Saudi Arabia North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Saudi Arabia

Minimum Wage

﷼23.08 /hr

$6.15 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼10,500 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +2420% Saudi Arabia vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Saudi Arabia mandates a wage floor of $6/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,800/mo in Saudi Arabia versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 25.2:1 ratio.

Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Saudi Arabia and North Korea
Metric	Saudi Arabia	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	﷼23.08 $6.15	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	﷼4,000 $1,066.67	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	﷼48,000 $12,800	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	﷼10,500 /mo $2,800	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+2420.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	﷼10,500 /mo $2,800	₩90,000 /mo $100	+2700.0%

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

Work Week

Saudi Arabia: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Saudi Labour Law sets 8 hrs/day, 48 hrs/week (6-day week). During Ramadan, reduced to 6 hrs/day, 36 hrs/week for Muslim employees. Overtime capped at 2 hrs/day. Overtime paid at base hourly rate + 50%. Friday is the standard weekly rest day. Government sector works 35 hrs/week (Sun-Thu).
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 Saudi Arabia

Compare Saudi Arabia with...

Saudi Arabia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Saudi Arabia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs France € 12.02 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Saudi Arabia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Switzerland

Saudi Arabia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Saudi Arabia vs Sweden

Saudi Arabia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Saudi Arabia vs Singapore

Saudi Arabia vs Norway

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Saudi Arabia or North Korea?

In Saudi Arabia, the minimum wage is ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Saudi Arabia is ﷼10,500/mo ($2,800 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Saudi Arabia earn approximately 2420% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Saudi Arabia and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Saudi Arabia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Saudi Arabia and North Korea?

Both Saudi Arabia 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.