Croatia 13th highest for minimum wage in EU

Croatia has ranked 13th for the highest minimum wage among EU member states, new data released this week shows.

As of 1 January 2025, 22 out of the 27 European Union countries have a set national minimum wage.

Only Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland and Sweden do not have one.

Croatia’s gross minimum wage currently stands at €970 per month, placing it just outside the top half among EU countries.

This puts Croatia ahead of countries like Greece (€968), Malta (€961), and Estonia (€886).

At the lower end of the scale, Bulgaria (€551), Hungary (€707) and Latvia (€740) had the lowest monthly minimum wages.

Meanwhile, at the top end, Luxembourg leads with a minimum wage of €2,638, followed by Ireland (€2,282), the Netherlands (€2,193) and Germany (€2,161).

When looking at purchasing power – which adjusts for price differences across countries – the gap between the highest and lowest minimum wages narrows significantly.

After adjusting, Estonia’s minimum wage is worth 878 PPS (purchasing power standard) per month, while Germany’s adjusted minimum wage is 1,992 PPS.

In real terms, this means that once costs of living are considered, Croatia’s minimum wage value becomes more competitive compared to richer EU countries.

What is the gross monthly minimum wage across the EU?

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The data also revealed that minimum wages represent more than 60% of median gross earnings in France, Portugal and Slovenia. In contrast, Belgium, Malta, Estonia and Latvia had minimum wages representing less than half of median earnings.

Croatia’s positioning reflects positive growth compared to previous years, but it also highlights the gap that still remains to the highest-paying EU countries.