Background on ISSSTE and its Pension Schemes
The Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE) is Mexico’s government-run social security organization, responsible for providing pensions and healthcare services to eligible state workers and their dependents.
The ISSSTE manages various pension schemes, one of which is the “décimo transitorio.” This specific scheme applies to workers who joined ISSSTE between 1988 and 2007, under a transition period before the new regulations took effect.
Projected Growth and Peak of Décimo Transitorio Pensioners
According to the ISSSTE’s Financial and Actuarial Report 2025, the number of pensioners from the décimo transitorio scheme is expected to grow steadily over the next 13 years, reaching its peak in 2037 before gradually declining.
As of the end of 2024, there were approximately 860,607 pensioners from the décimo transitorio scheme. The report projects that this number will surpass one million by 2037.
It’s important to note that this projection does not account for the gradual reduction in the minimum retirement age for workers under the décimo transitorio scheme, which was recently adjusted.
Changes in Minimum Retirement Age
On June 26, President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a decree in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF) allowing workers under the décimo transitorio scheme to retire at 53 for women and 55 for men, effective immediately.
The minimum retirement age will remain frozen at 56 for women and 58 for men until 2028, after which it will decrease by three years annually.
- 2028: Minimum retirement age lowers to 55 for women and 57 for men.
- 2031: Minimum retirement age further decreases to 54 for women and 56 for men.
- 2034: Minimum retirement age reaches 53 for women and 55 for men.
This decree reverses the progressive increase in the retirement age for décimo transitorio workers, which was set to conclude in 2028 due to the ISSSTE reform of 2007.
Overall Pensioner Growth and Future Projections
Considering all pension schemes managed by ISSSTE, including the décimo transitorio, the organization anticipates a gradual increase in the number of pensioners over the coming years.
By 2055, approximately 30 years from now, the total number of pensioners is projected to exceed 2.2 million, which represents around 800,000 additional pensioners compared to the current 1.38 million.
The pensioner population under the now-abrogated 2007 law will gradually decrease over time and is expected to account for less than 1% of total pensioners by 2057, as it is a closed population.
“The pensioner population under the Individual Accounts regime will continue to grow and eventually become the largest group. This type of pension will become commonplace as other regime pensions gradually disappear,” explains the ISSSTE report.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the ISSSTE? The Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE) is Mexico’s government-run social security organization.
- What is the décimo transitorio scheme? It’s a pension scheme for workers who joined ISSSTE between 1988 and 2007, during a transition period before new regulations took effect.
- When will the peak number of décimo transitorio pensioners occur? The ISSSTE projects this peak will be reached in 2037.
- What changes were made to the minimum retirement age for décimo transitorio workers? The minimum retirement age was lowered to 53 for women and 55 for men, remaining frozen until 2028 when it will gradually decrease by three years annually.
- What is the future projection for total ISSSTE pensioners? By 2055, the total number of ISSSTE pensioners is expected to exceed 2.2 million.
