Minimum wage history in the UK starts on 1 April 1999, when the National Minimum Wage began at £3.60 an hour. This interactive chart shows every adult rate since then, up to the £13.21 planned for April 2027. Move along the line to see the rate on any date, tap a gold dot to read what changed, or tick “In today’s money” to see what each rate is really worth.
Rates by age
| Age | 2026/27 | From April 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 and over | £12.71 | £13.21 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 | £11.27 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | £8.31 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | £8.31 |
Your yearly pay
Working hours a week at the adult rate earns
a year before tax.
Uses 2026/27 tax rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with no student loan or pension.
How to use the minimum wage history chart
The chart works on a phone or a laptop. Here is how to get the most from it.
Step 1: Read the line
The green line shows the top adult rate an hour. Each small dot is a new rate, which changed in October until 2015 and in April since 2016. The dashed part is the rate already set for April 2027.
Step 2: Tap the gold dots
Each gold dot marks a big moment, such as the start of the National Living Wage. Tap one to read what happened that year.
Step 3: See it in today’s money
Tick In today’s money and the chart adjusts every rate for inflation. For example, the £3.60 from 1999 works out at about £6.90 an hour in 2025 prices.
Step 4: Check your rate and yearly pay
Under the chart, the table shows the current rates by age. Next to it, enter your hours to see what the minimum wage pays over a year.
Step 5: Download the data
You can also download every rate as a CSV file for your own spreadsheet.
Key moments in UK minimum wage history
Before 1999 there was no national minimum wage in the UK. Some industries had wages councils that set pay, but most of these were scrapped in 1993.
1999: the National Minimum Wage begins
The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 created a legal minimum for the first time. From 1 April 1999, workers aged 22 and over had to get at least £3.60 an hour. Younger workers aged 18 to 21 had a lower rate of £3.00.
2001 to 2009: steady rises
In the early years the rate rose quickly. In October 2001 it jumped 10.8% to £4.10, which is still the biggest percentage rise. By October 2009 it had reached £5.80.
2010: 21 year olds get the adult rate
In October 2010 the adult rate was extended to 21 year olds. At the same time, a separate minimum rate for apprentices began.
2016: the National Living Wage arrives
In April 2016 the government introduced the National Living Wage for workers aged 25 and over, starting at £7.20 an hour. Since then, rates have changed every April. The age limit fell to 23 in 2021 and to 21 in 2024.
2023 to 2027: record cash rises
High inflation led to the biggest cash rises so far. The rate went up 9.7% to £10.42 in April 2023, then by £1.02 to £11.44 in April 2024. It reached £12.71 in April 2026 and will rise to £13.21 in April 2027.
Is the minimum wage worth more than in 1999?
Looking back over minimum wage history, the rate has more than tripled in pounds, from £3.60 to £12.71. Even after inflation, the gain is big. The 1999 rate is worth about £6.90 in today’s money, so the real minimum wage is around 84% higher.
However, it has not been a smooth climb. Tick “In today’s money” and you can see the real value fell between 2009 and 2013, as prices rose faster than pay. It then recovered, and the National Living Wage pushed it higher.
Our UK inflation calculator shows how this works for any amount. Meanwhile, our guide to why everything costs more explains what has driven prices up.
What minimum wage history means for you in 2026
In the 2026/27 tax year, workers aged 21 and over must get at least £12.71 an hour. For 18 to 20 year olds the minimum is £10.85, while under 18s and apprentices get at least £8.00.
A full time job of 37.5 hours a week at £12.71 pays about £24,785 a year. After income tax and National Insurance, that leaves roughly £21,400. From April 2027 the full time figure rises to about £25,760.
You can check the official rates and what counts as pay on GOV.UK. The Low Pay Commission report also explains how the rates are set.
If you are on or near the minimum wage, our guide to negotiating a pay rise may help. Our UK income tax history chart shows how much tax you pay, and you can find every chart on our UK money charts page.
UK minimum wage history FAQs
The National Minimum Wage started on 1 April 1999. It was £3.60 an hour for workers aged 22 and over.
From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. The rate is £10.85 for 18 to 20 year olds, and £8.00 for under 18s and apprentices.
From April 2027 the National Living Wage rises 3.9% to £13.21 an hour. The 18 to 20 rate goes up to £11.27, and the rate for under 18s and apprentices goes up to £8.31.
The National Living Wage is the top minimum wage rate, for workers aged 21 and over. The National Minimum Wage covers younger workers and apprentices. Neither is the same as the voluntary Real Living Wage set by the Living Wage Foundation.
The biggest percentage rise came in October 2001, when the rate went up 10.8% to £4.10. The biggest cash rise was in April 2024, when it went up £1.02 to £11.44.
At £12.71 an hour, 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks comes to about £24,785 a year before tax. From April 2027 it rises to about £25,760.