Minimum Wages in European Union 2016

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European Union Minimum wage

In 2016 there were 22 out of 28 European Union member states with official minimum wage set by the government.

Update: Minimum Wages in European Union 2018

The most are receiving residents of Luxembourg (EUR 1,923.00) while the least in Bulgaria (EUR 215). 

By simple calculations, I averaged the average minimum wage in 22 EU member states - EUR 810.82. In most of the member countries there is an increase in minimum wage in 2016, still, there is one country with sharp decrease.

N.B. Countries that don't have a minimum wage set by the government in European Union - Austria, Denmark, Finland, Cyprus, Italy and Sweden (collective bargaining agreements effective, instead of minimum wage)

For this year's minimum wage table I decided to include data for 2014, 2015 and current 2016, added growth over year and growth over two years, to better understand the overall scene. Data used in this table are from Minimum wages on Eurostat, List of sovereign states in Europe by minimum wage and my previous articles: Minimum wage 2015; Minimum wage 2014;

Rank Country 2014 2015 2016 Growth one-year Growth two years  %
1 Luxembourg 1,921 1,923 1923 0 2 0
2 Ireland 1,461 1,461 1545 84 84 5.43
3 Belgium 1,501 1,502 1502 0 1 0
4 Netherlands 1,485 1,502 1502 0 17 0
5 Germany N/A 1,473 1473 0 N/A 0
6 France 1,455 1,458 1458 0 3 0
7 United Kingdom 1,226 1,378 1398 20 172 1.43
8 Slovenia 789 791 791 0 2 0
9 Spain 752 757 757 0 5 0
10 Malta 702 703 703 0 1 0
11 Greece 683 684 684 0 1 0
12 Portugal 565 589 530 -59 -35 -11.13
13 Estonia 355 390 430 40 75 9.30
14 Poland 405 410 430 20 25 4.65
15 Croatia 396 400 410 10 14 2.43
16 Slovakia 352 380 405 25 53 6.17
17 Latvia 320 360 370 10 50 2.70
18 Czech Republic 309 335 367 32 58 8.71
19 Hungary 327 345 358 13 31 3.63
20 Lithuania 289 325 350 25 61 7.14
21 Romania 202 235 237 2 35 0.84
22 Bulgaria 173 194 215 21 42 9.76
  Average EU 746 799.77 810.82      

The average minimum wage for 22 EU member states has increased by almost EUR 70 during past two years, from EUR 746 in 2014 to EUR 810.92. Of course, its just an overall indicator and doesn't mean minimum wages in all member states are equal. Not at all.

In 2016, there were seven countries with minimum wage larger than EUR 1,000 -  Luxembourg, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France and United Kingdom. These countries as the richest of EU usually doesn't increase their minimum wages sharply, but in 2016 Ireland and UK stands out, by increased monthly minimum by EUR 82.00 and EUR 172.00 respectively, over the past two years.

Map of minimum wages in EU 2016

Map of minimum wages in EU 2016

Five countries - Slovenia, Spain, Malta, Greece and Portugal averages between EUR 791 and EUR 530, with Portugal showing a sharp decrease (- EUR 59) in minimum.

All the rest countries and they are ten (located in the East) fells bellow EUR 500 monthly mark. It will require years, if not decades, for these countries to catch up with better-developed countries in Western Europe.

See: Average wages in EU 2016

Are you living in one of EU member countries and receive minimum wage? - leave your thoughts in the comments section - readers and I would love to hear!