Latvia's minimum wage is third-lowest in Europe

Despite regular increases in recent years, Latvia's minimum wage is still the third-lowest in the European Union in 2024, according to Eurostat data published July 30.

On 1 July 2024, 22 out of the 27 EU countries had a national minimum monthly wage. EU countries without a national minimum wage were Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland and Sweden.

Minimum wages in EU, July 2024
Minimum wages in EU, July 2024

Monthly minimum wages vary widely across the Member States, from €477 in Bulgaria to €2 571 in Luxembourg. For Latvia, the figure is €700.

That puts Latvia in a group with Cyprus, Poland, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Lithuania, Croatia, Estonia, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, Latvia, Hungary and Bulgaria in having a monthly minimum wage below €1,000.

When gross minimum wages are adjusted for price differences across countries, Latvia falls one more place to the second-lowest position in the EU ahead of only Bulgaria. On 1 July 2024, the highest minimum wage in Luxembourg was 5.4 times the lowest one in Bulgaria in terms of euros. But when adjusted for price differences, the highest in Luxembourg was 2.4 times the lowest in Bulgaria. 

Minimum wages in July 2024, adjusted for price differences
Minimum wages in July 2024, adjusted for price differences

 

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