El Salvador birth & fertility rate decline on charts

El Salvador has a birth rate of 15.8 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.78 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in El Salvador was 6.62 children per woman — 3.73 times higher than in 2023.

El Salvador birth rate statistics:

El Salvador is ranked 99/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 59/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in El Salvador is 20.8 — it was 20.8 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.2, a change from 27.1 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 128.8 in 1960 to 54.2 in 2023.
28% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.5% in 1960.

Fertility rate in El Salvador by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.78	113
2022	1.79	114
2021	1.8	116
2020	1.82	114
2019	1.84	115
2018	1.85	116
2017	1.9	116
2016	1.97	117
2015	2.07	112
2014	2.13	111
2013	2.15	109
2012	2.19	108
2011	2.22	106
2010	2.24	107
2009	2.26	106
2008	2.29	108
2007	2.35	105
2006	2.4	105
2005	2.44	103
2004	2.52	100
2003	2.64	97
2002	2.78	90
2001	2.93	87
2000	3.08	83
1999	3.22	82
1998	3.34	81
1997	3.38	83
1996	3.48	83
1995	3.57	83
1994	3.61	89
1993	3.69	89
1992	3.8	90
1991	3.89	91
1990	3.96	91
1989	4.03	90
1988	4.1	92
1987	4.18	91
1986	4.19	94
1985	4.32	92
1984	4.48	93
1983	4.65	91
1982	4.83	89
1981	4.99	87
1980	5.11	87
1979	5.23	85
1978	5.36	86
1977	5.47	86
1976	5.59	85
1975	5.71	87
1974	5.82	80
1973	5.93	81
1972	6.03	81
1971	6.13	80
1970	6.18	82
1969	6.28	78
1968	6.39	76
1967	6.49	70
1966	6.57	65
1965	6.64	61
1964	6.68	58
1963	6.69	59
1962	6.68	61
1961	6.64	63
1960	6.62	63

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in El Salvador was 1.78 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 2015. In 1993, the fertility rate was 3.69 — a 51.9% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	51,985	99,427	47,442
2022	53,138	99,982	46,844
2021	46,530	101,030	54,500
2020	48,244	101,643	53,399
2019	56,816	103,103	46,287
2018	57,509	103,765	46,256
2017	59,824	106,388	46,564
2016	63,751	109,940	46,189
2015	69,263	114,886	45,623
2014	72,581	117,182	44,601
2013	73,869	117,773	43,904
2012	75,495	118,549	43,054
2011	76,182	119,476	43,294
2010	75,695	119,483	43,788
2009	74,908	119,967	45,059
2008	75,107	120,857	45,750
2007	76,776	123,598	46,822
2006	80,887	125,880	44,993
2005	84,883	128,357	43,474
2004	90,905	132,493	41,588
2003	97,849	138,831	40,982
2002	106,137	146,109	39,972
2001	114,313	154,131	39,818
2000	122,315	161,255	38,940
1999	128,947	167,523	38,576
1998	134,065	172,836	38,771
1997	134,448	172,800	38,352
1996	136,929	175,888	38,959
1995	138,268	177,404	39,136
1994	137,974	176,938	38,964
1993	138,432	177,400	38,968
1992	139,221	179,945	40,724
1991	140,691	181,854	41,163
1990	140,311	182,148	41,837
1989	139,093	182,184	43,091
1988	136,230	181,277	45,047
1987	133,667	179,381	45,714
1986	130,177	175,336	45,159
1985	127,248	174,912	47,664
1984	125,036	175,846	50,810
1983	121,700	177,406	55,706
1982	120,938	178,446	57,508
1981	117,346	180,895	63,549
1980	111,771	180,866	69,095
1979	123,838	179,650	55,812
1978	124,468	177,557	53,089
1977	121,446	175,383	53,937
1976	120,511	173,283	52,772
1975	116,737	171,081	54,344
1974	113,846	168,875	55,029
1973	111,546	166,316	54,770
1972	107,604	163,640	56,036
1971	104,714	160,945	56,231
1970	100,499	156,991	56,492
1969	99,848	155,423	55,575
1968	98,851	154,177	55,326
1967	98,424	152,546	54,122
1966	97,156	150,360	53,204
1965	95,341	148,125	52,784
1964	93,328	145,648	52,320
1963	90,794	142,411	51,617
1962	88,237	138,972	50,735
1961	84,614	134,819	50,205
1960	81,544	131,251	49,707

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in El Salvador (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.93% annually. On average, 57,964 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.82% — 51,985 more people were born than died.

