Singapore North Korea

Updated 2026-06-01

Singapore

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

S$5,800 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +3985% Singapore vs North Korea

Neither Singapore nor North Korea has a statutory minimum wage, relying instead on collective bargaining or sectoral agreements. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,539/mo in Singapore versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 40.9:1 ratio.

Singapore's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Singapore and North Korea
Metric	Singapore	North Korea	Diff
Avg. gross salary /mo	S$5,800 /mo $4,539.05	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+3985.1%
Avg. net salary /mo	S$4,930 /mo $3,858.19	₩90,000 /mo $100	+3758.2%
Median individual income /yr	S$66,000 /yr $51,651.28	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Singapore: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act caps at 44 hours/week (8 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 9 hrs/day for fewer days). Overtime pay at 1.5x hourly basic rate, applies to non-workmen earning up to SGD 2,600/mo and workmen earning up to SGD 4,500/mo. Maximum overtime: 72 hours/month.
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: Singapore mandates 44 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Singapore with...

Singapore vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Singapore vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Singapore vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Singapore vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Singapore vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Singapore vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Singapore vs France € 12.02 /hr

Singapore vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Singapore vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Singapore vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Singapore vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Singapore vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Singapore vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Singapore vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Singapore vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Singapore vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Singapore vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Singapore vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Singapore vs Switzerland

Singapore vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Singapore vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Singapore vs Sweden

Singapore vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Singapore vs Norway

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The average gross salary in Singapore is S$5,800/mo ($4,539.05 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Singapore earn approximately 3985% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Singapore and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Singapore earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Singapore and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Singapore. Workers in Singapore work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Singapore 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.