Zimbabwe North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Zimbabwe

Minimum Wage

$0.87 /hr

Avg. Gross Salary

$253 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +128% Zimbabwe vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Zimbabwe mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $253/mo in Zimbabwe versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 2.3:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 9.3%.

Zimbabwe's unemployment rate is 9.3% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Zimbabwe and North Korea
Metric	Zimbabwe	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$0.87	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	$150	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	$1,800	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$253 /mo	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+127.7%
Avg. net salary /mo	$220 /mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	+120.0%
Median individual income /yr	$1,200 /yr	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Zimbabwe: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Act sets maximum working hours at 45 per week (9 hours/day for 5-day week). Overtime is limited and must be compensated at 150% of normal rate. Sunday and public holiday work at 200%.
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: Zimbabwe mandates 45 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Zimbabwe with...

Zimbabwe vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Zimbabwe vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Zimbabwe vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Zimbabwe vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Zimbabwe vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Zimbabwe vs France € 12.02 /hr

Zimbabwe vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Zimbabwe vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Switzerland

Zimbabwe vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Zimbabwe vs Sweden

Zimbabwe vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Zimbabwe vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Zimbabwe or North Korea?

In Zimbabwe, the minimum wage is $0.87/hr. In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Zimbabwe is $253/mo, compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Zimbabwe earn approximately 128% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Zimbabwe and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Zimbabwe earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Zimbabwe and North Korea?

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