According to Velocity Global: https://velocityglobal.com/resources/blog/minimum-wage-by-country/Minimum wage requirements vary drastically worldwide. Below are lists of countries that offer the highest and lowest minimum wages in the world, with Nigeria coming first as the lowest of all time.
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, receives 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).
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.
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