Key Facts: South Africa vs North Korea Wages
- South Africa Minimum Wage
- R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- South Africa Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- R26,500 /mo ($1,630.41 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Employment and Labour; 2026 figure cross-verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-03-01) (2026-05-04), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
South Africa 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, South Africa mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,630/mo in South Africa versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 14.7:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 32.4%.
South Africa's unemployment rate is 32.4% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Africa | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | R30.23 $1.86 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | R5,239.87 $322.38 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | R62,878.40 $3,868.58 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | R26,500 /mo $1,630.41 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | R21,500 /mo $1,322.78 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | R72,000 /yr $4,429.79 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means South Africa is higher.
Work Week
- South Africa
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime maximum of 10 additional hours per week. Overtime rate is 1.5x; Sunday/public holiday work is 2x.
- 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: South Africa mandates 45 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs South Africa
Compare South Africa with...
South Africa vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
South Africa vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
South Africa vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
South Africa vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
South Africa vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
South Africa vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
South Africa vs France € 12.02 /hr 
South Africa vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
South Africa vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
South Africa vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
South Africa vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
South Africa vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
South Africa vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
South Africa vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
South Africa vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
South Africa vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
South Africa vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
South Africa vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
South Africa vs Switzerland 
South Africa vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
South Africa vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
South Africa vs Sweden 
South Africa vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
South Africa vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Africa or North Korea?
In South Africa, the minimum wage is R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in South Africa compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in South Africa is R26,500/mo ($1,630.41 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in South Africa earn approximately 1367% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Africa and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South Africa earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between South Africa and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in South Africa. Workers in South Africa work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Africa 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.