Key Facts: North Korea vs North Macedonia Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- North Macedonia Minimum Wage
- ден207/hr ($3.95 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- North Macedonia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ден55,000 /mo ($1,050.62 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of North Macedonia (2026-02-25)
North Korea 
North Macedonia
Updated 2026-02-25
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while North Macedonia sets a floor of $4/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $1,051/mo in North Macedonia, a 9.5:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 12.3%.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to North Macedonia's 12.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | North Macedonia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | ден207 $3.95 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | ден36,037 $688.39 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | ден432,444 $8,260.63 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | ден55,000 /mo $1,050.62 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | ден38,000 /mo $725.88 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ден264,000 /yr $5,042.98 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means North Korea is higher.
Work Week
- North Korea
-
48 hrs/wk standard
The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.
- North Macedonia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.35x pay
Labour Relations Law sets standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hrs/day). Overtime limited to 8 hours per week, up to 190 hours per year. Overtime premium at least 35%. Night work (22:00-06:00) premium at least 35%. Work on rest days and holidays at least 50% premium.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while North Macedonia mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from North Macedonia's perspective: North Macedonia vs North Korea
Compare North Korea with...
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North Korea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
North Korea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
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North Korea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
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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 
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North Korea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or North Macedonia?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In North Macedonia, it is ден207/hr ($3.95 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to North Macedonia?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to ден55,000/mo ($1,050.62 USD) in North Macedonia. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 846% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and North Macedonia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in North Macedonia. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in North Macedonia 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.