Spain faces demographic challenges as life expectancy exceeds 84 years

Spain has achieved a historic milestone in public health, with life expectancy exceeding 84 years. This places the country among the longest-living nations globally, alongside Italy, Sweden, and Japan. As of 2025, approximately 10 million people in Spain are over the age of 65, representing 20.4% of the population.

This demographic shift is characterized by ‘over-aging,’ where the proportion of the oldest citizens is increasing. There are nearly three million people over 80 and over half a million over 90. Projections from the INE suggest that the population aged 65 and older could reach 30.9% by the mid-21st century.

Experts suggest that the challenge is shifting from merely increasing lifespan to managing ‘longevity.’ This involves a ‘pedagogy of longevity’ to ensure citizens can maintain health, purpose, and independence. However, this trend also presents significant economic challenges for public finances as the country prepares for a much older population.