Albanian workers are earning the lowest wages per hour in Europe, both in actual pay and in what their money can buy. A recent Eurostat report highlights the struggle, showing that the average Albanian worker makes only 2.47 euros per hour. In comparison, workers in Serbia earn nearly double at 4.43 euros, while in Bosnia, the rate is four euros per hour.
The situation gets even worse when adjusted for purchasing power. Albania ranks at the bottom with 4.62 PPS, meaning an hour’s work buys far less than in Serbia, where the figure is 7.6, or Bosnia, where it reaches 8.7. While women in Albania technically earn more than men—2.63 euros per hour versus 2.39 euros—the difference is small and does little to ease the financial strain.
Across the European Union, the gap is staggering. Danish workers top the chart, making nearly 12 times more per hour at 29.8 euros. Luxembourg follows with 24 euros, and Belgium is close behind at 23.8 euros. Even the lowest-paid EU countries, Bulgaria and Romania, have higher wages than Albania, with 4.1 and 5.6 euros per hour, respectively.
With the cost of living rising, wages in Albania remain among the lowest in Europe, leaving workers struggling to keep up. The outlook is uncertain, and for many, the question remains—when will things start to change?
