You, the taxpayer, are covering your politicians' wages – so it's only right that you know what your elected representatives earn and how their pay compares globally...

The reality, as you'll soon find out, is a major eye-opener. While some politicians take home a small amount, others rake in 23 times their country's average salary. Read on to discover the annual wages for members of parliament, congress and other legislative bodies in 42 selected nations and one territory, using data collated by PoliticalSalaries.com unless otherwise stated.

All dollar amounts in US dollars. Data correct as of 17 March 2025.

The 123 members of Burundi's National Assembly scrape by on a minuscule $720 (£558) a year, almost 10 times less than the average annual salary. Only Cuba, where elected representatives don't receive a wage at all, is worse when it comes to politicians' pay. An argument in favour of compensating elected officials generously is that it helps prevent corruption since they're less tempted by bribes or illicit gains. It's telling, then, that Burundi is the most corrupt country in this round-up, according to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.

In any case, Burundi's most senior officials benefit from lavish compensation, a world apart from the rank-and-file politicians. In January 2020, outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza (pictured) was awarded $530,000 (£410k) on top of a gold-plated pension and luxury villa, though his life was cut short by a heart attack later that year.

The gap between average salary and politicians' pay is narrower in Ethiopia, with the yearly wage for each of the 547 members of the House of People's Representatives around two-thirds of the typical annual compensation in the country. But by international standards, $1,320 (£1k) per year is very much on the low side.

Despite substantial hikes brought in last year, public sector pay in Ethiopia remains poor across the board. The lowest-paid government workers saw their annual wage rise from just $102 (£79) to a meagre $443 (£342), which still isn't enough to live on.

The 450 members of Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, earn just over one and a half times the typical salary for the country and considerably less than civil servants at an equivalent level. The upside is politicians can claim for travel expenses and rent if they live outside Kyiv.

Though there have been repeated calls to raise their salary, Ukraine's MPs have consistently resisted giving themselves pay rises so as not to offend their constituents, who are enduring immense economic hardship due to the Russian invasion.

Members of India's lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, are paid $13,800 (£10.7k) a year. This seems very low from an international perspective, but it's actually just over double India's average annual wage. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi (pictured) reportedly receives the equivalent of around $1,900 (£1.5k) a month.

Plus, India's 543 MPs in the Lok Sabha benefit from numerous perks. These range from free housing and healthcare to an $8,262 (£6.4k) office allowance and 34 complimentary domestic flights each year.

China's National People's Congress (NPC) is the largest legislature in the world with almost 3,000 deputies. But members have no real power and meet only once a year to rubber-stamp the Chinese Communist Party leadership's plans.

These politicians aren't paid unless they serve on the Standard Committee, and even then the salary is modest. They do, however, get free flights and accommodation as well as a daily living allowance when they travel to Beijing for 10 days in the spring for the annual meet-up. Critics say the lack of adequate compensation fuels corruption because it incentivises deputies to seek unofficial income. And graft remains a persistent problem within the system, despite Xi Jinping's efforts to stamp it out.

Türkiye's 600 Grand National Assembly members argue they're underpaid. Last year, MP Dogan Demir told newspaper Cagdas Kocaeli his salary simply isn't enough to meet his basic needs. The put-upon politician complained about having to cover expenses, from hospitality for guests to travel, and revealed that many of his colleagues are forced to take out bank loans to get by.

Yet the salary for a Turkish MP is 3.7 times the average salary in the country and nine times the minimum wage, so public sympathy is understandably scarce.

Pay for the deputies of Poland's 460-seat lower house of parliament, the Sejm, has been on a rollercoaster ride this past decade. Their salary was cut by 20% in 2018 following a public backlash over bonuses. But in 2021, deputies were treated to a 60% pay rise despite widespread opposition, with 84% of Poles reportedly opposing the hike.

However, the level of pay for Poland's legislators isn't too excessive, coming in at just over double the nation's average annual wage of $18,534 (£14.3k).

Hungary's 197 lawmakers earn over three times the country's average annual wage of $12,997 (£10k), similar to the ratio in countries like France and Ireland.

When it comes to executive branch pay however, Hungary goes all out. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (pictured) ranks as the highest-paid EU leader in relation to average pay. His yearly pay packet of $206,000 (£160k) is a whopping 16 times Hungary's typical annual wage, as per cost of living website Numbeo.

Members of the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat, Malaysia's lower house of parliament, earn a basic salary of $43,290 (£33.5k), almost quadruple the nation's average wage. But their compensation extends far beyond this.

The country's MPs enjoy an extensive array of allowances, including business class travel, entertainment expenses and formal clothing provisions, with these perks significantly boosting their overall remuneration package.

Mexico is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a politician, with assassinations of elected officials shockingly commonplace in the country. The 500 members of the Chamber of Deputies are paid a salary five and a half times higher than the nation's average and get free flights and other plum benefits.

