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
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
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.
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.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments