Global minimum wage rates comparative table

Country

Minimum wage rate

Conversion rates (applicable from 5 February 2024)

Effective from

Frequency of changes

Additional information

Argentina

ARS 156,000 per month

£149.12

USD 188.45

1 December 2023

Irregular

The national minimum wage generally applies to all employees aged 18 and above but does not apply to domestic or agricultural employees or apprentices. Most sectors are covered by industry-level collective agreements that set binding minimum wage rates, usually higher than the national minimum wage.

Australia

AUD 882.80 per week (21 years and over)

£454.81

USD 574.75

1 July 2023

Annually

In many sectors and occupations, minimum wage rates are set by legally binding modern awards issued by the Fair Work Commission, or in enterprise agreements.

A special national minimum wage applies for employees under the age of 21, trainees, apprentices, junior employees to whom training arrangements apply and employees with a disability.

Austria

No single national statutory minimum wage

Generally, collective bargaining agreements set binding minimum rates at sector level. If no collective agreement is applicable, the public Federal Arbitration Board is empowered to set minimum wage rates for specific groups of employees or sectors, on the request of an organisation representing employees.

Belgium

€1,994.18 per month (adult full-time)

£1,698.29

USD 2,142.83

1 November 2023

The minimum wage generally increases automatically in line with the consumer price index.

The minimum wage is established by a national cross-industry collective agreement that sets a single rate for all adult full-time employees. Employees over the age of 18 receive the full national minimum wage, 73% for those aged 17 and 67% for those aged 16 or below. Part-time employees receive a minimum wage that is set pro rata to their working hours. 

Brazil

BRL 1,424 per month

£226.67

USD 286.44

1 January 2024

Annually

The national minimum wage applies regardless of age, experience and sector. Some individual states, such as São Paulo, set their own statutory minimum wages, higher than the national minimum.

Bulgaria

BGN 933 per month

£407.30

USD 514.41

1 January 2024

Annually

There is a single statutory minimum wage rate that applies to all employees, irrespective of age or experience. Collective agreements at sector level set higher minimum wage rates for some industries.

Canada

CAD 16.65 per hour (federal)

£9.78

USD 12.36

1 April 2023

Every 1 April, the federal minimum wage is adjusted based on Canada's Consumer Price Index.

Each province and territory set its own statutory minimum wage. Provincial/territorial minimum wage rates generally apply irrespective of age and experience.

Chile

CLP 460,000 per month (for employees aged 18-65);

CLP 343,150 per month (for employees under 18 and over 65)

£383.71

USD 484.90;

£286.24

USD 361.72

1 September 2023

Every six months

In most cases, full-time employees' monthly basic pay must be at least equal to the relevant statutory minimum wage. This requirement applies only to employees who are subject to statutory limits on normal working time and excludes certain categories of employees, such as  managers, administrative staff, employees who work without direct supervision, homeworkers, teleworkers, salespeople and travelling staff who do not work on their employer's premises. The statutory minimum wage is not applicable to apprentices.

China

No single national statutory minimum wage

Statutory minimum wages are set by the governments of individual provinces, autonomous regions and certain municipalities. In Beijing, the minimum wage is set at RMB 2,420 per month from 1 September 2023. Minimum wage rates are generally adjusted once every two years.

Czech Republic

CZK 18,900

£646.64

USD 817.17

1 January 2024

Irregular

There is a statutory minimum wage that applies to all employees, irrespective of age or experience. In addition to the national minimum wage, the Government sets "guaranteed" minimum wage rates that apply to employees whose pay is not set by a collective agreement.

Denmark

No single national statutory minimum wage

Many collective agreements set out requirements regarding minimum pay. A few industry-level agreements set actual pay rates but, more commonly, industry-level agreements set minimum rates that are built on by company-level bargaining or individual agreements between employers and employees. While statute does not require pay increases to be linked to inflation, industry-level agreements often provide for such increases.

