Turkey North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Turkey

Minimum Wage

₺164.94 /hr

$3.59 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₺25,482 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +400% Turkey vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Turkey mandates a wage floor of $4/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $555/mo in Turkey versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 5.0:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 8.5%.

Turkey's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Turkey and North Korea
Metric	Turkey	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	₺164.94 $3.59	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	₺33,030 $719.70	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	₺396,360 $8,636.42	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₺25,482 /mo $555.24	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+399.7%
Avg. net salary /mo	₺20,021 /mo $436.24	₩90,000 /mo $100	+336.2%

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

Work Week

Turkey: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 45 hours under the Labour Act (No. 4857). Can be distributed unevenly across days of the week, but no more than 11 hours/day. Overtime is limited to 270 hours/year. Overtime premium is 50%; weekend/holiday work is at 100% premium if the worker does not get a substitute rest day.
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: Turkey mandates 45 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Turkey with...

Turkey vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Turkey vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Turkey vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Turkey vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Turkey vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Turkey vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Turkey vs France € 12.02 /hr

Turkey vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Turkey vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Turkey vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Turkey vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Turkey vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Turkey vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Turkey vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Turkey vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Turkey vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Turkey vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Turkey vs Switzerland

Turkey vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Turkey vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Turkey vs Sweden

Turkey vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Turkey vs Singapore

Turkey vs Norway

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Turkey or North Korea?

In Turkey, the minimum wage is ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Turkey is ₺25,482/mo ($555.24 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Turkey earn approximately 400% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkey and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Turkey earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Turkey and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Turkey. Workers in Turkey work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Turkey 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.