Minimum Wage by Country in 2023: A Guide for Global Employers

Global expansion empowers companies to take advantage of various growth opportunities, such as access to new markets, lucrative tax incentives, and engaging a larger talent pool.

However, to avoid fines, damaged business reputation, and even jail time, global businesses must comply with minimum wage requirements in each jurisdiction in which they operate.

Understanding minimum wage requirements worldwide is also critical for measuring total employee costs as you plan for and build a distributed workforce.

Read this guide for a breakdown of minimum wage requirements by country and region. Plus, learn how partnering with a global expert eliminates compliance risks when hiring internationally.

Table of Contents

• 10 Countries With the Highest Minimum Wages
• 10 Countries With the Lowest Minimum Wages
• Minimum Wages By Global Region
• Countries Without Statutory Minimum Wages
• Ensure Compliance With Global Minimum Wage Laws

10 Countries With the Highest Minimum Wages

Minimum wage requirements vary drastically worldwide. Below is a list of countries that offer the highest minimum wages in the world.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg offers the highest minimum wage of any country worldwide at US$3,169 (EUR 2,936) per month for skilled talent over the age of 18.

Unskilled talent, or talent under the age of 18, receive a lower monthly minimum wage:

• Unskilled workers 18 years of age and older: US$2,641 (EUR 2,447)
• 17 to 18 years of age: US$2,113 (EUR 1,958)
• 15 to 17 years of age: US$1,980 (EUR 1,835)

Australia

Australia’s monthly minimum wage is US$13.44 (AUD 21.38) per hour for adults over the age of 21, or about US$2,258 (AUD 3,592) per month.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s monthly minimum wage is US$14.21 (NZD 22.70) per hour for workers 16 years of age and older, or about US$2,387 (NZD 3,814) per month.

The monthly minimum wage for New Zealanders in training or starting a new job is US$11.37 (NZD 18.16) per hour, or about US$1,910 (NZD 3,051) per month.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands’ monthly minimum wage is US$2,152 (EUR 1,995) for adults over the age of 21. Talent under the age of 21 receives a lower minimum wage:

• 20 years of age: US$1,722 (EUR 1,596)
• 19 years of age: US$1,292 (EUR 1,197)
• 18 years of age: US$1,077 (EUR 998)
• 17 years of age: US$850 (EUR 788)
• 16 years of age: US$743 (EUR 688)
• 15 years of age: US$646 (EUR 599)

Ireland

Ireland’s monthly minimum wage is US$2,114 (EUR 1,959) for talent 20 years of age and older. Talent under the age of 21 receives a lower minimum wage:

• 19 years of age: US$1,903 (EUR 1,763) per month
• 18 years of age: US$1,691 (EUR 1,567) per month
• Under 18: US$1,480 (EUR 1,371) per month

United Kingdom

The U.K. applies two minimum wage structures: the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage.

The National Living Wage guarantees US$12.94 (GPB 10.42) per hour to talent 23 years of age and older, or roughly US$2,174 (GBP 1,751) per month.

The National Minimum Wage applies to talent aged 18 to 22 and is adjusted as follows:

• 21 to 22 years of age: US$12.64 (GBP 10.18) per hour, or about US$2,124 (GBP 1,710) per month
• 18 to 20 years of age: US$9.30 (GBP 7.49) per hour, or about US$1,562 (GBP 1,258) per month
• Under 18: US$6.55 (GBP 5.28) per hour, or about US$1,100 (GBP 887) per month

Additionally, the monthly minimum wage of US$6.55 (GBP 5.28) per hour also applies to anyone under 19 years of age working as an apprentice or over 19 and in their first year of apprenticeship.

Germany

Germany’s monthly minimum wage is US$2,144 (EUR 1,987).

United States

The national minimum wage in the United States is US$7.25 per hour, or about US$1,218 per month. However, states may set minimum wages above the federal floor level at their own discretion.

For example, Washington offers the highest minimum wage of all U.S. states at US$15.74 per hour, or about US$2,736 per month.