Finland

No single national statutory minimum wage

Minimum wage rates are usually set by collective agreements, where applicable. Sector-level agreements are binding only on the signatory parties and their members. However, if a collective agreement has been declared "generally applicable", its minimum pay terms must be observed by all employers in the agreement's scope, even if they are not members of the signatory employers' association.

France

€11.65 gross per hour (the equivalent of €1,766.92 gross per month)

£9.95 per hour (£1,508.60 per month);

USD 12.56 per hour (USD 1,905.36 per month)

1 January 2024

Normally increased on 1 January each year in line with the annual growth in the consumer prices index (legislation provides for an automatic increase when the consumer prices index in question increases by 2% or more over a period of a year).

The full adult rate of the statutory minimum wage applies from the age of 18. Employees under the age of 17 receive 80% of the full rate and those aged 17 receive 90%. However, after six months' work in a particular sector of activity, under-18s are entitled to the full rate.

Germany

€12.41 per hour

£10.60

USD 13.38

1 January 2024

The minimum wage is usually reviewed every two years and increased once a year.

Certain individuals are not entitled to the national minimum wage, such as  trainees and apprentices under the age of 18 years, apprentices, certain internships and volunteers. In addition, minimum wage rates are laid down in collective bargaining agreements, which have been declared "generally applicable" by the Government.

Greece

€780 per month

£665.97

USD 841.11

1 April 2023

Irregular

The statutory national minimum pay rates apply to all employees, including those in temporary or casual work. A lower rate applicable to employees under the age of 25 was abolished with effect from 1 February 2019. From 1 January 2024, there is a higher minimum wage for those employees with more years of service and job experience. In addition to the statutory national minimum pay rates, there are over 50 sectoral collective and occupational collective agreements that set their own minima.

Guernsey

£10.65 per hour (adult rate);

£9.65 per hour (young people)

USD 13.45;

USD 12.19

1 October 2023

Irregular

The adult rate applies to workers and apprentices aged 18 and above. The young person's rate is applicable to workers (but not apprentices) aged 16 and 17.

Some categories of worker are excluded from the minimum wage, such as voluntary workers and apprentices under the age of 18.

Hong Kong

HKD 40.00 per hour

£4.04

USD 5.11

1 May 2023

There are recommendations on whether to change the minimum wage at least once every two years. In practice, any changes take effect from 1 May of the relevant year.

A statutory minimum wage applies to virtually all employees, whether full time, part time or casual, and regardless of whether or not they have a "continuous" employment contract. There are some exceptions, such as apprentices, student interns and work-experience students during a period of exempt student employment.

Hungary

HUF 266,800 per month (unskilled jobs);

HUF 326,000 per month (skilled jobs)

£592.50

USD 750.22;

£725.60

USD 916.96

1 December 2023

Annually in the light of economic conditions.

There are two statutory national minimum wage rates, one ("guaranteed wage minimum") for employees in skilled jobs and one ("mandatory minimum wage") for employees in unskilled jobs. Skilled jobs are those requiring at least a secondary school leaving certificate (which is obtained at 18) or a vocational qualification.

India

No single national statutory minimum wage

National legislation currently provides for the central government and state governments to set statutory minimum wages for "scheduled employments", that is, particular industries and types of work where employees may be vulnerable to exploitation. In practice, minimum wage rates vary widely, both among different scheduled employments in the same state, and among different states.

Indonesia

No single national statutory minimum wage

Statutory minimum wage rates are set at the level of each of the country's 38 provinces. Within each province, additional statutory minimum wage rates may be set at the level of individual municipalities or regencies.

Ireland

€12.70 per hour

£10.84

USD 13.70

1 January 2024

Annually

This rate applies to all employees (including temporary and casual employees) aged 20 or above, excluding the employer's close relatives and craft apprentices. Reduced rates apply to younger employees: 70% for workers aged under 18, 80% for workers aged 18 and 90% for workers aged 19. Some sectors of employment have minimum pay regulated by statutory "employment regulation orders" (ERO in addition to EROs, "sectoral employment orders", set minimum wage rates for certain categories of workers and their employers in a particular sector of the economy.  

