Key Facts: Poland vs North Korea Wages
- Poland Minimum Wage
- zł31.40/hr ($8.64 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Poland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- zł8,800 /mo ($2,421.11 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Family and Social Policy (Ministerstwo Rodziny i Polityki Spolecznej) (2026-05-15), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Poland 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-15
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Poland mandates a wage floor of $9/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,421/mo in Poland versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 21.8:1 ratio.
Poland's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Poland | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | zł31.40 $8.64 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | zł4,806 $1,322.25 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | zł57,672 $15,867.06 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | zł8,800 /mo $2,421.11 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | zł6,410 /mo $1,763.56 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | zł79,692 /yr $21,925.33 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Poland is higher.
Work Week
- Poland
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days. Overtime premium: 50% for weekdays, 100% for nights, Sundays, and public holidays. Annual overtime cap of 150 hours unless modified by collective 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: Poland mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Poland
Compare Poland with...
Poland vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Poland vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Poland vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Poland vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Poland vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Poland vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Poland vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Poland vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Poland vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Poland vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Poland vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Poland vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Poland vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Poland vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Poland vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Poland vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Poland vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Poland vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Poland vs Switzerland 
Poland vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Poland vs Sweden 
Poland vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Poland vs Singapore 
Poland vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Poland or North Korea?
In Poland, the minimum wage is zł31.40/hr ($8.64 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Poland compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Poland is zł8,800/mo ($2,421.11 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Poland earn approximately 2079% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Poland and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Poland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Poland and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Poland. Workers in Poland work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Poland 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.