adds a new historical record and already exceeds 189.5 billion annually

Social Security has disbursed an amount of 189,598 million euros this year for the payment of pensions contributory. This figure represents a new record in the historical series and an increase of 6.2% compared to the 178.5 billion paid in 2024. According to the data provided this Friday by the Ministry of Inclusion, in the December payroll, 10.4 million pensions have been paid to 9.4 million pensioners, distributedor 13,750 million of euros.

With it, in 2025 Social Security has paid 162,985 million euros in monthly payrollto which are added the 26,413 million of the two extra payments that are distributed in June and Novemberuntil reaching the aforementioned 189,598 million. A year before, Social Security distributed 153,495 million to pay the monthly payroll, as well as another 25,043 million in extras, until reaching 178,500.

A total expense skyrocketed

If passive classes are also taken into account, Pension spending this year has exceeded 200 billion eurossince another 20,129 million paid between January and November would have to be added to the 189,598 million spent on contributory pensions (latest data available). Last year, total spending on pensions (contributory and passive classes -with the full year-) reached 200,738 million euros. In the last general budgets of the State approved, The budgeted expenditure amounted to 190,687 million euroswhich represented a growth of 11.4% compared to 2022.

Of these, for contributory pensions were allocated 166,777 million euros11.2% more due to the revaluation of the amounts, the increase in the group of pensioners and the variation in the average pension, while 20,418 million euros were dedicated to those in passive classes. By 2026, the more than 10.4 million contributory pensions They will rise around 2.7%.

1,317.7 euros per month average pension

Regarding the payment of pensions, if we look at the December pension payroll, three quarters of the total amount paid correspond to those of retirementwith 10,054.1 million, followed by those of widowhood (2,203 million), permanent disability (1,278.7 million) orphanhood (177.7 million) and benefits for family members (36.7 million). The average pension of the system has stood at 1,317.7 euros per month, which represents an increase of 4.4% compared to a year ago, with differences between the different types, the highest being the retirement pension, which nearly 6.6 million people receive (more than two thirds of the total), of 1,512.7 euros per month on average.

By regime, the amount of the average retirement pension from the general regime is 1,670.9 euros per month, while for the self-employed it is 1,013.4 euros per month. In the new retirement registrations, the average amount in the system is 1,594.1 eurosaccording to the latest available data (November), the general regime being higher, with 1,700 euros. In November, 1.24 million pensions included the supplement to reduce the gender gap (an average amount of 75.1 euros per month), of which 81.7% corresponded to women (1,012,302).

Furthermore, the monthly payroll of passive class pensions has amounted to 1,715.7 million euros in November (latest data available), a figure that increased by 6.4% and was used to pay 735,663 benefits.