According to data published by Eurostat, as of 1 January 2026, 22 of the EU’s 27 countries had a national minimum wage. Five EU countries do not have a national minimum wage: Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland and Sweden. Monthly minimum wages vary widely across the EU, ranging from €620 in Bulgaria to €2,704 in Luxembourg.
With a minimum wage of €2,704, Luxembourg stands well above all other EU countries with a statutory minimum wage. This level is largely explained by the country’s high cost of living and its high value-added economic structure.
Behind Luxembourg, the top tier is completed by Ireland (€2,391), Germany (€2,343) and the Netherlands (€2,295). Belgium follows with €2,112, underscoring the dominance of Western European countries among the highest minimum-wage levels.
Among countries where the minimum wage falls between €1,000 and €2,000, France records a level of €1,823, placing it behind Cyprus (€1,888) but ahead of Spain (€1,381).
Several countries fall into this intermediate range, reflecting diverse economic profiles. Just below the €1,000 threshold, Malta posts €994, placing it on the boundary between the two groups.
The lower end of the ranking is dominated by Central and Eastern European countries, where statutory minimum wages remain below €1,000.
Bulgaria ranks last with €620—around four times lower than Luxembourg—highlighting the scale of social and economic imbalances within the single market.
The data also point to a significant institutional reality: some countries do not have a national statutory minimum wage. This is the case in Denmark, Italy and Austria, where minimum pay levels are generally set through sectoral collective bargaining agreements, depending on industries and negotiated arrangements between social partners.
Overall, the gap between the highest minimum wage (Luxembourg, €2,704) and the lowest (Bulgaria, €620) exceeds €2,000, revealing a divergence that remains structurally significant within the EU. While minimum wages continue to rise gradually in several countries, these figures show that social convergence remains a major challenge—at the heart of European debates on purchasing power, competitiveness and cohesion.
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