Italy

No single national statutory minimum wage

For workers covered by collective agreements, minimum rates are laid down in these agreements. The minimum rates set by national collective agreements are considered "generally applicable" to all employees and employers in the sector concerned, including those who are not members of the signatory organisations.

Japan

No single national statutory minimum wage

Statutory minimum wages are set at the level of each of Japan's 47 prefectures (the country's main geographical/administrative units). Further, statutory minimum wages are set for some specific industries, usually at prefecture level. From October 2023, the prefectural minimum wage average stands at ¥1,004 per hour (previously ¥961), with rates ranging from ¥1,113 (previously ¥1,072) in Tokyo to ¥893 (previously ¥853) in Iwate.

Jersey

£11.64 per hour

USD 14.70

1 January 2024

Annually

The minimum wage applies to all employees who work, or ordinarily work, in Jersey under a contract of employment and are at least 16 years old (with a few defined exceptions). Employers are permitted to pay a lower "trainee rate" of the minimum wage for a maximum of two years to employees who are undergoing approved training in a new job.

Luxembourg

€2,570.93 per month (standard);

€3,085.11 per month (skilled)

£2,195.07

USD 2,772.36;

£2,634.08

USD 3,326.83

1 September 2023

The rate increases automatically when inflation reaches a certain level and may also be adjusted every two years in the light of general economic conditions and earnings developments.

The national minimum wage is set at four rates. The standard adult rate applies to all employees aged 18 and above except those who are regarded as "skilled". Youth rates of 80% and 75% of the standard adult rate apply to employees aged 17 and 15 to 16 respectively. Skilled employees aged at least 18 are entitled to a rate 20% above the standard adult rate. 

Mexico

MXN 374.89 (all municipalities);

MXN 248.93 (certain municipalities - see additional information)

£17.30

USD 21.86;

£ 11.49

USD 14.51

1 January 2024

Annually

There are two different minimum wage rates. One rate applies to all the municipalities, and other adjacent municipalities, located in a range of 25 kilometres of the north border of Mexico. Additionally, there are higher minimum wage rates for each of around 61 specific, generally skilled, occupations.

Netherlands

€13.27 per hour (workers aged 21 and over)

£11.33

USD 14.31

1 January 2024

Twice a year

The statutory national minimum wage applies to all employment. However, most collective bargaining agreements set minimum rates by job function that are above the national minimum wage rates. The full adult rate of the minimum wage applies from the age of 21, with younger workers receiving a percentage of this figure as follows: 30% for those aged 15; 34.5% for those aged 16; 39.5% for those aged 17; 50% for those aged 18; 60% for those aged 19; and 80% for those aged 20.

Norway

No single national statutory minimum wage

In some industries, minimum wage rates are determined at sector level by collective agreements. Collective agreements are in general binding only on the signatory organisations and their members. However, legislation empowers a Government-appointed Tariff Board to make sectoral collective agreements on pay generally applicable (binding on all employment in the sector concerned, including non-members of the signatory organisations).

Philippines

No single national statutory minimum wage

Statutory minimum wage rates for most private-sector workers are set at the level of individual regions. Within each region (there are 18 regions for minimum wage purposes), separate minimum rates are set for two broad sectors, agriculture and "non-agriculture", and there are often also specific rates for certain types of enterprise within the non- agriculture sector.  There are wide variations between regional minimum wages.

Poland

PLN 4,242 per month

£838.19;

USD 1,059.23

1 January 2024

If the forecast for annual inflation is lower than 5%, there will be one annual minimum wage rate. However, if the forecast for annual inflation exceeds 5%, there are two rates set for the year.

All employees (except those in their first year of employment) must be paid at least the statutory national minimum wage.

Puerto Rico

USD 9.50 per hour ("non-exempt" employees);

USD 455 per week (for "exempt" employees)

£7.52

£360.05

1 July 2023 ("non-exempt" employees);

2004 ("exempt" employees).

