The differences in wages across European countries are due to a combination of factors, such as economic, structural and social factors. Key reasons include differences in labour productivity, the sectoral structure of the economy, the strength of trade unions, the level of education and the cost of living.
Experts at the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) pointed out that high productivity forms the basis for consistently high wages. High-tech industries also tend to show higher productivity, while stronger bargaining power for workers is one of the key factors.
Among EU member states, the monthly minimum wage ranges from €620 in Bulgaria to €2,704 in Luxembourg. According to Euronews’ estimate based on Eurostat data, around 12.8 million workers in 22 EU countries earn the minimum wage or less. Eurostat groups minimum wages into three categories: above €1,500, between €1,000 and €1,500, and below €1,000.
In five EU member states, the minimum wage is €2,000, namely Luxembourg (€2,704), Ireland (€2,391), Germany (€2,343), the Netherlands (€2,295) and Belgium (€2,112). France follows with €1,823. Spain, Slovenia, Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, Portugal, Croatia and Greece fall into the middle group.
The minimum wage remained unchanged in Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Luxembourg, and Slovenia between July 2025 and January 2026. Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia recorded the highest increases, each rising by more than 11% over this period. It also remained unchanged in Estonia, Spain and Slovenia since January 2025. In Romania, the minimum wage in national currency remained unchanged, but in both periods it decreased slightly in euros.
Among the 29 countries – 22 EU members and seven candidates – the minimum wage in 15 countries is below €1,000. The minimum wage in 15 countries is below €1,000. All EU candidate countries fall into this lowest group. Several Eastern European countries are also included. The minimum wage is €924 in the Czech Republic, €838 in Hungary.
In countries seeking to join the Union, minimum wages are significantly lower than in EU countries, but in recent years they have been growing faster. The figures for January 2026 show the following. Montenegro set a relatively high minimum wage of €670–€800, higher than in some member states of the EU. Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina remained at the same level and showed no signs of growth. Meanwhile, Ukraine, due to martial law and the ongoing conflict with Russia, shows the lowest minimum wage of €173.
