As in Portugal, the pension system in Spain is facing increasing pressure, aggravated by the increase in benefits and the aging of the population. According to the newspaper La Vanguardia, in 2025 the average monthly pension reached 1,314 euros, the result of revaluations approved to maintain purchasing power. Although the Spanish economy has recorded growth over the last year, the pace of spending continues to exceed forecasts and raises concerns about the sustainability of the system.
Faced with this scenario, retired doctor Juan José López, aged 83, decided to leave a warning to the younger generations. With a monthly pension of 2,500 euros, he argues that the future of reforms will depend on the choices made today.
For the former clinician, only stable contributory careers and sustainable financing policies can guarantee continuity of benefits.
Weight of pensions and expense limit
Social Security currently allocates more than 13,600 million euros per month to the payment of pensions, with almost 10,000 million referring to retirements. Contributory spending represents around 11.7% of GDP, and the system deficit remains close to 1.9%.
The same source recalls that the fiscal clause agreed with Brussels establishes an average expenditure limit of 15% of GDP between 2022 and 2050. However, forecasts indicate that, by mid-century, this value will reach between 16% and 17%. In this context, each year of discounts becomes decisive to guarantee the financial balance of the system.
Young people at risk in a fragile labor market
In the same statements, López compared his situation to that of younger workers. Your pension is the result of a long and well-paid career, while new generations face temporary jobs, lower wages and higher living costs. This disparity threatens the system’s ability to maintain future benefits.
The doctor sums up the problem clearly: “Young people live worse than pensioners because salaries are very low and, although pensions are also low, they are still higher than what most young people earn.” This difference, explains the newspaper, increases the risk of imbalance between taxpayers and beneficiaries.
Every year counts
Currently, the ratio in Spain is 2.4 contributors per pensioner. The Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (AIReF) predicts that in 2050 the dependency rate will approach 70%, meaning that the pension system could collapse that year. This will mean increased pressure not only on pensions, but also on health and care spending.
According to the same source, to obtain the full amount of the pension it is essential to have a continuous working career, without interruptions. “Every year counts, and every gap weighs,” says López. Therefore, he advises young people to adopt practical measures: review contribution bases, bridge periods without deductions, consider retirement age and invest in training to improve productivity and future bases.
Planning instead of alarming
The doctor insists that his goal is not to trigger panic, but to encourage preparedness. Quoted by , López summarizes his message in a pedagogical tone: “it is not a pessimistic warning, it is a reminder. It is necessary to review the history of discounts, take care of the bases and decide in time.”
His reflection reflects the concern of a generation that observes changes in the job market with apprehension. The sustainability of pensions, he concludes, will not only depend on public policies, but also on individual decisions made throughout their professional lives.
Also read:
