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Key Facts: North Korea vs Oman Wages

North Korea Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Oman Minimum Wage
OMR1.88/hr ($4.88 USD)
North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
Oman Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
OMR850 /mo ($2,207.79 USD)
Data Sources
ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Sultanate of Oman (2026-02-25)

North Korea flag North Korea Oman flag Oman

Updated 2026-02-25

North Korea flag North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Oman flag Oman

Minimum Wage

OMR1.88 /hr

$4.88 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

OMR850 /mo

Avg. salary: -95% North Korea vs Oman

North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Oman sets a floor of $5/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $2,208/mo in Oman, a 19.9:1 ratio.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Oman's 3.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and Oman
Metric North Korea Oman
Minimum wage /hr None OMR1.88 $4.88
Minimum wage /mo None OMR325 $844.16
Minimum wage /yr None OMR3,900 $10,129.87
Avg. gross salary /mo ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 OMR850 /mo $2,207.79
Avg. net salary /mo ₩90,000 /mo $100 OMR820 /mo $2,129.87
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr OMR5,400 /yr $14,025.97

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.

Oman

45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Law sets maximum working hours at 9 hours/day or 45 hours/week. During Ramadan, Muslim workers' hours are reduced to 6 hours/day or 30 hours/week. Overtime paid at 125% for regular days and 150% for holidays/weekends.

What This Means for Workers

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

See this comparison from Oman's perspective: Oman vs North Korea

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Oman?

In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Oman, it is OMR1.88/hr ($4.88 USD).

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

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to OMR850/mo ($2,207.79 USD) in Oman. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 1887% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Oman is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Oman 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 Oman?

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