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Fertility & birth rates in El Salvador and Guatemala

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has an annual birth rate of 15.8 births per 1,000 people, compared to 20.8 for Guatemala. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.78 in El Salvador and 2.31 in Guatemala — 30.2% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 73.2% in El Salvador and by 67% in Guatemala — in 1960, it was 6.62 and 7, respectively.

  • El Salvador is ranked 99/196 by birth rate compared to 69/196 for Guatemala.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.8 years in El Salvador, compared to 20.6 years in Guatemala.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.2 in El Salvador — it's 27.2 in Guatemala.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 54.2 in El Salvador vs 68.3 in Guatemala.
  • In El Salvador, 28% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.5% in Guatemala.

Fertility rate in El Salvador vs Guatemala by year

El Salvador
Guatemala
1x
Year Fertility rate
El Salvador Guatemala
2023 1.78 2.31
2022 1.79 2.34
2021 1.8 2.39
2020 1.82 2.47
2019 1.84 2.59
2018 1.85 2.74
2017 1.9 2.86
2016 1.97 2.97
2015 2.07 3.03
2014 2.13 3.09
2013 2.15 3.15
2012 2.19 3.22
2011 2.22 3.29
2010 2.24 3.38
2009 2.26 3.47
2008 2.29 3.57
2007 2.35 3.72
2006 2.4 3.85
2005 2.44 3.97
2004 2.52 4.13
2003 2.64 4.25
2002 2.78 4.37
2001 2.93 4.5
2000 3.08 4.58
1999 3.22 4.69
1998 3.34 4.8
1997 3.38 4.91
1996 3.48 5.01
1995 3.57 5.11
1994 3.61 5.19
1993 3.69 5.25
1992 3.8 5.31
1991 3.89 5.38
1990 3.96 5.48
1989 4.03 5.56
1988 4.1 5.62
1987 4.18 5.64
1986 4.19 5.66
1985 4.32 5.73
1984 4.48 5.86
1983 4.65 5.98
1982 4.83 6.06
1981 4.99 6.12
1980 5.11 6.17
1979 5.23 6.22
1978 5.36 6.26
1977 5.47 6.32
1976 5.59 6.37
1975 5.71 6.41
1974 5.82 6.46
1973 5.93 6.49
1972 6.03 6.51
1971 6.13 6.55
1970 6.18 6.6
1969 6.28 6.65
1968 6.39 6.7
1967 6.49 6.76
1966 6.57 6.8
1965 6.64 6.84
1964 6.68 6.87
1963 6.69 6.9
1962 6.68 6.93
1961 6.64 6.98
1960 6.62 7

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in El Salvador was 1.78 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.31 in Guatemala in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check El Salvador vs Guatemala population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

El Salvador
Guatemala
1x
Year Natural population change
El Salvador Guatemala
2023 51,985 289,635
2022 53,138 281,675
2021 46,530 255,145
2020 48,244 281,328
2019 56,816 307,389
2018 57,509 323,100
2017 59,824 332,838
2016 63,751 338,114
2015 69,263 335,072
2014 72,581 333,551
2013 73,869 331,321
2012 75,495 332,365
2011 76,182 328,548
2010 75,695 324,802
2009 74,908 323,320
2008 75,107 323,226
2007 76,776 326,298
2006 80,887 325,604
2005 84,883 325,816
2004 90,905 331,699
2003 97,849 333,539
2002 106,137 334,255
2001 114,313 335,503
2000 122,315 332,891
1999 128,947 328,890
1998 134,065 325,174
1997 134,448 320,087
1996 136,929 315,252
1995 138,268 309,236
1994 137,974 302,708
1993 138,432 295,515
1992 139,221 288,411
1991 140,691 283,917
1990 140,311 280,318
1989 139,093 276,736
1988 136,230 271,466
1987 133,667 261,746
1986 130,177 252,754
1985 127,248 246,119
1984 125,036 241,892
1983 121,700 238,059
1982 120,938 199,809
1981 117,346 221,044
1980 111,771 218,460
1979 123,838 216,810
1978 124,468 211,301
1977 121,446 203,299
1976 120,511 171,903
1975 116,737 188,501
1974 113,846 184,992
1973 111,546 179,871
1972 107,604 173,162
1971 104,714 165,104
1970 100,499 155,946
1969 99,848 149,516
1968 98,851 146,946
1967 98,424 143,859
1966 97,156 140,494
1965 95,341 135,997
1964 93,328 132,832
1963 90,794 129,065
1962 88,237 126,429
1961 84,614 123,753
1960 81,544 120,728

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

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

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +0.82% in El Salvador and +1.6% in Guatemala.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.93% in El Salvador and +1.83% in Guatemala.

