North Korea Sri Lanka

Updated 2026-05-04

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Sri Lanka

Minimum Wage

Rs135 /hr

$0.45 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Rs55,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -40% North Korea vs Sri Lanka

North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Sri Lanka sets a floor of $0/hr. Average salaries are lower in North Korea at $111/mo compared to $184/mo in Sri Lanka.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Sri Lanka's 4.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and Sri Lanka
Metric	North Korea	Sri Lanka	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	None	Rs135 $0.45	—
Minimum wage /day	None	Rs1,080 $3.61	—
Minimum wage /mo	None	Rs27,000 $90.30	—
Minimum wage /yr	None	Rs324,000 $1,083.61	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	Rs55,000 /mo $183.95	-39.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	Rs49,500 /mo $165.55	-39.6%
Median individual income /yr	N/A/yr	Rs420,000 /yr $1,404.68	—

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.
Sri Lanka: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Shop and Office Employees Act limits hours to 8 per day and 45 per week for commercial establishments. Factories Ordinance limits factory workers to similar hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Different rules apply to plantation workers and domestic workers. Public holidays: approximately 25 per year (Sri Lanka has one of the highest numbers of public holidays globally).

What This Means for Workers

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

See this comparison from Sri Lanka's perspective: Sri Lanka 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 Netherlands € 14.71 /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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Sri Lanka?

In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Sri Lanka, it is Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD).

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

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to Rs55,000/mo ($183.95 USD) in Sri Lanka. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 66% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Sri Lanka is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka?

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