Europe Sees Only Eight Countries Raise Minimum Wages Amid Rising Inflation

According to recent data from Eurostat, only eight out of 29 European countries increased their minimum wage between January and July 2026. Meanwhile, consumer inflation in the euro area reached a rate of 3.2% over the same six-month period.

This means that workers earning the minimum wage lost ground in real terms in several countries where inflation was high, as reported by Euronews. In nominal terms, Luxembourg has the highest gross monthly minimum wage in Europe at €2,771, while Bulgaria has the lowest at €620 within the EU.

The top five countries with the highest minimum wages are Luxembourg (€2,771), Ireland (€2,391), Germany (€2,343), the Netherlands (€2,338), and Belgium (€2,234). France is close behind with a minimum wage of €1,867.