UK Minimum Wage History
1999–2026
The complete year-by-year record of every UK National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rate since the NMW was first introduced on 1 April 1999. Covering all age bands: adult/NLW, 18–20, under-18, and apprentice.
Key Milestones
-
1 April 1999
National Minimum Wage introduced
The NMW came into force under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998. The adult rate (22+) started at £3.60/hr. Workers aged 18–21 received £3.00/hr. An under-18 rate and apprentice rate did not yet exist.
-
October 2004
Under-18 rate introduced
A separate rate for workers aged 16–17 was added at £3.00/hr, extending minimum wage protection to younger workers for the first time.
-
October 2010
Apprentice rate introduced
A new apprentice rate of £2.50/hr was created, applying to apprentices aged under 19, or those in their first year of an apprenticeship at any age.
-
April 2016
National Living Wage introduced for 25+
A new premium tier — the National Living Wage — was introduced at £7.20/hr for workers aged 25 and over. This was set above the standard adult NMW and aimed to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020.
-
April 2021
NLW extended to workers aged 23+
The age threshold for the National Living Wage was lowered from 25 to 23, meaning workers aged 23 and 24 received a significant pay rise to £8.91/hr.
-
April 2024
NLW extended to workers aged 21+
The NLW age threshold fell again to 21, bringing two more age cohorts onto the top rate. The NLW rose to £11.44/hr — a record single-year cash increase of £1.02/hr for those already on the NLW.
-
April 2026 — Current
NLW rises to £12.71/hr
The NLW increased to £12.71/hr for workers aged 21+, the 18–20 rate rose to £10.85/hr, and both the under-18 and apprentice rates rose to £8.00/hr — the largest ever under-18 and apprentice rates.
All Rates by Year
April each year unless otherwise noted. Current rates highlighted.
| Year | Adult / NLW 21+ | 18–20 | Under 18 | Apprentice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | £3.60 | £3.00 | — | — |
| 2000 | £3.70 | £3.20 | — | — |
| 2001 | £4.10 | £3.50 | — | — |
| 2002 | £4.20 | £3.60 | — | — |
| 2003 | £4.50 | £3.80 | — | — |
| 2004 | £4.85 | £4.10 | £3.00 | — |
| 2005 | £5.05 | £4.25 | £3.00 | — |
| 2006 | £5.35 | £4.45 | £3.30 | — |
| 2007 | £5.52 | £4.60 | £3.40 | — |
| 2008 | £5.73 | £4.77 | £3.53 | — |
| 2009 | £5.80 | £4.83 | £3.57 | — |
| 2010 | £5.93 | £4.92 | £3.64 | £2.50 |
| 2011 | £6.08 | £4.98 | £3.68 | £2.60 |
| 2012 | £6.19 | £4.98 | £3.68 | £2.65 |
| 2013 | £6.31 | £5.03 | £3.72 | £2.68 |
| 2014 | £6.50 | £5.13 | £3.79 | £2.73 |
| 2015 | £6.70 | £5.30 | £3.87 | £3.30 |
| 2016 | £7.20 | £6.70 | £4.00 | £3.30 |
| Apr 2017 | £7.50 | £7.05 | £4.05 | £3.50 |
| Apr 2018 | £7.83 | £7.38 | £4.20 | £3.70 |
| Apr 2019 | £8.21 | £7.70 | £4.35 | £3.90 |
| Apr 2020 | £8.72 | £8.20 | £4.55 | £4.15 |
| Apr 2021 | £8.91 | £8.36 | £4.62 | £4.30 |
| Apr 2022 | £9.50 | £9.18 | £4.81 | £4.81 |
| Apr 2023 | £10.42 | £10.18 | £5.28 | £5.28 |
| Apr 2024 | £11.44 | £8.60 | £6.40 | £6.40 |
| Apr 2025 | £12.21 | £10.00 | £7.55 | £7.55 |
| Apr 2026 | £12.71 | £10.85 | £8.00 | £8.00 |
Under-18 rate — not introduced until October 2004. Shown as — for earlier years.
Apprentice rate — not introduced until October 2010. Applies to apprentices aged under 19, or in their first year of an apprenticeship at any age. Shown as — for earlier years.
NLW age threshold — 25+ from April 2016, extended to 23+ from April 2021, and 21+ from April 2024 to present.
Source: GOV.UK National Minimum Wage rates. Verified April 2026.
How Minimum Wage Rates Are Set
Low Pay Commission research
The independent Low Pay Commission (LPC) analyses employment data, wage trends, and the wider economy throughout the year to assess what minimum wage level the labour market can sustain.
LPC recommendation
Each autumn the LPC submits its recommended rates to the Government. Since 2016, the Government has also set the LPC a target — currently to maintain the NLW at two-thirds of UK median hourly earnings.
Government decision
The Government accepts, modifies, or rejects the LPC's recommendation and announces the new rates, typically in the autumn Budget or Spring Statement. In practice, the LPC's recommendations have been accepted in full since 2016.
1 April implementation
New rates always take effect on 1 April. HMRC enforces compliance; employers found underpaying face financial penalties of up to 200% of the arrears owed, plus public naming.
Note on the "National Living Wage" name: The Government's statutory NLW is a separate, legally-binding rate set under the National Minimum Wage Act. It is different from the voluntary "Real Living Wage" rate recommended by the Living Wage Foundation (based on actual living costs), which is higher and currently stands at £13.85/hr outside London and £15.75/hr in London (2024/25 rates).
Rate Growth Calculator
Select a starting year to see how much the adult/NLW rate has increased to April 2026.
Starting Rate
£3.60
per hour
April 2026
£12.71
per hour
Cash Increase
+£9.11
per hour
% Increase
+253%
cash terms
Extra per week (37.5 hrs)
+£341.63
Extra per year (37.5 hrs)
+£17,764.65
Important Notes
Rates shown are April rates. Before the NLW was introduced in 2016, rates could also change in October. This page shows the April rates for each year, which are the rates currently in force during most of each tax year.
Inflation context. While the NMW has risen 253% in cash terms since 1999, UK CPI inflation over the same period has been roughly 95–100%. The NMW has therefore roughly doubled in real (inflation-adjusted) terms.
Enforcement. HMRC is responsible for enforcing the NMW. Workers who believe they are being paid below the minimum wage can report it anonymously to HMRC via gov.uk/minimum-wage-underentitled or by calling 0300 123 1100.
Verification. All rates on this page have been verified against GOV.UK official minimum wage history records and were last checked on 22 April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Tools
Minimum Wage Calculator
Check your hourly rate against current NMW/NLW rates.
Arrears Calculator
Calculate how much back-pay you may be owed.
Take-Home Pay Calculator
See your NMW take-home after tax and National Insurance.
Report NMW Underpayment
Step-by-step guide to reporting underpayment to HMRC.