Birth rate in El Salvador vs Guatemala by year

El Salvador
Guatemala

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
El Salvador Guatemala
2023 15.8 20.8
2022 15.9 21.1
2021 16.2 21.4
2020 16.3 22
2019 16.6 23.1
2018 16.7 24.3
2017 17.1 25.2
2016 17.7 26
2015 18.6 26.2
2014 19 26.5
2013 19.2 26.7
2012 19.4 27.2
2011 19.6 27.5
2010 19.7 27.8
2009 19.8 28.2
2008 20 28.7
2007 20.6 29.4
2006 21 30
2005 21.4 30.8
2004 22.1 31.7
2003 23.1 32.5
2002 24.4 33.3
2001 25.8 34.2
2000 27.1 34.7
1999 28.3 35.2
1998 29.4 35.9
1997 29.6 36.5
1996 30.3 37.1
1995 30.8 37.8
1994 31 38.2
1993 31.3 38.6
1992 32.2 38.9
1991 33.1 39.3
1990 33.7 39.8
1989 34.4 40.3
1988 34.9 40.7
1987 35.2 40.7
1986 35.1 40.8
1985 35.7 41.1
1984 36.7 41.9
1983 37.7 42.8
1982 38.6 43.2
1981 39.6 43.4
1980 39.8 43.6
1979 40.1 43.6
1978 40.4 43.7
1977 40.8 43.9
1976 41.2 44
1975 41.5 44.1
1974 41.9 44.1
1973 42.2 44.2
1972 42.5 44.4
1971 42.8 44.7
1970 42.8 44.9
1969 43.5 45.1
1968 44.3 45.3
1967 45.1 45.6
1966 45.7 46
1965 46.3 46.2
1964 46.8 46.5
1963 47 46.9
1962 47.1 47.4
1961 47 48
1960 47 48.5

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 15.8 in El Salvador and 20.8 in Guatemala, compared with 47 and 48.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

El Salvador Guatemala
Fertility rate 1.78 2.31
Fertility rate rank 113/196 81/196
Birth rate 15.8 20.8
Birth rate rank 99/196 69/196
Population change due to births and deaths +51,985 +289,635
Natural population change rank 93/196 52/196
Natural population change rate +0.82% +1.6%
Population growth +0.45% +1.55%
Population growth rank 140/197 69/197
Age at first childbirth 20.8 years 20.6 years
Average age at childbearing 27.2 years 27.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 52 66.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 87.1 114.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18 28
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 28% 27.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.1% 48.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.9% 69.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.04% 0.09%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.44% 1%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.92% 1.79%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.04% 2.14%
Life expectancy 72.7 years 73 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

El Salvador
Factual

UN forecast
Guatemala
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
El Salvador Guatemala
2100 12.6% 14.9%
2099 12.6% 14.9%
2098 12.7% 15%
2097 12.7% 15%
2096 12.7% 15.1%
2095 12.7% 15.1%
2094 12.8% 15.2%
2093 12.8% 15.3%
2092 12.8% 15.3%
2091 12.9% 15.4%
2090 12.9% 15.5%
2089 12.9% 15.5%
2088 13% 15.6%
2087 13% 15.7%
2086 13.1% 15.8%
2085 13.1% 15.9%
2084 13.2% 15.9%
2083 13.2% 16%
2082 13.3% 16.1%
2081 13.3% 16.2%
2080 13.4% 16.3%
2079 13.5% 16.5%
2078 13.6% 16.6%
2077 13.6% 16.7%
2076 13.7% 16.8%
2075 13.8% 16.9%
2074 13.9% 17%
2073 14% 17.2%
2072 14% 17.3%
2071 14.1% 17.4%
2070 14.2% 17.6%
2069 14.3% 17.7%
2068 14.5% 17.9%
2067 14.6% 18%
2066 14.7% 18.2%
2065 14.8% 18.3%
2064 14.9% 18.5%
2063 15% 18.7%
2062 15.2% 18.9%
2061 15.3% 19%
2060 15.5% 19.2%
2059 15.6% 19.4%
2058 15.8% 19.7%
2057 15.9% 19.9%
2056 16.1% 20.1%
2055 16.3% 20.4%
2054 16.4% 20.6%
2053 16.6% 20.9%
2052 16.8% 21.2%
2051 17% 21.5%
2050 17.2% 21.8%
2049 17.5% 22.1%
2048 17.7% 22.4%
2047 17.9% 22.7%
2046 18.2% 23%
2045 18.4% 23.3%
2044 18.7% 23.6%
2043 18.9% 23.9%
2042 19.2% 24.2%
2041 19.4% 24.5%
2040 19.7% 24.8%
2039 19.9% 25%
2038 20.2% 25.3%
2037 20.5% 25.6%
2036 20.7% 25.9%
2035 21% 26.2%
2034 21.2% 26.6%
2033 21.5% 27%
2032 21.8% 27.5%
2031 22.1% 28%
2030 22.5% 28.6%
2029 22.9% 29.1%
2028 23.3% 29.7%
2027 23.7% 30.2%
2026 24.2% 30.8%
2025 24.6% 31.3%
2024 24.8% 31.6%
2023 25.2% 32.1%
2022 25.6% 32.7%
2021 26% 33.3%
2020 26.3% 33.8%
2019 26.7% 34.4%
2018 27% 34.9%
2017 27.5% 35.4%
2016 28% 35.9%
2015 28.6% 36.4%
2014 29.2% 36.9%
2013 29.9% 37.5%
2012 30.6% 38.1%
2011 31.3% 38.7%
2010 32% 39.3%
2009 32.7% 39.9%
2008 33.4% 40.5%
2007 33.9% 41%
2006 34.4% 41.6%
2005 34.9% 42.1%
2004 35.4% 42.5%
2003 35.9% 43%
2002 36.3% 43.3%
2001 36.7% 43.6%
2000 37.1% 43.8%
1999 37.5% 44.1%
1998 38% 44.3%
1997 38.5% 44.5%
1996 39.1% 44.7%
1995 39.8% 44.8%
1994 40.5% 44.9%
1993 41.1% 45.1%
1992 41.5% 45.2%
1991 41.7% 45.3%
1990 41.7% 45.4%
1989 41.8% 45.5%
1988 41.9% 45.6%
1987 42.1% 45.6%
1986 42.4% 45.7%
1985 42.7% 45.7%
1984 43.1% 45.7%
1983 43.4% 45.7%
1982 43.7% 45.6%
1981 43.9% 45.6%
1980 44.2% 45.5%
1979 44.5% 45.5%
1978 44.9% 45.6%
1977 45.3% 45.6%
1976 45.6% 45.7%
1975 45.9% 45.8%
1974 46.2% 45.9%
1973 46.4% 46%
1972 46.6% 46%
1971 46.7% 46%
1970 46.8% 46.1%
1969 46.8% 46.2%
1968 46.6% 46.2%
1967 46.5% 46.4%
1966 46.3% 46.5%
1965 46.2% 46.6%
1964 46.1% 46.6%
1963 46% 46.7%
1962 45.8% 46.8%
1961 45.7% 46.7%
1960 45.5% 46.7%