In 2023, El Salvador ranks 93/196 for absolute natural population change and 107/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in El Salvador compared to other countries

	El Salvador	Rank
Fertility rate	1.78	113/196
Birth rate	15.8	99/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+51,985	93/196
Natural population change rate	+0.82%	107/196
Population growth	+0.45%	140/197
Age at first childbirth	20.8 years	99/137
Average age at childbearing	27.2 years	178/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	52	62/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	87.1	110/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	18	126/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	28%	5/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	52.1%	66/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	99.9%	24/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.04%	104/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.44%	134/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.92%	119/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	1.04%	119/192
Life expectancy	72.7 years	116/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	28.8	52	87.1	18
2025	29.2	52.7	87.9	17.9
2024	29.6	53.4	89.1	17.8
2023	29.9	54	89.9	17.6
2022	30.2	54.6	90.8	17.6
2021	30.6	55.4	92.3	17.5
2020	30.9	55.9	93.5	17.6
2019	31.4	56.8	95	17.9
2018	31.6	57	95.8	18.1
2017	32.5	60.4	98.5	18.5
2016	33.6	64.7	102.4	19
2015	35.2	69.2	106.4	20.6
2014	36	70	110.9	21.3
2013	36.3	71	113	21.8
2012	36.7	72	115.2	22.3
2011	37.2	72.6	116.9	23
2010	37.3	73.9	117.9	23.2
2009	37.5	75.8	118.5	23.4
2008	37.9	77.7	119.5	23.8
2007	38.9	80.8	122.3	24.5
2006	39.7	81.9	124.7	25
2005	40.6	83.7	126.6	25.9
2004	42	85.5	131.8	26.7
2003	44.1	88.2	139.9	28.1
2002	46.6	93	148.4	29.6
2001	49.4	99.7	157	31.4
2000	52	104.1	166.2	33.2
1999	54.4	108.5	173.9	35.2
1998	56.5	114.1	180.5	37
1997	56.9	115.4	182	37.8
1996	58.4	120.4	185.6	39.8
1995	59.5	122.1	189.3	41.6
1994	59.9	121.9	191.9	42.7
1993	60.8	119.8	196.6	44.6
1992	62.6	119.8	203.5	46.5
1991	64.3	123.3	207.8	47.8
1990	65.6	124.7	210.7	49.6
1989	67	125.6	214.6	51
1988	68	125.5	217.3	52.9
1987	68.7	125.3	219.9	54.8
1986	68.5	125.6	219.5	55.6
1985	69.8	126	225	58
1984	71.7	128.4	232.9	60.7
1983	73.8	133.9	240.3	63.1
1982	75.6	139.3	245.6	66.2
1981	77.7	142.1	251.1	69.1
1980	78.4	143.6	255.3	71.2
1979	79.1	141.9	261.9	73.4
1978	79.8	140.8	266.7	76.2
1977	80.5	140.3	271.5	78.7
1976	81.4	138.9	276	81.5
1975	82.2	137.5	280.9	84
1974	83.1	136.3	286.1	86.4
1973	83.8	135.1	290.8	88.7
1972	84.6	134.1	295.3	90.9
1971	85.3	132.8	299.7	93
1970	85.3	132.6	301	94.2
