North Korea Tajikistan

Updated 2026-02-25

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Tajikistan

Minimum Wage

SM600 /mo

$54.95 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

SM1,600 /mo

Avg. salary: -24% North Korea vs Tajikistan

North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while Tajikistan sets a floor of $55/mo. Average salaries are lower in North Korea at $111/mo compared to $147/mo in Tajikistan. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.9%.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Tajikistan's 6.9%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and Tajikistan
Metric	North Korea	Tajikistan	Diff
Minimum wage /mo	None	SM600 $54.95	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	SM1,600 /mo $146.52	-24.2%
Avg. net salary /mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	SM1,450 /mo $132.78	-24.7%
Median individual income /yr	N/A/yr	SM7,200 /yr $659.34	—

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.
Tajikistan: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 52 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum 52 hours including overtime (12 hours overtime permitted). Overtime paid at 1.5x for weekday hours, 2x for rest days and public holidays. The standard workweek for certain hazardous industries is reduced to 36 hours.

What This Means for Workers

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

See this comparison from Tajikistan's perspective: Tajikistan 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 Tajikistan?

In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Tajikistan, it is SM600/mo ($54.95 USD).

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

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to SM1,600/mo ($146.52 USD) in Tajikistan. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 32% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and Tajikistan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Tajikistan 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 Tajikistan?

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