North Korea Sweden

Updated 2026-02-25

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Sweden

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr40,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -97% North Korea vs Sweden

Neither North Korea nor Sweden has a statutory minimum wage, relying instead on collective bargaining or sectoral agreements. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $4,318/mo in Sweden, a 38.9:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 8.7%.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Sweden's 8.7%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and Sweden
Metric	North Korea	Sweden	Diff
Avg. gross salary /mo	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74	-97.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31	-96.9%
Median individual income /yr	N/A/yr	kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29	—

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.
Sweden: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Arbetstidslagen). Maximum overtime is 48 hours over 4 weeks or 200 hours per calendar year. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements, not statute. Many agreements provide overtime at 150-200% of normal pay. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Sweden mandates 40 hours.

See this comparison from Sweden's perspective: Sweden 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 Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

North Korea vs Singapore

North Korea vs Norway

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD) in Sweden. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 3786% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Sweden is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sweden 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 Sweden?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sweden. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sweden 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.