The average pension for new retirement registrations in the RETA reaches 1,148.9 euros per month, 69 euros more than in 2025. Over fourteen payments, the difference exceeds 1,000 euros annually.
Self-employed workers retiring this summer will do so with an average pension of 1,148.9 euros per month, according to the latest data from Social Security. This figure represents an increase of 69 euros per month compared to the 1,079.8 euros received by those who retired in 2025. In annual terms, the difference reaches 966 euros —more than 1,000 if the fourteen payments are counted—.
The improvement consolidates a trend that has been repeating for several years. New generations of self-employed workers are retiring with higher contribution bases than their predecessors. This is further enhanced by revaluations linked to the CPI and the progressive impact of the income-based contribution system.
The new RETA pensions set a historic record
The initial average contributory retirement pension for self-employed workers, excluding benefits from the old SOVI, stands at 1,148.90 euros per month, a new historical maximum. In 2025 it was 1,079.83 euros; in 2024, it was 1,026.33 euros. If we go back to 2017, the figure was just 801.76 euros per month.
In less than a decade, the initial pension has grown by 43%, well above the accumulated inflation during the period. This represents an additional 347 euros each month. The increase is due to three key factors: annual revaluations, greater awareness among the group to contribute at higher bases, and the implementation of the new income-based contribution system.
The gap with the average pension of all self-employed workers remains significant
Despite this improvement, the average pension currently received by all retired self-employed workers barely reaches 1,060.6 euros per month. This is nearly 90 euros less than the new registrations. The reason is that the statistics include hundreds of thousands of self-employed workers who contributed for decades at the minimum base and carry much lower benefits.
The difference reflects a generational change: new retirees have contributed more years and at higher bases, while older pensioners have weaker contribution careers. The gap will gradually narrow as self-employed workers with more complete careers retire, but the process will be slow.
What it means for self-employed workers planning to retire
For a self-employed worker considering when to retire, the trend is clear: the later they retire, the higher the pension. Waiting a year can mean about 70 euros more per month, and if they delay for several years, the accumulated difference can be substantial. Additionally, the new income-based contribution system, which came into effect in 2023, is raising the bases for many self-employed workers, which is expected to translate into higher pensions in the future.
Experts recommend reviewing the contribution base during the last years of working life, as contributions during this period have significant weight in the pension calculation. It is also advisable to simulate the future pension through the electronic headquarters of Social Security to make informed decisions.
The new RETA pensions will continue to be updated monthly. Social Security will publish the June data in the coming weeks, and the upward trend is expected to continue throughout the year. For self-employed workers retiring this summer, the news is positive: they will receive more than 1,000 additional euros per year compared to those who retired in 2025.
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