Key Facts: North Korea vs Papua New Guinea Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Papua New Guinea Minimum Wage
- K3.50/hr ($0.93 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Papua New Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- K2,200 /mo ($585.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Department of Labour and Industrial Relations — Papua New Guinea / ILO (2026-02-25)
North Korea 
Papua New Guinea
Updated 2026-02-25
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Papua New Guinea sets a floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $585/mo in Papua New Guinea, a 5.3:1 ratio.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Papua New Guinea's 2.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Papua New Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | K3.50 $0.93 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | K606.67 $161.35 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | K7,280 $1,936.17 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | K2,200 /mo $585.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | K1,900 /mo $505.32 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | K7,200 /yr $1,914.89 |
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.
- Papua New Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Papua New Guinea Employment Act sets a standard 40-hour week (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum is 48 hours including overtime. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Work on Sundays is at 2x. The extractive sector often operates on rotating shift schedules under enterprise agreements.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Papua New Guinea mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Papua New Guinea's perspective: Papua New Guinea vs North Korea
Compare North Korea with...
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North Korea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Papua New Guinea?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Papua New Guinea, it is K3.50/hr ($0.93 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Papua New Guinea?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to K2,200/mo ($585.11 USD) in Papua New Guinea. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 427% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Papua New Guinea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Papua New Guinea 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 Papua New Guinea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Papua New Guinea. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Papua New Guinea 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.