Key Facts: North Macedonia vs North Korea Wages
- North Macedonia Minimum Wage
- ден207/hr ($3.95 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- North Macedonia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ден55,000 /mo ($1,050.62 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of North Macedonia (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
North Macedonia 
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, North Macedonia mandates a wage floor of $4/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,051/mo in North Macedonia versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 9.5:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 12.3%.
North Macedonia's unemployment rate is 12.3% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Macedonia | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ден207 $3.95 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | ден36,037 $688.39 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | ден432,444 $8,260.63 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ден55,000 /mo $1,050.62 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ден38,000 /mo $725.88 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | ден264,000 /yr $5,042.98 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means North Macedonia is higher.
Work Week
- North Macedonia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.35x pay
Labour Relations Law sets standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hrs/day). Overtime limited to 8 hours per week, up to 190 hours per year. Overtime premium at least 35%. Night work (22:00-06:00) premium at least 35%. Work on rest days and holidays at least 50% premium.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Macedonia mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs North Macedonia
Compare North Macedonia with...
North Macedonia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
North Macedonia vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
North Macedonia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
North Macedonia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
North Macedonia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
North Macedonia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
North Macedonia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
North Macedonia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Switzerland 
North Macedonia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
North Macedonia vs Sweden 
North Macedonia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
North Macedonia vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Macedonia or North Korea?
In North Macedonia, the minimum wage is ден207/hr ($3.95 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in North Macedonia compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in North Macedonia is ден55,000/mo ($1,050.62 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in North Macedonia earn approximately 846% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Macedonia and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in North Macedonia 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 Macedonia and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in North Macedonia. Workers in North Macedonia work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in North Macedonia 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.