Given the risks they face, a bumper pay package seems reasonable. Nonetheless, Mexico is the third most corrupt country in this round-up, and the heavily expensed lifestyles of the deputies have generated a fair amount of criticism over the years.

With Argentina in the midst of a drastic austerity drive, officials in the nation's 257-seat Chamber of Deputies came under fire last year when they awarded lawmakers a 30% pay rise.

While the hike brings salaries in line with inflation, it didn't go down well with cost-cutting president Javier Milei (pictured), who said “a lot of people are a lot worse off” and that he didn't want to hear that politicians can't make ends meet. In fact, the current salary for a deputy is over six and a half times higher than Argentina's average annual wage of $7,062 (£5.5k).

The disparity between the average national wage and politicians' compensation is much narrower in Spain, where the 350 members of the Congress of Deputies earn just over twice the country's typical salary, which stands at $22,171 (£17.2k) per annum.

Pay for top government officials is relatively restrained too, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (pictured) taking home a respectable $97,512 (£75.3k) annually.

Portugal's 230 parliamentarians earn slightly more in nominal terms than their counterparts in Spain but significantly more in a relative sense, with their salary almost four times higher than the country's typical wage.

Portugal's MPs bagged a generous pay rise last year, a move that meant Prime Minister Luís Montenegro (pictured) now earns €8,768.65 ($9.5k/£7.3k) a month. A 5% salary reduction imposed over a decade ago when the country was in dire economic straits was finally lifted, and allowances for travel and other expenses were restored. Not everyone has been happy with the changes though – even some MPs believe politicians' pay should only increase in line with the country's average salary.

Peru's 130 lawmakers often grumble about their wage packet, including parliamentarian María Agüero, who has publicly stated her salary isn't enough to live in Lima. But members of Congress earn over 10 times more than the average wage and 18 times in excess of the minimum wage.

Plus, their compensation swells to 45 times the minimum wage in December when politicians receive fat Christmas bonuses and other extras, according to news site Infobae.

The Philippines isn't covered by PoliticalSalaries.com, but salary information for the 318 members of the country's House of Representatives is readily available online.

Members of the chamber fall under Salary Grade 31, which amounts to $62,640 (£48.2k) per annum. This is a hefty 13 times higher than the nation's average yearly wage of $4,770 (£3.7k). On top of this, representatives enjoy a range of perks, from a transportation allowance to performance-related bonuses and a cash gift at Christmas.

South Africa's 454 MPs, led by president Cyril Ramaphosa (pictured), are paid $70,250 (£53.6k) a year, which is over four and a half times the average annual wage in the country. While this isn't OTT, the freebies that come with it have raised eyebrows given South Africa's rampant poverty and the huge gap between rich and poor.

Parliamentarians are spoiled with heavily subsidised luxurious housing, scores of free flights, free electricity and water, laptop and smartphone allowances and more.

A parliament in all but name, Russia's Duma is essentially a rubber-stamp body for the Kremlin, and the chamber's 450 deputies are very generously rewarded.

The official salary is $78,610 (£60.5k) a year, over 10 times higher than Russia's average annual wage. And that's not even taking into account reports of their hidden wealth, with Russia the second most corrupt country in this round-up.

The Swiss parliament, which has been headed by Karin Keller-Sutter (pictured) since the start of this year, has been hailed as one of the least expensive and most efficient in the world. Moderate pay is key to keeping costs down. The nation's 246 Federal Assembly members are paid $80,860 (£62.3k) a year, which is almost on a par with Switzerland's average annual wage of $80,567 (£62k) and represents only 88% of its GDP per capita. The salary is actually modest when living costs are considered.

That said, total compensation more or less doubles when perks such as allowances for housing, meals and travel are factored in.

On the flip side, the Brazilian legislature has been described as way too expensive. The country's 513 deputies earn $90,980 (£70.1k) a year. This salary is almost 18 times Brazil's average annual wage and a chunky 444% of GDP per capita, making it the second-highest in relative terms in this round-up. And this isn't even a fraction of what they really earn.

A 2021 study by the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA) in Rio de Janeiro found that members of the Brazilian legislature have a gross yearly income equivalent to $5 million (£3.9m). According to PoliticalSalaries.com, the Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (pictured) earns the equivalent of $64,000 (£49.2k) a year, but again, this doesn't include undisclosed expenses.

The pay rate for Sweden's lawmakers is far more aligned with the country's average salary and GDP per capita, at only two and a half times higher and 132% respectively. The 349 members of the Riksdag, unlike some of their international counterparts, aren't on that much of a gravy train.

Members who live more than 31 miles (50km) from Stockholm can expense overnight accommodation and travel to the capital. But allowances are relatively thin on the ground, a marked contrast to the bulging expense accounts of some other parliaments.

