Rwanda North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Rwanda

Minimum Wage

FRw14.08 /hr

$0.01 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FRw73,948 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -54% Rwanda vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Rwanda mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $51/mo in Rwanda versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 2.2:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 11.4%.

Rwanda's unemployment rate is 11.4% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Rwanda and North Korea
Metric	Rwanda	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	FRw14.08 $0.01	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	FRw2,440 $1.67	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	FRw73,948 /mo $50.61	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	-54.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	FRw62,000 /mo $42.44	₩90,000 /mo $100	-57.6%
Median individual income /yr	FRw240,000 /yr $164.27	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Rwanda: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 55 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 45 hours per Law No. 66/2018 Regulating Labor in Rwanda. Overtime limited to 2 hours/day and 10 hours/week (max 55 hours total). Overtime permitted for urgent, exceptional, or seasonal work. Overtime compensation varies by sector agreement. Daily working hours typically 9 hours over 5 days.
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: Rwanda mandates 45 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Rwanda with...

Rwanda vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Rwanda vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Rwanda vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Rwanda vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Rwanda vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Rwanda vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Rwanda vs France € 12.02 /hr

Rwanda vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Rwanda vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Rwanda vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Rwanda vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Rwanda vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Rwanda vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Rwanda vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Rwanda vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Rwanda vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Rwanda vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Rwanda vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Rwanda vs Switzerland

Rwanda vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Rwanda vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Rwanda vs Sweden

Rwanda vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Rwanda vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Rwanda or North Korea?

In Rwanda, the minimum wage is FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much less does the average worker earn in Rwanda compared to North Korea?

The average gross salary in Rwanda is FRw73,948/mo ($50.61 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Rwanda earn approximately 120% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Rwanda and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in North Korea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Rwanda.

How do work hours compare between Rwanda and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Rwanda. Workers in Rwanda work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Rwanda 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.