Ranking of Minimum Wages in Europe: Where Are the Highest Wages Paid?
30 March 04:01
The minimum wage in Europe varies dramatically from country to country, highlighting a sharp divide between Western and Eastern Europe. A corresponding infographic is provided by visualcapitalist.com, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to Eurostat, the highest monthly minimum wage in Europe is in Luxembourg—€2,704. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s figure stands at just €164. Thus, a minimum-wage worker in Luxembourg earns 16 times more than in Ukraine, which ranks last in the list.
Ireland ranks second in terms of minimum wage, at €2,282. The country has become a de facto European hub for American tech companies, so average wages there are likely significantly higher. In third place is the United Kingdom (€2,279 for a typical 37.5-hour workweek), which historically became the first country in Europe to introduce a minimum wage back in 1909.
Analysts note a clear divide across the continent: in Eastern Europe, only two countries (Poland and Slovenia) have a monthly minimum wage exceeding 1,000 euros. Meanwhile, in Northern European countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland), this figure is regulated by collective bargaining agreements.
Switzerland also lacks a nationwide “minimum wage”—rates are set at the cantonal or sectoral level. For example, in Geneva, one of the highest-paying regions, the minimum pay for a 40-hour workweek reaches €4,667. In Austria, agreements have established a baseline of €1,700, while in Italy, the minimum wage is also regulated by sector-specific agreements and varies significantly depending on the sector and the employee’s skill level.
Top 10 European countries by minimum wage:
- Luxembourg — €2,704
- Ireland — €2,282
- United Kingdom — €2,279
- Netherlands — €2,246
- Germany — €2,161
- Belgium — €2,112
- France — €1,802
- Spain — €1,381
- Slovenia — €1,278
- Poland — €1,100