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/guatemala | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 24.8% of the population in El Salvador and 31.6% in Guatemala in 2024, compared to 41.7% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of El Salvador and Guatemala compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: El Salvador vs Guatemala

El Salvador
Guatemala
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
El Salvador Guatemala
2023 39 94
2022 39 97
2021 58 125
2020 48 102
2019 40 106
2018 43 107
2017 44 107
2016 43 110
2015 43 112
2014 41 111
2013 39 111
2012 36 115
2011 35 120
2010 34 127
2009 35 130
2008 33 133
2007 33 135
2006 33 142
2005 34 153
2004 35 148
2003 38 150
2002 40 153
2001 45 162
2000 48 166
1999 53 174
1998 61 185
1997 67 198
1996 78 213
1995 89 229
1994 101 244
1993 114 262
1992 121 269
1991 129 268
1990 145 270
1989 155 271
1988 173 273
1987 178 277
1986 169 286
1985 193 301

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

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

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 39 deaths per 100,000 live births in El Salvador, compared to 94 deaths in Guatemala.

Under-five mortality rates

El Salvador
Guatemala

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
El Salvador Guatemala
2023 1.04% 2.14%
2022 1.08% 2.21%
2021 1.12% 2.28%
2020 1.17% 2.37%
2019 1.22% 2.45%
2018 1.27% 2.54%
2017 1.33% 2.63%
2016 1.39% 2.72%
2015 1.45% 2.83%
2014 1.52% 2.94%
2013 1.59% 3.07%
2012 1.67% 3.2%
2011 1.75% 3.33%
2010 1.84% 3.48%
2009 1.94% 3.62%
2008 2.04% 3.78%
2007 2.15% 3.93%
2006 2.27% 4.1%
2005 2.4% 4.26%
2004 2.55% 4.43%
2003 2.7% 4.61%
2002 2.86% 4.8%
2001 3.04% 5%
2000 3.23% 5.21%
1999 3.43% 5.42%
1998 3.65% 5.65%
1997 3.89% 5.89%
1996 4.15% 6.15%
1995 4.42% 6.42%
1994 4.71% 6.71%
1993 5% 7.02%
1992 5.3% 7.34%
1991 5.61% 7.68%
1990 5.94% 8.04%
1989 6.28% 8.41%
1988 6.65% 8.79%
1987 7.04% 9.19%
1986 7.47% 9.6%
1985 7.93% 10%
1984 8.42% 10.5%
1983 8.94% 10.9%
1982 9.46% 13.6%
1981 10% 11.8%
1980 12.5% 12.2%
1979 11.1% 12.7%
1978 11.6% 13.2%
1977 12.1% 13.6%
1976 12.6% 16.5%
1975 13.1% 14.6%
1974 13.5% 15.1%
1973 13.9% 15.6%
1972 14.3% 16.1%
1971 14.6% 16.6%
1970 15% 17.1%
1969 15.3% 17.6%
1968 15.6% 18.1%
1967 16% 18.6%
1966 16.3% 19.1%
1965 16.6% 19.6%
1964 17% 20.1%
1963 17.3% 20.6%
1962 17.7% 21.1%
1961 18.1% 21.6%
1960 18.5% 22.2%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.04% in El Salvador and 2.14% in Guatemala. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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