Statutory minimum wage by country
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
Whether a national statutory minimum wage exists, what it is today and who it covers. Pick a country for the full list of rules, each with its official source.
| Country | National statutory minimum wage | Current adult minimum wage (gross) | Age bands, reduced rates and exclusions | Next scheduled change | Amount from next change (gross) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | €13.90 per hour | Not paid to people under 18 without a completed vocational training, to people in vocational training, to volunteers, or in the first six months of work to people who were long-term unemployed. Interns are generally covered, except in listed cases such as mandatory internships and internships of up to three months for orientation. | 1 January 2027 | €14.60 per hour |
| Netherlands | Yes | €14.99 per hour (age 21+) | Hourly rates from 1 July 2026 by age: 20 years €11.99; 19 years €8.99; 18 years €7.50; 17 years €5.92; 16 years €5.17; 15 years €4.50. The adult rate applies from age 21. | 1 January 2027 (youth rates) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| United Kingdom | Yes | £12.71 per hour (age 21+) | Hourly rates from April 2026: age 21 and over £12.71; age 18 to 20 £10.85; under 18 £8.00; apprentice £8.00. | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| France | Yes | €12.31 per hour | Employees under 18 with less than 6 months of professional experience in their branch: 17 years €11.08 per hour gross; 16 years and under €9.85 per hour gross. Apprentices and professionalisation contracts have a separate reduction (amount not given on the page). | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Spain | Yes | €1,221 per month (14 payments) | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Italy | No | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| United States | Yes | $7.25 per hour (federal) | A new employee under 20 years of age may be paid not less than $4.25 an hour during the first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer. | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Canada | Employees, Federally regulated: Yes, federal employers only | Employees, Federally regulated: $18.15 per hour (federal employers) | Employees, Federally regulated: ⚠ Not yet verified | Employees, Federally regulated: 1 April 2027 | Employees, Federally regulated: ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Mexico | Yes | Employees, general zone: MXN 315.04 per day (general zone) Employees, northern border zone: MXN 440.87 per day (border zone) | The 2026 resolution sets two geographic areas: the general zone (MXN 315.04 per day) and the northern border free zone (MXN 440.87 per day). It also sets higher professional minimum wages for 61 listed occupations. | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Ireland | Yes | €14.15 per hour (age 20+) | Hourly rates from 1 January 2026: aged 20 and over €14.15; aged 19 €12.74; aged 18 €11.32; under 18 €9.91. | 1 January 2027 (announced) | €14.94 per hour (age 20+, announced) |
| Australia | Employees, Award/agreement-free: Yes (national minimum wage) | Employees, Award/agreement-free: A$26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) | Employees, Award/agreement-free: Under-21 percentage by age; casual loading 25% | Employees, Award/agreement-free: ⚠ Not yet verified | Employees, Award/agreement-free: ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Poland | Yes | PLN 4,806 per month | ⚠ Not yet verified | 1 January 2027 | PLN 4,950 per month |
| Czechia | Yes | CZK 22,400 per month | ⚠ Not yet verified | 1 January 2027 | CZK 24,900 per month |
| New Zealand | Yes | NZD 23.95 per hour (adult) | Adult NZD 23.95 per hour. Starting-out NZD 19.16 per hour (employees aged 16 to 19 entering the workforce or completing 40 credits of industry training, in specific situations). Training NZD 19.16 per hour (employees aged 20 or over completing 60 credits of industry training, including apprentices). No minimum wage for employees under 16. Rates effective from 1 April 2026. | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Before you rely on it
This comparison covers national rules, and for the United States and Canada also state or provincial rates. Other regional or local rules can apply on top of them, and rules change. A rule marked “to verify” has not yet been confirmed against an official source. Each country page links to the official sources, and those are the place to confirm the details before you act.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.