Key Facts: North Korea vs Poland Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Poland Minimum Wage
- zł31.40/hr ($8.64 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Poland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- zł8,800 /mo ($2,421.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Ministry of Family and Social Policy (Ministerstwo Rodziny i Polityki Spolecznej) (2026-05-15)
North Korea 
Poland
Updated 2026-05-15
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Poland sets a floor of $9/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $2,421/mo in Poland, a 21.8:1 ratio.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Poland's 3.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Poland |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | zł31.40 $8.64 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | zł4,806 $1,322.25 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | zł57,672 $15,867.06 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | zł8,800 /mo $2,421.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | zł6,410 /mo $1,763.56 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | zł79,692 /yr $21,925.33 |
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.
- Poland
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days. Overtime premium: 50% for weekdays, 100% for nights, Sundays, and public holidays. Annual overtime cap of 150 hours unless modified by collective agreement.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Poland mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Poland's perspective: Poland vs North Korea
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North Korea vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Poland?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Poland, it is zł31.40/hr ($8.64 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Poland?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to zł8,800/mo ($2,421.11 USD) in Poland. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 2079% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Poland is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Poland 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 Poland?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Poland. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Poland 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.