1969	86.7	136.8	304	96.2
1968	88.3	137.4	311	97.4
1967	89.7	136.2	317	98.9
1966	90.8	136.3	320	100.5
1965	91.9	138.7	320	102.3
1964	92.7	138.2	322	103.3
1963	93.1	136.3	322	103.9
1962	93.1	134.5	323	103.2
1961	92.8	131.5	323	102.3
1960	92.9	130.6	326	100.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in El Salvador by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 14.5% will be to women under age 20, 53% to women ages 20-29, and 32.6% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 20.1%, 56.8%, and 23.1%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	El Salvador	World
2100	12.6%	16.5%
2099	12.6%	16.6%
2098	12.7%	16.6%
2097	12.7%	16.7%
2096	12.7%	16.8%
2095	12.7%	16.8%
2094	12.8%	16.9%
2093	12.8%	17%
2092	12.8%	17%
2091	12.9%	17.1%
2090	12.9%	17.2%
2089	12.9%	17.2%
2088	13%	17.3%
2087	13%	17.4%
2086	13.1%	17.4%
2085	13.1%	17.5%
2084	13.2%	17.5%
2083	13.2%	17.6%
2082	13.3%	17.7%
2081	13.3%	17.7%
2080	13.4%	17.8%
2079	13.5%	17.8%
2078	13.6%	17.9%
2077	13.6%	17.9%
2076	13.7%	18%
2075	13.8%	18%
2074	13.9%	18.1%
2073	14%	18.2%
2072	14%	18.2%
2071	14.1%	18.3%
2070	14.2%	18.3%
2069	14.3%	18.4%
2068	14.5%	18.5%
2067	14.6%	18.6%
2066	14.7%	18.6%
2065	14.8%	18.7%
2064	14.9%	18.8%
2063	15%	18.9%
2062	15.2%	19.1%
2061	15.3%	19.2%
2060	15.5%	19.3%
2059	15.6%	19.4%
2058	15.8%	19.5%
2057	15.9%	19.6%
2056	16.1%	19.8%
2055	16.3%	19.9%
2054	16.4%	20%
2053	16.6%	20.1%
2052	16.8%	20.2%
2051	17%	20.3%
2050	17.2%	20.4%
2049	17.5%	20.5%
2048	17.7%	20.6%
2047	17.9%	20.7%
2046	18.2%	20.8%
2045	18.4%	20.9%
2044	18.7%	20.9%
2043	18.9%	21%
2042	19.2%	21.1%
2041	19.4%	21.2%
2040	19.7%	21.2%
2039	19.9%	21.3%
2038	20.2%	21.4%
2037	20.5%	21.5%
2036	20.7%	21.6%
2035	21%	21.8%
2034	21.2%	22%
2033	21.5%	22.2%
2032	21.8%	22.4%
2031	22.1%	22.7%
2030	22.5%	23%
2029	22.9%	23.3%
2028	23.3%	23.6%
2027	23.7%	23.9%
2026	24.2%	24.2%
2025	24.6%	24.6%
2024	24.8%	24.7%
2023	25.2%	25%
2022	25.6%	25.3%
2021	26%	25.6%
2020	26.3%	25.8%
2019	26.7%	26%
2018	27%	26.2%
2017	27.5%	26.4%
2016	28%	26.5%
2015	28.6%	26.6%
2014	29.2%	26.8%
2013	29.9%	26.9%
2012	30.6%	27%
2011	31.3%	27.1%
2010	32%	27.3%
2009	32.7%	27.5%
2008	33.4%	27.6%
2007	33.9%	27.9%
2006	34.4%	28.1%
2005	34.9%	28.5%
2004	35.4%	28.8%
2003	35.9%	29.2%
2002	36.3%	29.6%
2001	36.7%	30%
2000	37.1%	30.4%
1999	37.5%	30.8%
1998	38%	31.1%
1997	38.5%	31.5%
1996	39.1%	31.8%
1995	39.8%	32.1%
1994	40.5%	32.3%
1993	41.1%	32.5%
1992	41.5%	32.7%
1991	41.7%	32.9%
1990	41.7%	33%
1989	41.8%	33.2%
1988	41.9%	33.4%
1987	42.1%	33.6%
1986	42.4%	33.8%
1985	42.7%	34%
1984	43.1%	34.3%
1983	43.4%	34.6%
1982	43.7%	34.9%
1981	43.9%	35.2%
1980	44.2%	35.5%