Irregular

Employers are required to pay their "non-exempt" and "exempt" employees (executives, administrators and professionals) a minimum wage. The US Department of Labor has proposed an increase to the salary level of "exempt employees" in the US territories, including Puerto Rico. The exact increase and effective date have not been confirmed of yet.

Romania

RON 3,300 per month

£565.80;

USD 715.01

1 October 2023

Usually on an annual or half-yearly basis

All employees must be paid at least the statutory national minimum wage. Other rates may apply for certain sectors, eg employees working in certain parts of the construction sector are entitled to a minimum gross monthly salary of RON 4,582.

Saudi Arabia

No single national statutory minimum wage

The Government is empowered to set such a minimum wage but has not done so to date.

Singapore

No single national statutory minimum wage

There is no statutory national minimum wage, although there are various government initiatives to help lower-paid workers. In addition, there is a progressive wage model for certain categories of workers, including cleaners and security officers, which requires employers to pay certain minimum sums to those workers.

South Africa

ZAR 25.42 per ordinary hour worked

£1.06

USD 1.34

1 March 2023

The National Minimum Wage Commission is tasked to review the minimum wage annually and recommend adjustments.

The minimum wage applies to all workers across all sectors, except those in public works programmes and some learners. The Minister of Labour is empowered to issue binding "sectoral determinations", setting minimum employment terms and conditions for a particular industry (sector) or area. Sectoral determinations can include a minimum wage and a minimum increase in wages. Trade unions and employers commonly negotiate minimum wages and/or wage increases at industry level, either in statutory bargaining councils or non-statutory industry-wide bargaining forums.

Spain

€1,134 per month

£968.214

USD 1,222.85

1 January 2024

Annually

The national minimum wage applies to all employees and they are entitled to receive 14 payments of the monthly minimum per year (ie two extra months' pay). These payments may be made in the summer and at Christmas or added proportionally to the monthly or daily rate during the period of employment.

Sweden

No single national statutory minimum wage

Minimum wages are determined at sector level by collective agreements (which have a very high coverage rate). Collectively agreed pay rates are binding on the parties and their members, along with non-union members employed by the employers bound by the agreement.

Switzerland

No single national statutory minimum wage

In some sectors and occupations, the minimum pay rates set by collective agreements are made legally binding on all employers, irrespective of whether or not they signed the collective agreement concerned or are a member of the signatory. Further, the public authorities at national and cantonal level issue "standard employment contracts" setting binding employment conditions for a number of sectors and occupations, which may include minimum pay rates.

Turkey

TRY 20,002.50 per month

£517.765

USD 654.31

1 January 2024

No more than every two years

The minimum wage is set at a single rate, applicable to all employees irrespective of age or experience. The monthly amount applies to employees working normal full-time hours (that is, 45 hours per week) for the whole month, and employees who work less than full-time hours are entitled to a proportional amount of the monthly minimum wage

UAE

No single national statutory minimum wage

There is no statutory national minimum wage that applies anywhere in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)). However, companies in the UAE that employ 50 or more employees must provide accommodation to any employees earning a salary of less than AED 2,000 per month. This requirement does not apply to companies in the DIFC and the ADGM.

UK

£10.42 per hour (workers aged 23 and over); 

£10.18 per hour (aged 21 to 22);

£7.49 per hour (aged 18 to 20);

£5.28 per hour (aged 16 to 17);

£5.28 per hour (apprentices aged under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship).

USD 13.16;

USD 12.86;

USD 9.46;

USD 6.67;

USD 6.67.

1 April 2023

Annually

The statutory national minimum wage applies to most workers aged 16 and over, with some exceptions such as family members in a family business and voluntary workers. The national minimum wage is set at five hourly rates, with the applicable rate depending mainly on the worker's age. The top rate - applicable to those aged 23 and over - is referred to as the "national living wage".