Eurostat data from the second half of 2026 show that only eight out of 29 European countries increased their gross minimum wage since January, while inflation in the eurozone was 3.2% during the same period. The ranking of countries by minimum wage changes significantly when purchasing power is considered. Luxembourg has the highest gross minimum wage at €2771, followed by Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Croatia ranks among nine countries with wages between €1000 and €2000, alongside Slovenia, Spain, Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, Greece, and Portugal. More than half of the observed countries have a gross minimum wage below €1000, with Ukraine and Moldova having the lowest. When adjusted for purchasing power (PPS), Germany leads with 2164 PPS, followed by Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ireland. Several candidate countries for EU membership, such as North Macedonia and Serbia, have higher minimum wages in PPS terms compared to some current EU members. Only eight countries raised their minimum wage between January and August 2026, with the largest increases recorded in North Macedonia, Romania, and Estonia.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data on minimum wages across Europe and their purchasing power, without overtly favoring any political side. It uses neutral language and provides comparative figures without editorializing or emphasizing particular political viewpoints.