Canada

Previously, Canadian employers were only subject to the minimum wage requirements of the province or territory where they operated.

However, in April 2023, Canada adopted a nationwide basic federal minimum wage of US$12.34 (CAD 16.65) per hour, or about US$2,073 (CAD 2,797) per month, with specific adjustments for students, homeworkers, and wilderness guides.

Belgium

Belgium’s monthly minimum wage is US$2,110 (EUR 1,955).

10 Countries With the Lowest Minimum Wages

Below is a list of countries that offer the lowest minimum wages in the world.

Nigeria

Nigeria’s minimum wage is one of the lowest in the world, at US$65 (NGN 30,000) per month.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan’s monthly minimum wage is US$86 (UZS 980,000).

India

India’s Code on Wages Bill of 2019 establishes a national minimum wage of US$65 (INR 5,340) per month. However, minimum wages vary depending on skillset and place of employment.

Pakistan

Pakistan’s monthly minimum wage is US$112 (PKR 32,000).

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s monthly minimum wage is US$156 (KZT 70,000).

Armenia

Armenia’s monthly minimum wage is US$195 (AMD 75,000).

The Philippines

The minimum wage in the Philippines varies by region, ranging from US$5.49 (PHP 306) per day in the BARMM region to US$10.22 (PHP 570) per day in the National Capital Region, or about US$115 (PHP 6,426) to US$215 (PHP 11,970) per month.

Ukraine

Ukraine’s monthly minimum wage is US$181 (UAH 6,700).

Vietnam

Vietnam applies two minimum wage structures: the common monthly minimum wage and the Regional Minimum Wage.

The common monthly minimum wage applies to public employees only and amounts to US$64 (VND 1,490,000).

The Regional Minimum Wage applies to private employees and ranges from US$138 (VND 3,250,000) to US$199 (VND 4,680,000) per month, depending on the region.

Indonesia

Monthly minimum wages in Indonesia vary by province, ranging from US$126 (IDR 1,958,169) in Central Java to US$316 (IDR 4,901,798) in DKI Jakarta.

Read more: The Complete Guide to Employee Cost

Minimum Wages By Region

Below, we list countries with the highest and lowest monthly minimum wages in each region of the world.

Europe

Highest Minimum Wages

• Luxembourg: US$3,169 (EUR 2,936)
• Netherlands: US$2,153 (EUR 1,995)
• Belgium: US$2,110 (EUR 1,955)
• United Kingdom: US$2,250 (GBP 1,811)
• France: US$1,885 (EUR 1,747)

Lowest Minimum Wages

• Albania: US$288 (ALL 30,128)
• Bulgaria: US$392 (BGN 710)
• Turkey: US$404 (TRY 7,998)
• Serbia: US$434 (RSD 47,124)
• Latvia: US$540 (EUR 500)

Asia

Highest Minimum Wages

• Japan: US$1,916 (JPY 264,613)
• South Korea: US$1,506 (KRW 1,996,836)
• Hong Kong: US$1,147 (HKD 8,964)
• Taiwan: US$856 (TWD 26,179)
• China: US$392 (CNY 2,745)

Lowest Minimum Wages

• Myanmar: US$78 (MMK 156,38,368)
• Laos: US$92 (LAK 1,622,818)
• Bangladesh: US$95 (BDT 10,234)
• Pakistan: US$112 (PKR 32,000)
• Mongolia: US$160 (MNT 557,204)

Latin and South America

Highest Minimum Wages

• Costa Rica: US$657 (CRC 350,975)
• Uruguay: US$542 (UYU 21,196)
• Chile: US$513 (CLP 410,000)
• Ecuador: US$450 (US$450)
• Guatemala: US$406 (GTQ 3,166)

Lowest Minimum Wages

• Venezuela: US$0.00005 (VEF 130)
• Dominican Republic: US$211 (DOP 11,500)
• Columbia: US$256 (COP 1,160,000)
• Brazil: US$262 (BRL 1,302)
• Argentina: US$281 (ARS 65,427)

