
In over 15 European countries, minimum wage increases have been approved for the new year. What are the minimum wage rates in Europe from 2025?
Each EU member state sets its own minimum wage, which varies from country to country. For example, in countries with a higher standard of living, such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands, the minimum wage is significantly higher than in countries like Bulgaria or Romania.
Most countries in Europe have decided that the minimum wage increase is an integral part of socio-economic policy, and for the majority of society, it represents an opportunity for better earnings in the new year. Five European countries do not have a statutory minimum wage: Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland, and Sweden. However, they still have mechanisms that protect workers from low wages, including collective bargaining, a well-developed social security system, and other forms of support for people in difficult situations in the labor market.
Minimum wage rates in Europe – 2025
In Europe, we can distinguish 4 groups based on the level of minimum wage rates. Group 1 includes countries where the monthly wage is below 800 EUR. Group 2 consists of countries with wages between 800 – 1000 EUR per month, Group 3 includes countries with a minimum wage ranging from 1000 – 2000 EUR per month, and Group 4 consists of countries with wages above 2000 EUR.
As can already be observed, the difference in minimum wage rates is significant, sometimes exceeding 2000 EUR. The highest minimum wage in Europe is nearly five times higher than the lowest (Bulgaria – 550.66 EUR, Luxembourg – 2637.77 EUR).
European Minimum Wage
The European minimum wage is a concept that aims to introduce a minimum wage level in all EU countries. This idea seeks to ensure a minimum standard of living for workers, preventing extreme cases of exploitation and wage disparities between member states. The main goal of this project is to minimize wage disparities across member countries.
Although the EU supports the introduction of fair wages, specific minimum wage levels are still set at the national level.
Below are the minimum wage rates that will apply in individual European countries from 2025:
Group I | Minimum Wage |
Bulgaria | 550,66 EUR |
Hungary | 773,90/883,82 EUR |
Latvia | 740 EUR |
Group II | Minimum Wage |
Romania | 814,49 EUR |
Greece | 968 EUR |
Croatia | 970 EUR |
Czech Republic | 823,3 EUR |
Estonia | 886 EUR |
Malta | 961,05 EUR |
Slovakia | 816 EUR |
Group III | Minimum Wage |
Poland | 1085,57 EUR |
Portugal | 1015 EUR |
Lithuania | 1038 EUR |
Slovenia | 1253,36 EUR |
Spain | 1323 EUR |
France | 1801,80 EUR |
Group IV | Minimum Wage |
Germany | 2222 EUR |
Belgium | 2029,88 EUR |
Netherlands | 2437 EUR |
Ireland | 2281,50 EUR |
Luxembourg | 2637,77 EUR |
Important! When comparing the above minimum wage rates, it is important to remember that the wage level in a country is influenced by several key factors, including:
- Unemployment rate
- GDP
- Standard of living
- State of the national economy
It is also important to note that high wages usually translate into equally high taxes. Therefore, everything has its pros and cons.
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