Key Facts: North Korea vs Taiwan Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24)
North Korea 
Taiwan
Updated 2026-02-25
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Taiwan sets a floor of $6/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $1,865/mo in Taiwan, a 16.8:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | NT$190 $6.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | NT$28,590 $919.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 |
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.
- Taiwan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.34x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Two mandatory rest days per week (one fixed, one flexible). Overtime: first 2 hrs at 1.34x, next 2 hrs at 1.67x. Monthly overtime cap of 46 hours (may be extended to 54 hours with union/labour-management agreement, max 138 hrs/3 months).
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while Taiwan mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan vs North Korea
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North Korea vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or Taiwan?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to Taiwan?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 1578% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Taiwan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Taiwan 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 Taiwan?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Taiwan. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Taiwan 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.