North Korea Mongolia

Updated 2026-02-25

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Mongolia

Minimum Wage

₮4,714 /hr

$1.31 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₮2,000,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -80% North Korea vs Mongolia

North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Mongolia sets a floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $556/mo in Mongolia, a 5.0:1 ratio.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Mongolia's 5.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and Mongolia
Metric	North Korea	Mongolia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	None	₮4,714 $1.31	—
Minimum wage /mo	None	₮792,000 $220.06	—
Minimum wage /yr	None	₮9,504,000 $2,640.73	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	₮2,000,000 /mo $555.71	-80.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	₮1,700,000 /mo $472.35	-78.8%
Median individual income /yr	N/A/yr	₮12,000,000 /yr $3,334.26	—

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.
Mongolia: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 56 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day). The Labour Law sets a maximum of 56 hours/week including overtime. Maximum daily overtime is 4 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. Work on public holidays is compensated at 2x the regular rate. The government sector typically works 40 hours/week (Monday-Friday).

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Mongolia mandates 40 hours.

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

In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Mongolia, it is ₮4,714/hr ($1.31 USD).

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

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to ₮2,000,000/mo ($555.71 USD) in Mongolia. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 400% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Mongolia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mongolia 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 Mongolia?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Mongolia. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Mongolia 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.