Norway North Korea

Updated 2026-05-28

Norway

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr55,150 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +5258% Norway vs North Korea

Neither Norway nor North Korea has a statutory minimum wage, relying instead on collective bargaining or sectoral agreements. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,953/mo in Norway versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 53.6:1 ratio.

Norway's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Norway and North Korea
Metric	Norway	North Korea	Diff
Avg. gross salary /mo	kr55,150 /mo $5,953.34	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+5258.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	kr38,600 /mo $4,166.80	₩90,000 /mo $100	+4066.8%
Median individual income /yr	kr570,000 /yr $61,530.49	N/A/yr	—

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Norway is higher.

Work Week

Norway: 37.5 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.
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: Norway mandates 37.5 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Norway

Compare Norway with...

Norway vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Norway vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Norway vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Norway vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Norway vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Norway vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Norway vs France € 12.02 /hr

Norway vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Norway vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Norway vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Norway vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Norway vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Norway vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Norway vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Norway vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Norway vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Norway vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Norway vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Norway vs Switzerland

Norway vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Norway vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Norway vs Sweden

Norway vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Norway vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

How much more does the average worker earn in Norway compared to North Korea?

The average gross salary in Norway is kr55,150/mo ($5,953.34 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Norway earn approximately 5258% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Norway and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Norway and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 37.5 hours in Norway. Workers in Norway work 37.5 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Norway 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.