Key Facts: Trinidad and Tobago vs North Korea Wages
- Trinidad and Tobago Minimum Wage
- TT$20.50/hr ($3.03 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Trinidad and Tobago Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- TT$9,500 /mo ($1,405.33 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour — Trinidad and Tobago (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Trinidad and Tobago
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Trinidad and Tobago mandates a wage floor of $3/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,405/mo in Trinidad and Tobago versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 12.6:1 ratio.
Trinidad and Tobago's unemployment rate is 3.3% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Trinidad and Tobago | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | TT$20.50 $3.03 | None |
| Minimum wage /day | TT$164 $24.26 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | TT$3,553.33 $525.64 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | TT$42,640 $6,307.69 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | TT$9,500 /mo $1,405.33 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | TT$7,600 /mo $1,124.26 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | TT$60,000 /yr $8,875.74 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Trinidad and Tobago is higher.
Work Week
- Trinidad and Tobago
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). Normal hours are 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, and 173.33 hours per month, exclusive of meal and rest breaks. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. Work on public holidays is paid at 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: Trinidad and Tobago mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Trinidad and Tobago
Compare Trinidad and Tobago with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Trinidad and Tobago or North Korea?
In Trinidad and Tobago, the minimum wage is TT$20.50/hr ($3.03 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Trinidad and Tobago compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Trinidad and Tobago is TT$9,500/mo ($1,405.33 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Trinidad and Tobago earn approximately 1165% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Trinidad and Tobago and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Trinidad and Tobago earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between Trinidad and Tobago and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Trinidad and Tobago. Workers in Trinidad and Tobago work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Trinidad and Tobago 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.