Key Facts: Sierra Leone vs North Korea Wages
- Sierra Leone Minimum Wage
- Le600/mo ($25.97 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Sierra Leone Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Le2,500 /mo ($108.23 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Sierra Leone). Note: snapshot diff flags 'currency mismatch' against Wikipedia (which still uses old SLL 500,000) — our SLE 600 reflects the post-2022 redenomination (1 SLE = 1,000 SLL) and is the correct current notation (2026-05-04), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Sierra Leone 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Sierra Leone mandates a wage floor of $26/mo. Average salaries are lower in Sierra Leone at $108/mo compared to $111/mo in North Korea.
Sierra Leone's unemployment rate is 3.1% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sierra Leone | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | Le600 $25.97 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Le2,500 /mo $108.23 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | Le4,200 /yr $181.82 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Sierra Leone is higher.
Work Week
- Sierra Leone
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
The Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations Act sets standard hours at 40 per week for office workers and 48 for industrial workers. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for the first additional 8 hours. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.
- 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: Sierra Leone mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Sierra Leone
Compare Sierra Leone with...
Sierra Leone vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Sierra Leone vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Sierra Leone vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Switzerland 
Sierra Leone vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Sierra Leone vs Sweden 
Sierra Leone vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sierra Leone or North Korea?
In Sierra Leone, the minimum wage is Le600/mo ($25.97 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Sierra Leone compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Sierra Leone is Le2,500/mo ($108.23 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Sierra Leone earn approximately 3% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone.
How do work hours compare between Sierra Leone and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sierra Leone. Workers in Sierra Leone work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sierra Leone 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.