The minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay that an employee can receive. The first minimum wage was established in New Zealand in 1894, and since then many other countries have followed suit. So, which country has the lowest minimum wage?
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the answer is Guatemala. The current hourly minimum wage in Guatemala is just $1.36.
That’s less than a third of what workers in the United States earn ($7.25) and less than a quarter of what workers in Australia earn ($17.70).
Of course, it’s important to remember that wages are only one part of the equation when it comes to living standards.
Countries with low wages can offset this somewhat by having low costs of living, and vice versa. There is no definitive answer to this question as minimum wage rates vary from country to country.
However, based on data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), it appears that the lowest minimum wage can be found in Cambodia. In 2018, the minimum wage in Cambodia was $170 per month, which equates to just over $2 per day.
This is significantly lower than the global average of $1,480 per month, or $5.21 per day. While Cambodia may have the lowest minimum wage rate, it is important to note that this does not necessarily mean that workers in Cambodia are paid less overall.
In fact, when taking into account other forms of compensation such as tips and commissions, workers in Cambodia actually earn more than those in other countries with higher minimum wages.
This is because the cost of living in Cambodia is also relatively low. So while there is no clear-cut answer as to which country has the lowest minimum wage, based on available data it appears that Cambodian workers earn less than their counterparts in other countries.
Credit: nsadvocate.org
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Which Country Pays the Lowest Wage?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it largely depends on the cost of living in a given country and the specific industry or sector being considered.
However, based on data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), it appears that countries in Africa and Asia generally have the lowest wages across all sectors.
For example, in 2019, the minimum wage in Mozambique was just $60 per month, while workers in Cambodia earned an average of $153 per month.
In contrast, minimum wages in developed countries such as Australia and Canada were significantly higher at $1,447 and $2,028 per month respectively.
Which Country Has the Highest Minimum Wage?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it can vary depending on a number of factors, including the cost of living in a particular country and the average wage for workers in that country.
However, according to an article from World Atlas, the countries with the highest minimum wages are Luxembourg, Norway, and Switzerland.
In Luxembourg, the minimum wage is $12.75 per hour, while in Norway it is $11.13 per hour. Switzerland’s minimum wage varies by canton (state), but is typically around $11.00 per hour.
Comparison – Average Wages Around The World (106 Countries)
Which Country Has the Lowest Minimum Wage in Europe
The minimum wage in Europe varies widely from country to country. The lowest minimum wage can be found in Bulgaria, where the hourly rate is just $0.62. By contrast, the highest minimum wage is found in Luxembourg, where workers earn a minimum of $11.96 per hour.
While the minimum wage in Bulgaria is relatively low, it’s important to remember that the cost of living in the country is also relatively low.
As such, workers there still have purchasing power comparable to workers in other European countries who earn higher wages.
Ultimately, whether or not a given minimum wage is “low” or “high” depends on many factors – including the cost of living in the country concerned. But one thing is for sure: when it comes to minimum wages, Europe is a very diverse continent!
Minimum Wage by Country
The minimum wage is the lowest wage that an employer can legally pay their employees. In many countries, the minimum wage is set by law. The first minimum wage laws were passed in Australia and New Zealand in 1896.
The United States federal government does not have a national minimum wage law. However, individual states and some cities do have their own minimum wage laws.
The current federal minimum wage in the US is $7.25 per hour. Some states have set their own higher minimum wages, such as California ($10) and New York ($9).
Minimum wages vary widely around the world. Here are some examples of hourly minimum wages in different countries:
- Australia: AUD$17.70 (US$13)
- Canada: CAD$10.45 (US$8)
- France: EURO 8.50 (US$9)
- Germany: EURO 8.84 (US$9)
- India: INR 160 (US$2)
- Japan: JPY 780 (US$6)
- Mexico: MXN 73.04 (US $3)
- South Africa: ZAR 20 per hour (about US $1)
- United Kingdom: GBP 6.70 per hour (about US $10).
Lowest Minimum Wage in the World 2021
As of January 2021, the lowest minimum wage in the world is $0.60 per hour. This minimum wage was set by the government of Sudan in February 2020. Sudan is followed closely by Tajikistan, where the minimum wage is $0.84 per hour.
The majority of countries have a minimum wage that is less than $2 per hour. In fact, only 22 countries have a minimum wage that is higher than this amount.
The highest minimum wage in the world is found in Luxembourg, where workers are guaranteed to earn at least $13.72 per hour.
While a low minimum wage may be good news for businesses looking to reduce costs, it can have a negative impact on workers and their families.
Workers living in poverty often have difficulty meeting their basic needs, such as food and shelter. Low-wage jobs also tend to be more physically demanding and offer little opportunity for advancement.
Which Country Has the Lowest Minimum Wage 2022
The global minimum wage is the lowest hourly wage that workers can legally be paid. The current global minimum wage is US$1.90 per day or about US$0.73 per hour.
However, many countries have much higher minimum wages, ranging from $2 to $25 per hour.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are only four countries in the world where the minimum wage is less than $1 per hour:
- Haiti ($0.60),
- Sudan ($0.65),
- South Sudan ($0.66), and
- Nicaragua ($0.69).
In contrast, there are fourteen countries where the minimum wage is more than $25 per hour:
- Australia ($27.56),
- Belgium ($23.50),
- Canada ($21.63),
- Denmark ($20.89),
- France ($11.48),
- Finland ($11.48),
- Germany ($12.14),
- Iceland ($20.89),
- Ireland($11.48),
- Luxembourg($20 . 89 ),
- Netherlands($ 11 . 48 ),
- New Zealand($ 20 . 89 ),
- Norway($ 23 . 50 ), and
- Switzerland($ 25 . 40 ).
So, which country has the lowest minimum wage? As of 2022, it is still Haiti with a minimum wage of just $0. 60 per hour.
Conclusion
According to recent data, the country with the lowest minimum wage is Guatemala. In fact, Guatemalan workers only earn an average of $1.36 per day. This is far below the global average of $3.10 per day.
Additionally, it is worth noting that many Guatemalans do not even earn the minimum wage; instead, they are paid a daily rate that is lower than $1.36.
