Spain North Korea

Updated 2026-03-02

Spain

Minimum Wage

€7.96 /hr

$9.27 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€2,450 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +2468% Spain vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Spain mandates a wage floor of $9/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,853/mo in Spain versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 25.7:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 10.4%.

Spain's unemployment rate is 10.4% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Spain and North Korea
Metric	Spain	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	€7.96 $9.27	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	€1,221 $1,421.92	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	€17,094 $19,906.84	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	€2,450 /mo $2,853.15	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+2467.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	€1,900 /mo $2,212.65	₩90,000 /mo $100	+2112.6%
Median individual income /yr	€22,000 /yr $25,620.12	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Spain: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Workers' Statute, Article 34). Maximum 80 hours of overtime per year. Overtime compensation is set by collective agreement or individual contract, with a minimum of regular hourly rate or equivalent time off. EU Working Time Directive caps average weekly hours at 48.
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: Spain mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Spain with...

Spain vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Spain vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Spain vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Spain vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Spain vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Spain vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Spain vs France € 12.02 /hr

Spain vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Spain vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Spain vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Spain vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Spain vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Spain vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Spain vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Spain vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Spain vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Spain vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Spain vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Spain vs Switzerland

Spain vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Spain vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Spain vs Sweden

Spain vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Spain vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Spain or North Korea?

In Spain, the minimum wage is €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Spain is €2,450/mo ($2,853.15 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Spain earn approximately 2468% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Spain and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Spain earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Spain and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Spain. Workers in Spain work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Spain 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.