He was the eldest son of García Sánchez I of Pamplona with his second wife, Teresa Ramírez of León.

[1] It is suggested that while Teresa pushed for the disinheritance of García's eldest son Sancho II of Pamplona in favour of Ramiro, García compromised and willed the region of Viguera to Ramiro with the title of king.

In 975 he tried to raid neighbouring Muslim territory, but was defeated in the Battle of Estercuel on 6 July.

Arabic sources report that he died in the Battle of Torrevicente in 981, where he and García Fernández of Castile fought Almanzur in support of Cordoban rebel Galib.

[2] He had two known children, Sancho and García, who succeeded him in turn.