Key Facts: North Korea vs Netherlands Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Netherlands Minimum Wage
- €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Netherlands Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Rijksoverheid (Government of the Netherlands); 2026 monthly basis verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (40-hour workweek convention) (2026-05-27)
North Korea 
Netherlands
Updated 2026-05-27
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while the Netherlands sets a floor of $17/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $4,542/mo in the Netherlands, a 40.9:1 ratio.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to the Netherlands' 3.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | €14.71 $17.13 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | €2,549.73 $2,969.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | €30,596.76 $35,631.49 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | €2,750 /mo $3,202.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €36,500 /yr $42,506.11 |
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.
- Netherlands
-
36 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek varies by sector: commonly 36, 38, or 40 hours. The Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) limits working time to 12 hours per shift and 60 hours per week, averaged to a maximum of 48 hours over 16 weeks. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements or individual contracts.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while the Netherlands mandates 36 hours.
See this comparison from Netherlands's perspective: Netherlands 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 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 
North Korea vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Netherlands?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In the Netherlands, it is €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Netherlands?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in the Netherlands. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 3988% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Netherlands is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Netherlands 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 Netherlands?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 36 hours in the Netherlands. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Netherlands 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.