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The map that shows the European countries where the minimum wage gets you the most burgers

The UK pays the second-highest minimum wage in Europe and has introduced a new National Living Wage

Samuel Osborne
Friday 01 April 2016 16:57 BST
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Workers in the UK could buy two and a half burgers for each hour worked on the minimum wage
Workers in the UK could buy two and a half burgers for each hour worked on the minimum wage (Getty)

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Luxembourg has the highest minimum wage in Europe, which allows its workers to buy 2.6 burgers for each hour worked.

The UK comes a close second, paying a minimum wage worth 2.5 burgers an hour.

Using data from The Economist's Big Mac Index, Statista produced a map showing the number of burgers earned per hour on the minimum wage in countries across Europe.

A map showing the number of burgers earned per hour on the minimum wage in countries across Europe
A map showing the number of burgers earned per hour on the minimum wage in countries across Europe (Statista)

The map shows how drastically the minimum wage varies across Europe.

In northern and central Europe, workers can buy between 2.3 and 2.6 burgers for each hour worked.

In Spain and Portugal, they can buy 1.3 and 1.2 Big Macs respectively, while eastern European workers have to work more than one hour to earn a burger.

Bulgaria and Romania paid the lowest minimum wage - their workers could only buy 0.6 Big Macs for each hour worked.

Within the EU, Austria, Italy, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland and Sweden are the only countries without a minimum wage by statute.

The new National Living Wage has come into effect in the UK, requiring employers to pay workers aged 25 and over at least £7.20 an hour.

Millions of low-paid workers could see an immediate pay rise as the new wage is implemented.

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