The 155 members of Chile's Chamber of Deputies are paid $94,140 (£72.5k) per annum, which is 11 times higher than the average yearly wage and 285% of the nation's GDP per capita. But some elected representatives are making a lot more than that.

Last year, the legislative body was rocked by a pay scandal following an exposé by La Segunda newspaper that revealed 35 top officials were paid in excess of $128,400 (£98.9k) a year, more than the president Gabriel Boric (pictured).

The deputies of France's 577-seat National Assembly are paid $99,520 (£76.7k) a year, three times more than the average earner in the country. Members of the chamber are also entitled to claim up to $77,508 (£59.6k) annually in expenses, from travel to accommodation.

Last year, a freedom of information request resulted in the publication of President Emmanuel Macron's payslip. It revealed that he earned €14,586.32 in January 2024, the equivalent of around $191,000 (£175k) for the year.

New Zealand's parliament counts 123 MPs who are paid $98,990 (£76.2k) a year, almost three times the country's average salary of $34,170 (£26.3k).

New Zealand's MPs enjoy plenty of perks, including a housing allowance, free travel and complimentary meals. However, the system has been vulnerable to abuse, and several politicians, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (pictured) and MPs Tim Costley and Kieran McAnulty, have faced allegations of misusing taxpayer-funded benefits.

The 465 members of Japan's House of Representatives are paid $105,120 (£80.9k) a year, four times more than the country's average annual salary. Officials can also claim expenses of up to $81,620 (£62.8k) and are entitled to other perks.

Japan's elected representatives are certainly not hard up. At the last count in 2023, their average overall income stood at $172,119 (£133k), with their bank balances boosted after a 20% pay cut introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic was rescinded.

Colombia's 295 congresspeople are doing very well, especially in relative terms: their annual salary is almost 23 times higher than the nation's average yearly wage and 490% of its GDP per capita, the widest disparities in this round-up. And that doesn't factor in the bountiful expenses and social benefits Colombian politicians enjoy.

A chorus of voices have called for change. Leading the charge, YouTuber senator Jota Pe Hernández launched a campaign in 2022 to slash congressional salaries by 30%. Needless to say, the proposal was met with fierce opposition from fellow parliamentarians. And the campaign appears to have fizzled out, with reports indicating Hernández has abandoned a pledge to donate 30% of his pay to charity.

The picture shows Colombian president Gustavo Petro, who earns the equivalent of $106,000 (£81.6k) as a base salary.

The 300 members of South Korea's National Assembly pull in almost four times more than the average national wage and can tap into a myriad of allowances. Politicians' pay hit the news in the country in January when it emerged that impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol was still getting his salary and would benefit from a 3% raise, taking his annual pay to $179,000 (£138k).

As reported by the BBC, many South Koreans found the decision particularly shocking given the country's minimum wage increased by only 1.7%, with social media in the nation ablaze with angry comments.

Norway's legislative body, the Storting, has 169 members who are each paid $109,640 (£84.4k), which is over two and half times higher than the average wage. When this ratio is considered, the salary is actually very restrained and unlikely to attract criticism.

Perks, on the other hand, have been controversial since several members of the Storting have been caught fiddling their expenses, and some have committed outright fraud.

Members of Belgium's Federal Parliament, who number 190, take home $114,860 (£88.4k) a year, which is more than three and a half times higher than the typical annual wage and 162% of the country's GDP per capita.

Bones of contention include the extravagant severance pay packages awarded to outgoing MPs. Last year, 15 former members of the Worker's Party refused their exit bonuses of up to $227,700 (£175k) each, calling them “intolerable privileges”, adding that their party had tried to abolish the perk, only to be ignored by other parties. President of the Worker's Party, Raoul Hedebouw, is pictured here.

The 179 elected representatives of Denmark's legislature the Folketing earn a little over two and a half times the national wage, which isn't excessive. Members from Greenland and the Faroe Islands are entitled to additional pay, which translates to an extra $3,520 (£2.7k) annually, but all in all, pay levels are relatively low. This moderate compensation, in a country consistently ranked the least corrupt in the world, challenges the notion that high salaries are necessary to prevent corruption.

Where perks are concerned, MPs' pensions are a standout. Parliamentarians begin receiving regular payments at 60, while the state pension age in the country is currently between 65 and 67.

The House of Commons' 650 members were recently awarded an above-inflation pay rise, taking their annual salary to $121,973 (£93.9k) from April, over three times higher than Britain's average yearly wage. The hike is in line with recommendations for public sector workers and was decided by an independent body, but has nonetheless irked some voters.

Ever since the blockbuster expenses scandal of 2009, British MPs have had to tread carefully around pay-related matters, wary of the potential for significant public backlash.

Members of Ireland's 174-seat Dáil Éireann earn a similar wage, pocketing $123,450 (£95k) a year. The disparity between politicians' pay and the average wage is pretty much the same as the UK's at over three times higher.

Irish politicians also benefit from allowances and other perks. But they too have been embroiled in expenses scandals on occasion. Last year for instance, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik, Minister of State Joe O'Brien and another elected representative had to repay over $1,630 (£1.3k) in unsubstantiated expenses.

The 183 lawmakers in Austria's National Council earn $134,890 (£104k) annually. This is over four times higher than the country's average yearly wage, so could be seen as a tad excessive by some.

National Council members also receive open-handed remuneration for a range of expenses. Unlike members of the Federal Council, Austria's upper house of parliament, they also receive an allowance that covers staffing costs. 

Italy's legislators have nothing to complain about when it comes to compensation. The 400 members of the nation's Chamber of Deputies take home $135,980 (£105k) a year, over six times more than the average annual salary. This is the widest disparity in Europe.

As you might imagine, Italian voters don't exactly love hearing about politicians getting massive pay bumps. This was all too evident in December when the government's attempt to hike some ministers' monthly pay by up to $7,583 (£5.8k) sparked a public outcry and had to be toned down.

Canada's MPs aren't exactly struggling either. The 338 members of the country's House of Commons net a basic annual salary of $141,060 (£109k), which is over four times higher than the nation's average yearly wage. Meanwhile, incoming prime minister Mark Carney (pictured) will enjoy a salary of $282,000 (£217k).

This fact hasn't escaped vast swathes of the public. Last April's hike in politicians' pay was opposed by 80% of Canadians, according to a Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

Singapore's 96 MPs command a salary of $144,100 (£111k) a year. This is only around three times higher than the average annual wage for the city-state and almost bang on its GDP per capita. So, in reality, Singapore's lawmakers aren't paid an exorbitant sum.

Plus, given living costs in the tiny country are among the highest in the world, their salary doesn't go all that far. However, the salary received by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (pictured) is off the scale. The highest-paid world leader by far, his annual wage works out at an enormous $1.7 million (£1.3m).

The 735 members of the Bundestag earn almost four times more than the average worker in the country, with their annual pay equating to 210% of the country's GDP per capita.

German law states that politicians must be paid enough to stay independent and free from outside influence, so this exceedingly generous compensation is designed to act as an anti-corruption safeguard.

Australia's parliamentarians, who comprise 151 members of the House of Representatives and 76 senators, earn $146,930 (£113k) a year, which is over three and a half times greater than the country's typical annual salary. Federal MPs can also claim expenses on accommodation, travel and more.

Although Australian parliamentarians pull in a substantial salary, recent pay increases have been restrained. For instance, last year's 3.5% raise was less than the 3.75% increase to the minimum wage, which sent out the right message and soothed any public discontent.

The 150 members of the Dutch House of Representatives earn three and a half times more than the average worker in the country, which isn't outrageous in a relative sense but isn't frugal either. For this reason, Dutch politicians are expected to work for their taxpayer-funded salary. And it appears not everyone is pulling their weight.

Right now, the Socialist Party is pushing for pay cuts and sanctions against alleged 'phantom MPs' from the far-right PVV, who it claims are consistently absent from parliamentary debates.

The 120 members of Israel's Knesset earn $158,860 (£120k) a year, which is over four and a half times higher than the average annual wage in the country. But while the figure is substantial, it's actually been declining in real terms over the past few years.

Salaries were frozen during the pandemic, and although pay was raised by 5.1% in 2023, it fell short of the proposed 12.5% increase that would have aligned wages with inflation due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. In 2024, politicians' pay was frozen again amid the Gaza conflict and pay cuts for public sector workers are currently in the pipeline.

A self-governing British territory, the Cayman Islands has the most compact parliament in this round-up, with only 21 members in total. And just as well for taxpayers, since they're each banking a hefty $156,960 (£121k) a year for their services.

Still, MPs' pay in the affluent Caribbean tax haven works out at under double its average annual wage of $81,879 (£63k), which is the highest in this round-up. And with the cost of living in the Cayman Islands eye-watering, the supersized pay packet is more than warranted.

The closest thing the UAE has to a legislature, the Federal National Council plays a purely consultative role in a system where final authority rests with the hereditary rulers, not an elected parliament.

Despite their limited influence, the body's 40 members receive super-generous compensation, with an annual salary that exceeds the country's average yearly wage by more than four times.

The 535 members of the US Congress are the highest-paid legislators in the world, though not in relative terms. Their annual salary of $174,000 (£134k) is not much over three times America's average yearly wage. Plus, the pay rate has been frozen since 2009, with lawmakers ever mindful of public opinion and the potential political fallout of raising their own compensation.

In fact, if the congressional salary had increased to keep pace with inflation, it would stand at almost $260,000 (£200k) today.

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