Sweden North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Sweden

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr40,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +3786% Sweden vs North Korea

Neither Sweden nor North Korea has a statutory minimum wage, relying instead on collective bargaining or sectoral agreements. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,318/mo in Sweden versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 38.9:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 8.7%.

Sweden's unemployment rate is 8.7% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Sweden and North Korea
Metric	Sweden	North Korea	Diff
Avg. gross salary /mo	kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+3786.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31	₩90,000 /mo $100	+3138.3%
Median individual income /yr	kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Sweden: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Arbetstidslagen). Maximum overtime is 48 hours over 4 weeks or 200 hours per calendar year. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements, not statute. Many agreements provide overtime at 150-200% of normal pay. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
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: Sweden mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Sweden with...

Sweden vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Sweden vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Sweden vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Sweden vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Sweden vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Sweden vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Sweden vs France € 12.02 /hr

Sweden vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Sweden vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Sweden vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Sweden vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Sweden vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Sweden vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Sweden vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Sweden vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Sweden vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Sweden vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Sweden vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Sweden vs Switzerland

Sweden vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Sweden vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Sweden vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Sweden vs Singapore

Sweden vs Norway

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The average gross salary in Sweden is kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Sweden earn approximately 3786% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sweden and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sweden earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Sweden and North Korea?

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