1979	44.5%	35.9%
1978	44.9%	36.3%
1977	45.3%	36.7%
1976	45.6%	36.9%
1975	45.9%	37.1%
1974	46.2%	37.2%
1973	46.4%	37.3%
1972	46.6%	37.5%
1971	46.7%	37.6%
1970	46.8%	37.7%
1969	46.8%	37.8%
1968	46.6%	37.9%
1967	46.5%	38%
1966	46.3%	38%
1965	46.2%	38%
1964	46.1%	38%
1963	46%	37.8%
1962	45.8%	37.6%
1961	45.7%	37.5%
1960	45.5%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in El Salvador was 45.5% in 1960, 41.5% in 1992, and 24.8% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of El Salvador.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	El Salvador	World
2023	39	197
2022	39	203
2021	58	242
2020	48	211
2019	40	207
2018	43	211
2017	44	215
2016	43	220
2015	43	228
2014	41	231
2013	39	235
2012	36	239
2011	35	247
2010	34	253
2009	35	258
2008	33	264
2007	33	269
2006	33	276
2005	34	283
2004	35	291
2003	38	301
2002	40	311
2001	45	321
2000	48	328
1999	53	340
1998	61	360
1997	67	358
1996	78	366
1995	89	371
1994	101	382
1993	114	389
1992	121	395
1991	129	395
1990	145	391
1989	155	401
1988	173	414
1987	178	429
1986	169	438
1985	193	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in El Salvador was 39 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.04% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 18.8% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	El Salvador	World
2023	1.04%	2.49%
2022	1.08%	2.59%
2021	1.12%	2.66%
2020	1.17%	2.75%
2019	1.22%	2.86%
2018	1.27%	2.97%
2017	1.33%	3.11%
2016	1.39%	3.22%
2015	1.45%	3.35%
2014	1.52%	3.48%
2013	1.59%	3.61%
2012	1.67%	3.77%
2011	1.75%	3.97%
2010	1.84%	4.11%
2009	1.94%	4.31%
2008	2.04%	4.5%
2007	2.15%	4.7%
2006	2.27%	4.92%
2005	2.4%	5.16%
2004	2.55%	5.43%
2003	2.7%	5.65%
2002	2.86%	5.94%
2001	3.04%	6.21%
2000	3.23%	6.48%
1999	3.43%	6.75%
1998	3.65%	7.05%
1997	3.89%	7.28%
1996	4.15%	7.52%
1995	4.42%	7.76%
1994	4.71%	7.98%
1993	5%	8.19%
1992	5.3%	8.46%
1991	5.61%	8.66%
1990	5.94%	8.81%
1989	6.28%	9.02%
1988	6.65%	9.31%
1987	7.04%	9.47%
1986	7.47%	9.81%
1985	7.93%	10.1%
1984	8.42%	10.4%
1983	8.94%	10.6%
1982	9.46%	10.8%
1981	10%	11%
1980	12.5%	11.4%
1979	11.1%	11.7%
1978	11.6%	12.2%
1977	12.1%	12.6%
1976	12.6%	13%
1975	13.1%	13.4%
1974	13.5%	13.8%
1973	13.9%	14.1%
1972	14.3%	14.5%
1971	14.6%	15.1%
1970	15%	15.2%
1969	15.3%	15.4%
1968	15.6%	15.6%
1967	16%	15.9%
1966	16.3%	16.1%
1965	16.6%	16.4%
1964	17%	16.6%
1963	17.3%	16.5%
1962	17.7%	16.7%
1961	18.1%	17%
1960	18.5%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in El Salvador was 10.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 1.04% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 32.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.