Minimum wages for the second half of 2026 have been released by Eurostat, showing that only eight of 29 European countries increased their gross minimum wage between January and July 2026, while consumer inflation in the euro area was 3.2% over the same six-month period. That means minimum wage earners lost ground in real terms in several countries where inflation was particularly high.
So, which European countries pay the highest minimum wages based on the latest data? And how does the ranking change when adjusted for purchasing power?
