Around 12.8 million workers across 22 European Union countries earn the minimum wage or less, according to estimates based on Eurostat data. This has put renewed focus on minimum wage levels, especially after around a third of minimum wage earners saw no increase between July 2025 and January 2026.

In nominal terms, monthly gross minimum wages across the EU range from €620 in Bulgaria to €2,704 in Luxembourg. Five countries have minimum wages above €2,000, including Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. At the other end of the scale, many eastern and southern European countries remain below €1,000, with all EU candidate countries in this lowest group.

When adjusted for purchasing power standards, which account for differences in living costs, the gaps between countries become much smaller. In PPS terms, minimum wages across the 22 EU countries range from 886 in Estonia to 2,157 in Germany. While rankings shift, the top nine countries remain the same, and several eastern European and candidate countries perform better once purchasing power is considered.

There is no statutory minimum wage in Italy, Austria, Sweden, Denmark or Finland. Experts say long-term differences in wage levels are linked to productivity, industrial strength, high-tech sectors and the bargaining power of workers.