Where does Turkey rank globally in minimum wage? We only surpassed 5 countries!

Minimum wages in Europe continue to show significant differences between countries. As of the beginning of 2026, the highest gross minimum wage within the European Union was set at 2,704 Euros in Luxembourg, while the lowest figure is at the 620 Euro level in Bulgaria. This wide gap highlights the economic disparities between countries. However, when minimum wage differences between countries are evaluated according to purchasing power parity, a significant narrowing is observed. Turkey's situation presents a more complex picture.

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH AND LOW MINIMUM WAGES IN EUROPE

There are five countries in the European Union where the minimum wage is above 2,000 Euros. These countries are Luxembourg (2,704 Euros), Ireland (2,391 Euros), Germany (2,343 Euros), the Netherlands (2,295 Euros), and Belgium (2,112 Euros). France is in this ranking with 1,823 Euros, while this figure drops to 1,381 Euros in Spain. Besides this, Eastern European countries lag behind Western European countries in minimum wage. While Ukraine (173 Euros) and Moldova (319 Euros) are among the countries with the lowest minimum wages, minimum wages in other countries outside the European Union are at quite low levels.

COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE GROUP

According to Eurostat data, countries where minimum wages are between 1,000 and 1,500 Euros are in the middle segment. This group includes countries such as Spain, Slovenia, Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, Portugal, Croatia, and Greece. It is observed that in half of Europe, the minimum wage remains below 1,000 Euros. In 15 of the 29 countries, including EU members and candidate countries, the minimum wage is below this level.

A DIFFERENT PICTURE ACCORDING TO PURCHASING POWER

As of 2026, the gross minimum wage in Turkey is at the 654 Euro level. This figure leaves Turkey in the lower ranks when compared to European countries. While Turkey surpasses Bulgaria, it remains behind Eastern European countries such as Romania, Hungary, and Czechia. However, in the calculation made according to purchasing power parity, Turkey's situation is somewhat different. The fact that living costs in Turkey are lower on a Euro basis increases the real purchasing power of the country's minimum wage. This moves Turkey up a few steps in the Euro-based ranking. Nevertheless, Turkey remains well below the European average.

WHOSE WAGES DID NOT CHANGE?

Between the July 2025 and January 2026 period, the minimum wage did not change in countries such as Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Luxembourg, and Slovenia. For workers in these countries, there was no increase as of 2026. On the other hand, countries such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, and Slovakia were the countries that carried out the largest raises by making increases of over 11 percent.

Experts from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) state that productivity lies at the root of minimum wage increases. It is noteworthy that productivity is high in economies where the industrial and financial sectors are strong, and that advanced technology sectors also support minimum wage increases. Furthermore, the collective bargaining power of employees stands out as a determining factor in wage levels.

THERE IS NO MINIMUM WAGE IN ITALY AND AUSTRIA

In some European countries, for example, Italy and Austria, there is no legal minimum wage application. In these countries, wages are determined by collective agreements and sector-based agreements. Countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Finland are also among the countries where there is no minimum wage.