Qatar North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Qatar

Minimum Wage

QAR5.21 /hr

$1.43 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

QAR11,724 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +2799% Qatar vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Qatar mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $3,221/mo in Qatar versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 29.0:1 ratio. Qatar has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 0.1% compared to 3.5%.

Qatar's unemployment rate is 0.1% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Qatar and North Korea
Metric	Qatar	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	QAR5.21 $1.43	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	QAR1,000 $274.73	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	QAR12,000 $3,296.70	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+2798.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88	₩90,000 /mo $100	+3120.9%

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

Work Week

Qatar: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week) under the Labour Law No. 14 of 2004. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium: 25% of basic wage. Work between 9pm and 6am attracts a 50% premium. Government sector typically works 35-40 hours/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.

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

Compare Qatar with...

Qatar vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Qatar vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Qatar vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Qatar vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Qatar vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Qatar vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Qatar vs France € 12.02 /hr

Qatar vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Qatar vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Qatar vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Qatar vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Qatar vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Qatar vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Qatar vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Qatar vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Qatar vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Qatar vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Qatar vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Qatar vs Switzerland

Qatar vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Qatar vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Qatar vs Sweden

Qatar vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Qatar vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Qatar or North Korea?

In Qatar, the minimum wage is QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Qatar is QAR11,724/mo ($3,220.88 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Qatar earn approximately 2799% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Qatar and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Qatar earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Qatar and North Korea?

Both Qatar and North Korea mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.