Seniors in Spain - statistics & facts

By 2072, it is estimated that the senior population in Spain will increase to over 8.7 million women and 6.8 million men aged 65 and older. This represents an increase of six million seniors, compared to the 9.68 million registered in 2023. Due to this, Spain is considered an aging country. Furthermore, 20 percent of the total population is 65 years old or more, having experienced a constant rise in life expectancy for both men and women.

Key demographic factors

The demographic evolution of the Iberic country is also influenced by other two key historical aspects: the positive migration balance and the decrease of the fertility rate. These two aspects and the increase of life expectancy in the country create an inverted pyramid, where the base is the narrowest part. This follows the patterns of developed countries with low mortality rates. In other words, the Spanish population tends to slowly but constantly age.

Surviving in retirement

These developments bring with them a constant increase in the expenses of the social security system in Spain for pensions, with the amount not always enough to live comfortably. The average amount of a retirement pension in the country is about 1,254 euros a month, though this figure depends on the scheme and place of residence. For example, pensioners that belong to the general scheme receive 1,403 euros a month, but the figure drops to less than 850 euros for self-employed workers. Furthermore, almost one million people survive with a retirement allowance of merely 600 euros a month or less. Another concern is the distribution of living costs. Housing, water, electricity and fuels, together with food and non-alcoholic beverages, represent nearly 60 percent of their spending. Another significant element is spending on health, even if this expense represents a lower share than the basic ones.

The perks of becoming a political target

Nevertheless, since 2008, the at-risk-of-poverty and social exclusion rate for the country's older population has fallen considerably: from 26.2 to 21.3 percent . In that 12-year span, the elderly passed from having the second highest rate to the lowest. As one of Spain's largest voting groups, it has become a political priority to bolster pensions and secure the well-being of seniors, even though wages stagnated or even fell. Consequently, in the last decade Spanish society has witnessed the emergence of a widening gap that separates its elders and the youth, now one of the country's most vulnerable groups.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Jan 29, 2024

Key insights

Region with the highest elderly population share
Asturias
Dependency rate for the elderly
31.34%
Households supported by pensioners
32.85%
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Number of inhabitants aged 65 or over in Spain from 2002 to 2023 (in millions)

Demographics

Population of Spain over 65 years 2002-2023

Average monthly amount of the retirement pension in the Social Security system in Spain in 2022, by type of scheme (in euros)

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Average retirement pension per month by scheme Spain 2022

Old-age dependency ratio in selected European countries in 2022

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Old-age dependency ratio in European countries 2022

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