UK vs Netherlands: minimum wage, inflation and energy prices compared
OECD figures for 2025 put the UK's minimum wage at $17.13 an hour, higher than the Netherlands's $16.71 an hour. On IMF figures, the UK's inflation rate in 2025 was 3.4%; the Netherlands's was 3.0%. In 2025 the OECD gives 1.6% for the UK's household energy price inflation and 1.3% for the Netherlands.
Real minimum wage per hour
OECD figures for 2025 put the UK's minimum wage at $17.13 an hour, higher than the Netherlands's $16.71 an hour. From 2015 to 2025 the UK's figure was the higher of the two in 4 of 11 years.
| Year | UK | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17.13 an hour | $16.71 an hour |
| 2024 | $16.56 an hour | $16.27 an hour |
| 2023 | $15.59 an hour | $15.72 an hour |
| 2022 | $15.26 an hour | $14.46 an hour |
| 2021 | $15.62 an hour | $15.47 an hour |
| 2020 | $15.52 an hour | $15.64 an hour |
| 2019 | $14.82 an hour | $15.45 an hour |
| 2018 | $14.38 an hour | $15.47 an hour |
| 2017 | $14.11 an hour | $15.46 an hour |
| 2016 | $14.02 an hour | $15.40 an hour |
| 2015 | $12.88 an hour | $15.15 an hour |
The OECD converts each country's statutory adult minimum wage into an hourly rate, adjusts it to 2025 prices with the consumer price index, and converts it into US dollars using 2025 purchasing power parities for household spending.
Inflation, average consumer prices
On IMF figures, the UK's inflation rate in 2025 was 3.4%; the Netherlands's was 3.0%. From 2015 to 2025 the UK's figure was the higher of the two in 5 of 11 years.
| Year | UK | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.4% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 7.3% | 4.1% |
| 2022 | 9.1% | 11.6% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | 2.8% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | 2.7% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | 1.6% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | 1.3% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | 0.1% |
| 2015 | 0.0% | 0.2% |
The IMF measures inflation as the percentage change in the average level of each country's consumer price index over a calendar year compared with the year before.
Inflation in household energy prices
In 2025 the OECD gives 1.6% for the UK's household energy price inflation and 1.3% for the Netherlands. From 2015 to 2025 the UK's figure was the higher of the two in 5 of 11 years.
| Year | UK | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| 2024 | minus 18.7% | minus 2.2% |
| 2023 | 15.0% | minus 37.0% |
| 2022 | 64.4% | 113.9% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | 17.6% |
| 2020 | minus 4.6% | minus 11.9% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | 12.5% |
| 2018 | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | 1.7% |
| 2016 | minus 2.9% | minus 5.5% |
| 2015 | minus 3.5% | minus 2.7% |
The OECD republishes each country's consumer price index for electricity, gas and other fuels used in the home (COICOP group 04.5).
More figures for the UK and the Netherlands
| Figure | UK | Netherlands | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price-to-income ratio, standardised | 115.7 (100 = long-term average) | 141.2 (100 = long-term average) | 2025 | OECD |
| Real GDP growth | 1.2% | 1.6% | 2025 | IMF |
| GDP, current prices | $4.01 trillion | $1.32 trillion | 2025 | IMF |
| Total tax revenue | 34.4% of GDP | 38.5% of GDP | 2024 | OECD |
| Current health expenditure | 11.4% of GDP | 10.2% of GDP | 2025 | OECD |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.4 years | 82.0 years | 2024 | World Bank |
| GDP per head, purchasing power parity | $65,758 | $84,445 | 2025 | IMF |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 3.9% | 2025 | IMF |
| General government gross debt | 102.1% of GDP | 44.7% of GDP | 2025 | IMF |
| General government expenditure | 43.5% of GDP | 45.2% of GDP | 2025 | IMF |
| Employment rate, ages 15 to 64 | 75.1% | 82.3% | 2025 | OECD |
| Core defence expenditure | 2.56% of GDP | 2.58% of GDP | 2026 | NATO |
| Gross domestic spending on research and development | 2.8% of GDP | 2.3% of GDP | 2023 | OECD |
Figures are the international body's, for a year both countries share; they can differ from those published by the ONS because they are adjusted for comparison.
Ranked tables with the UK and the Netherlands
- UK inflation compared with EU countries
- UK household energy price inflation compared with Europe
- UK minimum wage compared with other countries
More about the Netherlands: Netherlands in figures. Compare any two countries with the country comparison tool.
Sources and receipts
- OECD: Real minimum wagesread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
2ae7ee467ac7dc1d…· publisher's page - International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook database (IMF DataMapper)read 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
e36fb78dc58c5b50…· publisher's page - OECD: Consumer price indicesread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
e65b928246b385b5…· publisher's page - OECD: Consumer price indicesread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
53bd8a1de156c848…· publisher's page - OECD: Consumer price indicesread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
7f602aa3372de03a…· publisher's page - OECD: Consumer price indicesread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
ee244608acd0fa96…· publisher's page
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