Africa

Highest Minimum Wages

• Seychelles: US$456 (SCR 6,377)
• Libya: US$322 (LYD 1,545)
• Morocco: US$315 (MAD 3,192)
• Gabon: US$256 (CFA 155,866)
• South Africa: US$240 (ZAR 4,675)

Lowest Minimum Wages

• Uganda: US$1.61 (UGX 6,000)
• Malawi: US$14 (MWK 14,442)
• Gambia: US$25 (GMD 1,490)
• Eswatini: US$28 (SZL 542)
• Guinea Bissau: US$31 (CFA 19,030)

Oceania

Highest Minimum Wages

• New Zealand: US$2,394 (NZD 3,814)
• Australia: US$2,258 (AUD 3,592)
• New Caledonia: US$1,480 (CFP 164,162)
• Cook Islands: US$844 (NZD 1,344)
• Palau: US$504 (US$504)

Lowest Minimum Wages

• Kiribati: US$144 (AUS 218)
• Salomon Islands: US$161 (SBD 1,344)
• Papua New Guinea: US$166 (PGK 588)
• Samoa: US$186 (WST 504)
• Fiji: US$303 (FJD 672)

North America

• Canada: US$2,073 (CAD 2,797)
• United States: US$1,218
• Mexico: US$246 (MXN 34,766)

Sources: Statista, Country Economy, Human Capital Hub, Euronews

Countries Without Statutory Minimum Wages

Below is a list of countries that offer no minimum wage guarantees to their workforce. In many of these countries, employers set wages according to relevant collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) or union regulations within their industry.

Denmark

The average minimum monthly salary in Denmark is about US$1,403 (EUR 1,300) per month.

CBAs establish minimum wages for about 84% of the Danish workforce, including most employees in the public sector and certain private industries, such as construction and hospitality.

Finland

The average minimum monthly salary in Finland is about US$1,620 (EUR 1,500). CBAs establish minimum wages for about 90% of the Finnish workforce.

Iceland

The average minimum monthly salary in Iceland is about US$2,625 (ISK 368,000). CBAs establish minimum wages for about 90% of Iceland’s workforce as well.

Italy

The average minimum monthly salary in Italy is about US$1,268 (EUR 1,176). CBAs establish minimum wages for around 95% of Italy’s workforce.

Norway

The average minimum monthly salary in Norway is about US$1,836 (EUR 1,700).

CBAs establish minimum wages in most industries in Norway. Additionally, CBAs in nine select industries, such as construction and agriculture, have been generalized, meaning the CBA wage requirement in each sector is also the industry-wide statutory minimum.

Singapore

The average minimum monthly salary in Singapore is about US$1,591 (SGD 2,140).

Employers in Singapore must agree on wages with employees or relevant trade unions. However, Singapore’s Progressive Wage Model (PWM) establishes minimum wages in specific industries, such as retail, cleaning, and security.

Sweden

The average minimum monthly salary in Sweden is about US$1,620 (EUR 1,500). Collective bargaining agreements in Sweden generally include minimum wage agreements, which vary widely between roles and industries.

Switzerland

The average minimum monthly salary in Switzerland is around US$7,202 (CHF 6,500).

Employers in Switzerland negotiate wages with their employees on individual bases. However, several Swiss cantons have established their own minimum wages, ranging from US$22.16 (CHF 20) per hour in Jura to US$26.60 (CHF 24) per hour in Geneva.

Ensure Compliance With Global Minimum Wage Laws

Keeping track of minimum wage changes across multiple jurisdictions demands continuous attention and puts global companies at risk of fines, back pay, and the denial of employee work authorizations. Eliminate the risk by partnering with Velocity Global.

As a global employer of record (EOR), Velocity Global supports international companies throughout each stage of global expansion. We handle everything from hiring and onboarding to ensuring compliance and running global payroll on your behalf so you can build a distributed workforce and enter new markets without the added burden.

With expertise in local minimum wage and employment law in more than 185 countries, we ensure compliant international hires so you can recruit talent in any market with peace of mind.

Get in touch with Velocity Global today to learn how to navigate international markets and compliantly build global teams with ease.

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