Where the Minimum Wage is Higher Than the Living Wage

Living Wage: A compensation that allows individuals and families to maintain a decent standard of living. 

The living wage is calculated based on a family with two adults and the average number of children per country. One adult works full-time, while the second works in accordance with national labor participation rates. Their combined earnings should be sufficient for a decent standard of living.

Key Takeaways:

• Only 26 out of 173 countries have a minimum wage that exceeds the living wage.
• The majority of countries where the minimum wage is sufficient to ensure a decent standard of living are in Europe.
• Luxembourg has the highest minimum wage at $16.54.