Portugal North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Portugal

Minimum Wage

€5.31 /hr

$6.18 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€1,550 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +1525% Portugal vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Portugal mandates a wage floor of $6/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,805/mo in Portugal versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 16.2:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.2%.

Portugal's unemployment rate is 6.2% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Portugal and North Korea
Metric	Portugal	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	€5.31 $6.18	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	€920 $1,071.39	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	€12,880 $14,999.42	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	€1,550 /mo $1,805.05	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+1524.5%
Avg. net salary /mo	€1,150 /mo $1,339.23	₩90,000 /mo $100	+1239.2%
Median individual income /yr	€14,000 /yr $16,303.71	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Portugal: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Labour Code). The first hour of overtime on a working day is paid at 125%, subsequent hours at 137.5%. Overtime on rest days and public holidays is paid at 150%. Maximum 150 hours of overtime per year (can be increased to 200 by collective agreement). EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/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.

What This Means for Workers

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

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

Compare Portugal with...

Portugal vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Portugal vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Portugal vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Portugal vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Portugal vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Portugal vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Portugal vs France € 12.02 /hr

Portugal vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Portugal vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Portugal vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Portugal vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Portugal vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Portugal vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Portugal vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Portugal vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Portugal vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Portugal vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Portugal vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Portugal vs Switzerland

Portugal vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Portugal vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Portugal vs Sweden

Portugal vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Portugal vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Portugal or North Korea?

In Portugal, the minimum wage is €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Portugal is €1,550/mo ($1,805.05 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Portugal earn approximately 1525% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Portugal and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Portugal earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Portugal and North Korea?

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