In 2025, for calculate retirement pensionSocial Security takes into account latest contribution bases, the total years worked and the age at which the pension is accessed. While the contribution bases determine the regulatory base or, in other words, 100% of the pension to which one is entitled, the total number of years of contributions determines what percentage of that 100% corresponds. On the other hand, the age at which the pension is accessed determines whether or not reducing coefficients must be applied.
The retirement age changes every year according to the Law 27/2011which after being launched in 2013, the ordinary age increases every year, as well as the contributions necessary to continue retiring at 65 years of age, and which will end in 2027, when the retirement age will be 67 years or 65 years in the case of being 38 years and 6 months of contributions.
Since January 1, 2025, this is 66 years and 8 months, but with the possibility of retiring at 65 years, as long as you have a minimum of 38 years and 3 months.
How to calculate retirement pension
To calculate the retirement pension, you must first calculate the regulatory base, then apply what percentage of the pension you are entitled to based on the years of contributions and finally, apply a reducing coefficient in the case of accessing voluntary early retirement or involuntary.
The regulatory base of the retirement pension is calculated by dividing the contribution bases of the last 300 months by 350. On all contribution bases, except for the last two years, a coefficient to reflect the inflation effect. In addition, the integration of gaps may be applied, which is basically adding those periods in which it has not been possible to contribute, either due to loss of employment, for family or personal reasons or for contributing below the minimum due to a temporary contract. part time.
After obtaining the regulatory base, it is necessary to determine what percentage of said base corresponds to the worker. This percentage depends on the years and months contributed throughout your working life; The greater the number of years of contributions, the greater the percentage to be received.
To access the contributory retirement pension, it is necessary to have contributed at least 15 years, which gives the right to 50% of the regulatory base. From there, the percentage increases as follows:
- For each of the following 49 additional months, the regulatory base per month contributed will increase by 0.21%.
- For each of the remaining 209 months, 0.19% will be added per month of contributions.
In this way, to reach 100% of the regulatory base, it will be necessary to have contributed 36 years and 6 months in 2025. Now, as established by current regulations, from 2027 it will be necessary to have contributed 37 years to receive 100% of the regulatory base.
This is how the table would look depending on the years worked:
| Listed Years | Regulatory Base Percentage |
|---|---|
| 15 | 50% |
| 16 | 52.52% |
| 17 | 55.04% |
| 18 | 57.56% |
| 19 | 60.08% |
| 20 | 62.38% |
| 21 | 64.66% |
| 22 | 66.94% |
| 23 | 69.22% |
| 24 | 71.50% |
| 25 | 73.78% |
| 26 | 76.06% |
| 27 | 78.34% |
| 28 | 80.62% |
| 29 | 82.90% |
| 30 | 85.18% |
| 31 | 87.46% |
| 32 | 89.74% |
| 33 | 92.02% |
| 34 | 94.30% |
| 35 | 96.58% |
| 36 years and 6 months or more | 100% |
Pension amount based on years of contributions
Knowing the total years of contributions and the regulatory base, it is possible approximately calculate the amount of the retirement pension that the worker will receive at the end of his working life. In the event that the resulting pension is lower than the established minimum pension, it may be supplemented by means of the minimum supplement, provided that the established legal requirements are met.
| Listed Years | Regulatory Base Percentage | Regulatory base €1,200 | Regulatory base €1,400 | Regulatory base €1,600 | Regulatory base €1,800 | Regulatory base €2,000 | Regulatory base €2,200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 years | 50.00% | €600.00 | €700.00 | €800.00 | €900.00 | €1,000.00 | €1,100.00 |
| 16 years | 52.52% | €630.24 | €735.28 | €840.32 | €945.36 | €1,050.40 | €1,155.44 |
| 17 years | 55.04% | €660.48 | €770.56 | €880.64 | €990.72 | €1,100.80 | €1,210.88 |
| 18 years | 57.56% | €690.72 | €805.84 | €920.96 | €1,036.08 | €1,151.20 | €1,266.32 |
| 19 years | 60.08% | €720.96 | €841.12 | €961.28 | €1,081.44 | €1,201.60 | €1,321.76 |
| 20 years | 62.38% | €748.56 | €873.32 | €998.08 | €1,122.84 | €1,247.60 | €1,372.36 |
| 21 years | 64.66% | €775.92 | €905.24 | €1,034.56 | €1,163.88 | €1,293.20 | €1,422.52 |
| 22 years | 66.94% | €803.28 | €937.16 | €1,071.04 | €1,204.92 | €1,338.80 | €1,472.68 |
| 23 years | 69.22% | €830.64 | €969.08 | €1,107.52 | €1,245.96 | €1,384.40 | €1,522.84 |
| 24 years | 71.50% | €858.00 | €1,001.00 | €1,144.00 | €1,287.00 | €1,430.00 | €1,573.00 |
| 25 years | 73.78% | €885.36 | €1,032.92 | €1,180.48 | €1,328.04 | €1,475.60 | €1,623.16 |
| 26 years | 76.06% | €912.72 | €1,064.84 | €1,216.96 | €1,369.08 | €1,521.20 | €1,673.32 |
| 27 years | 78.34% | €940.08 | €1,096.76 | €1,253.44 | €1,410.12 | €1,566.80 | €1,723.48 |
| 28 years | 80.62% | €967.44 | €1,128.68 | €1,289.92 | €1,451.16 | €1,612.40 | €1,773.64 |
| 29 years | 82.90% | €994.80 | €1,160.60 | €1,326.40 | €1,492.20 | €1,658.00 | €1,823.80 |
| 30 years | 85.18% | €1,022.16 | €1,192.52 | €1,362.88 | €1,533.24 | €1,703.60 | €1,873.96 |
| 31 years | 87.46% | €1,049.52 | €1,224.44 | €1,399.36 | €1,574.28 | €1,749.20 | €1,924.12 |
| 32 years | 89.74% | €1,076.88 | €1,256.36 | €1,435.84 | €1,615.32 | €1,794.80 | €1,974.28 |
| 33 years | 92.02% | €1,104.24 | €1,288.28 | €1,472.32 | €1,656.36 | €1,840.40 | €2,024.44 |
| 34 years | 94.30% | €1,131.60 | €1,320.20 | €1,508.80 | €1,697.40 | €1,886.00 | €2,074.60 |
| 35 years | 96.58% | €1,158.96 | €1,352.12 | €1,545.28 | €1,738.44 | €1,931.60 | €2,124.76 |
| 36 years and six months or more | 100.00% | €1,200.00 | €1,400.00 | €1,600.00 | €1,800.00 | €2,000.00 | €2,200.00 |
New dual method to calculate the regulatory base from 2026
Starting in 2026, the system for calculating the retirement pension will change to a new dual system. In this way, the worker will be able to benefit from the most favorable calculation between two options:
- Apply the current system, which uses the contribution bases of the last 25 years (300 months).
- Opt for the new model, which considers the contribution bases of the last 29 years (348 months), with the possibility of discarding the 24 lowest monthly payments, which is equivalent to using 27 full years of contributions.
This new dual system is designed to adjust to the reality of workers’ careers. People with stable and continuous careers will be able to continue choosing the first option, while those with more irregular work trajectories, marked by periods of low contributions or no contributions, will be able to benefit from the new model. In any case, Social Security will apply ex officio the method that is most beneficial for the future pensioner.
It must be said that it will not be implemented all at once, that is, it will be carried out in a transitional process, which will begin, as we have said, in 2026 and will end in 2041.