World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Spain’s over-65 population tops 10 million, adding pressure on pensions
Spain had 10.18 million people aged 65 or older in January 2025, equal to 20.7% of the population.
The figure was more than 250,000 higher than a year earlier, and the share of older people has doubled since 1975.
Researchers project that nearly 30% of Spain’s population will be over 65 by 2046, with especially rapid growth among people aged 80 and older.
Spain’s pension system mainly uses current workers’ contributions to pay pensions, so fewer workers relative to retirees can strain its finances.
The growing number of older people adds pressure to pension funding, while new pensions are often higher than those leaving the system.
Employment growth and immigration may help, but an economist cited says they are unlikely to solve the long-term imbalance alone.
Spain may need higher productivity, employment and real wages to strengthen its ability to fund pensions; if population ageing outpaces economic growth, decisions on funding, working lives and public spending may follow.
Spain had 10,178,625 people aged 65 or older on January 1, 2025, equal to 20.7% of its population.
The number was 250,257 higher than a year earlier, an increase of 2.5%.
A CSIC report projects that the over-65 population will reach 16,146,676 in January 2046, or 29.6% of the population.
Economist Francisco Rodríguez said population ageing is a structural challenge for Spain’s pension system, which is largely funded by current workers’ contributions.
He said higher employment, immigration and productivity could help ease the pressure, but would not by themselves resolve the long-term imbalance.
- Who
- Spain’s population aged 65 and older, and the country’s pension system.
- What
- The number of people aged 65 and older exceeded 10 million. The rise adds pressure to pensions.
- When
- The population figures are for January 1, 2025; the report was published on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- The share of older people is growing relative to the working-age population, affecting the balance between pension contributions and payments.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
People aged 65 and older made up 10.2% of Spain’s population.
Spain had 10,178,625 people aged 65 and older, or 20.7% of its population.
El Mundo published the report on Spain’s ageing population and pension pressures.
The report projects that 16,146,676 people in Spain will be aged over 65, or 29.6% of the population.
- People aged 65 or older
- 10,178,625 on January 1, 2025
- Share of population aged 65 or older
- 20.7% in 2025
- Increase from previous year
- 250,257 people, or 2.5%
- Projected over-65 population
- 16,146,676 in January 2046
- Foreign residents aged 65 or older
- 548,023, or 5.4% of the age group
What people are saying
Population ageing is one of the greatest structural challenges of the Spanish economy.
It is not only that we live longer, which is excellent news, but that the proportion of people of working age is declining in relation to the retired population.
The fundamental issue is economic and not only demographic.