The amount of Social Security retirement pensiondepends mainly on the contribution bases of the last 25 years, the total years of contributions and the retirement age. In this case, the contribution bases will determine 100% of the regulatory base, while the total years of contributions will define the percentage of that 100% to which you are entitled. Furthermore, to calculate the regulatory base, contributions accumulated in all schemes are taken into account, which, in certain cases, could result in receiving two retirement pensions.
In Spain, many workers with incomes between the minimum interprofessional salary (SMI) and 1,500 euros per month wonder what pension they would receive when they reach retirement age. ordinary retirement age.
To approximately calculate the retirement pension in this salary range, the first thing to do is determine the regulatory base, which is calculated from the contribution bases of the last 25 years. Depending on this regulatory base and the number of years of contributions, the corresponding percentage of said base can be estimated. In this sense, Social Security has a table to know the retirement pension based on the years of contributions for 2025.
How Social Security calculates the retirement pension
To calculate the contributory retirement pension, the first thing Social Security does is calculate the regulatory base. This is obtained dividing the last 300 contribution bases by 350 (25 years). To these bases, except for the last two years, a coefficient will be applied to reflect the inflation effect (so that purchasing power is not lost in the calculation).
Now, regarding the contribution bases, we must take into account that although the minimum interprofessional salary is charged, it cannot be lower than the minimum contribution bases. For example, in 2025, the minimum contribution base is 1,323 euros per month, as regulated by Order PJC/281/2024.
These bases may include those known as “contribution gaps”, which are periods in which contributions could not be made, but which Social Security specifically considers.
Once the regulatory base has been calculated, the percentage of this that corresponds to the worker must be determined, which is conditioned by the years and months contributed throughout their working life. In this sense, the longer the contribution period, the higher the resulting pension will be. TOthose workers who have accumulated at least 15 years of contributionsthe minimum requirement to access the contributory retirement pension, will be entitled to 50% of the regulatory base.
From this minimum, for each of the next 49 months of contributions, it will increase by 0.21% on the regulatory base. Subsequently, for the next 209 months, an additional 0.19% will be added for each month worked.
In this way, to achieve the right to a full pension it will be necessary to have contributed 36 years and 6 months, a requirement valid for the years 2025 and 2026. Now, starting in 2027, this period will increase to 37 years, as established pension reform.
Table with the retirement pension according to the years of contributions for a salary between the minimum wage and 1,500 euros
To know what pension we would have according to the years of contributions, we must know the regulatory base, data that we can consult in the Social Security electronic headquarters (report on contribution bases).
Years contributed | Percentage | Minimum contribution base 1,323 euros | Regulatory base of €1400.0 | Regulatory base of €1500.0 | Regulatory base of €1600.0 | Regulatory base of €1700.0 | Regulatory base of €1800.0 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 years | 50% | €661.50 | €700.00 | €750.00 | €800.00 | €850.00 | €900.00 |
16 years | 52.52% | €694.84 | €735.28 | €787.80 | €840.32 | €892.84 | €945.36 |
17 years | 55.04% | €728.18 | €770.56 | €825.60 | €880.64 | €935.68 | €990.72 |
18 years | 57.56% | €761.52 | €805.84 | €863.40 | €920.96 | €978.52 | €1,036.08 |
19 years | 60.08% | €794.86 | €841.12 | €901.20 | €961.28 | €1,021.36 | €1,081.44 |
20 years | 62.38% | €825.29 | €873.32 | €935.70 | €998.08 | €1,060.46 | €1,122.84 |
21 years | 64.66% | €855.45 | €905.24 | €969.90 | €1,034.56 | €1,099.22 | €1,163.88 |
22 years | 66.94% | €885.62 | €937.16 | €1,004.10 | €1,071.04 | €1,137.98 | €1,204.92 |
23 years | 69.22% | €915.78 | €969.08 | €1,038.30 | €1,107.52 | €1,176.74 | €1,245.96 |
24 years | 71.5% | €945.95 | €1,001.00 | €1,072.50 | €1,144.00 | €1,215.50 | €1,287.00 |
25 years | 73.78% | €976.11 | €1,032.92 | €1,106.70 | €1,180.48 | €1,254.26 | €1,328.04 |
26 years | 76.06% | €1,006.27 | €1,064.84 | €1,140.90 | €1,216.96 | €1,293.02 | €1,369.08 |
27 years | 78.34% | €1,036.44 | €1,096.76 | €1,175.10 | €1,253.44 | €1,331.78 | €1,410.12 |
28 years | 80.62% | €1,066.60 | €1,128.68 | €1,209.30 | €1,289.92 | €1,370.54 | €1,451.16 |
29 years | 82.9% | €1,096.77 | €1,160.60 | €1,243.50 | €1,326.40 | €1,409.30 | €1,492.20 |
30 years | 85.18% | €1,126.93 | €1,192.52 | €1,277.70 | €1,362.88 | €1,448.06 | €1,533.24 |
31 years | 87.46% | €1,157.10 | €1,224.44 | €1,311.90 | €1,399.36 | €1,486.82 | €1,574.28 |
32 years | 89.74% | €1,187.26 | €1,256.36 | €1,346.10 | €1,435.84 | €1,525.58 | €1,615.32 |
33 years | 92.02% | €1,217.42 | €1,288.28 | €1,380.30 | €1,472.32 | €1,564.34 | €1,656.36 |
34 years | 94.3% | €1,247.59 | €1,320.20 | €1,414.50 | €1,508.80 | €1,603.10 | €1,697.40 |
35 years | 96.58% | €1,277.75 | €1,352.12 | €1,448.70 | €1,545.28 | €1,641.86 | €1,738.44 |
36 years | 98.86% | €1,307.92 | €1,384.04 | €1,482.90 | €1,581.76 | €1,680.62 | €1,779.48 |
36 years and 6 months | 100% | €1,323.00 | €1,400.00 | €1,500.00 | €1,600.00 | €1,700.00 | €1,800.00 |