Eurostat 2025 Data: Net Earnings Gap Across EU Countries Narrowed by Purchasing Power – News and Statistics

Jun 4, 2026

According to the most recent Eurostat data, a worker on an average salary in Luxembourg takes home over four times the net pay of a similar employee in Hungary. For a single person with no children, annual net earnings—the amount actually received after deductions—range from EUR12,967 in Hungary to EUR54,260 in Luxembourg, underscoring the wide disparity in disposable income across Europe. The rankings highlight a substantial gap between nations, though this difference lessens when adjusted for purchasing power, yet remains notable.

These variations stem from a mix of salary levels, tax structures, social security payments, and family benefit programs. Higher-wage countries do not always top the list once taxes and living expenses are factored in. Net earnings represent what workers actually keep after income tax and social security contributions are subtracted; for families with children, child benefits are also included. As of 2025, based on figures released by Eurostat in mid-2026, the average annual net earnings for a single person without children earning the mean wage in the EU is EUR26,929.

Among the top EU nations, only Luxembourg surpasses the EUR50,000 threshold, and merely two countries see a single worker net over EUR40,000 annually: Ireland at EUR44,263 and Denmark at EUR41,981. Other countries exceeding the EU average also top EUR30,000: the Netherlands at EUR36,837, Belgium at EUR34,642, Sweden at EUR34,624, Finland at EUR33,641, Germany at EUR31,000, and France at EUR30,832. While Germany and France sit just above the EU average, Spain and Italy fall below it. A single worker in Germany or France earns at least EUR5,000 more than counterparts in Spain and Italy, where annual net earnings are EUR25,263 and EUR24,471, respectively.

In ten EU countries, annual net earnings are under EUR20,000. Hungary, Romania at EUR13,233, Greece at EUR15,050, Slovakia at EUR15,686, and Poland at EUR16,163 form the lowest tier. Latvia at EUR16,793, Croatia at EUR17,256, Lithuania at EUR18,650, Czechia at EUR19,569, and Portugal at EUR19,709 offer somewhat higher earnings, though the gap is modest. Estonia at EUR20,045, Slovenia at EUR22,503, Cyprus at EUR23,524, and Malta at EUR25,544 fall between EUR20,000 and the EU average. Bulgaria recorded the lowest net earnings in the EU in 2024, but Euronews Business has omitted it pending Eurostat verification due to an unusually large jump in its updated figures.

When living costs are considered, the situation shifts markedly. Workers in nations like Romania and Poland take home less in euro terms than those in Western Europe, but lower prices mean their income goes further at home. Consequently, the disparity between Europe’s highest and lowest earners shrinks significantly. While net earnings in the top-ranked country are 4.2 times those in the lowest in nominal terms, this ratio drops to 2.3 times when adjusted for purchasing power. In purchasing power standard (PPS) terms, the EU average is EUR26,346, ranging from EUR17,509 in Greece to EUR40,846 in Luxembourg.

Among the EU’s four largest economies, Germany has the highest net earnings at EUR28,536, followed by Spain at EUR27,794 rather than France at EUR27,724, which ranks second in euro terms, though the difference is slight. Italy at EUR25,095 remains below the EU average. Some countries improve notably in PPS rankings. Romania jumps from second lowest to mid-table, overtaking several nations. Poland also moves above Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Spain overtakes France and significantly narrows the gap with Germany. Conversely, some countries drop sharply in PPS rankings. Greece falls to the lowest in the EU, below Hungary. Denmark also slips behind Ireland, Austria, and the Netherlands.

Regional patterns are evident in both measures. Western European countries lead in euro and PPS terms, though Denmark loses ground in PPS. Eastern European nations, including Romania, Poland, and Croatia, gain in PPS rankings as lower living costs partly offset lower nominal wages, helping to reduce the East-West divide. The figures above pertain to a single person without children. When dependent children are present, net earnings and rankings change significantly in some countries that offer generous family allowances, which may come as income tax reductions or cash transfers for dependent children.

Comparing a single person without children to a one-earner couple with two children, Germany stands out as the most generous. Net earnings for such a couple are 53% higher, rising from EUR31,000 to EUR47,424. Poland at 39%, Belgium at 37%, and Austria at 33% also show strong family support. Among major economies, Spain has the smallest difference at just 13%, while France is at 26% and Italy at 25%. Cyprus at 6% and two Nordic countries, Finland at 7% and Sweden at 8%, rank lowest. However, this does not imply that families with children lack support, as assistance may be provided through other means.