threshold raised from MYR 2,000 in 2023 amendments).

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Malaysia mandates 45 hours.

See this comparison from Malaysia's perspective: Malaysia 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 Malaysia?

In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Malaysia, it is RM8.72/hr ($2.20 USD).

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

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to RM4,000/mo ($1,008.83 USD) in Malaysia. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 808% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Malaysia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malaysia 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 Malaysia?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Malaysia. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Malaysia 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.