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Fertility & birth rates in El Salvador and Panama

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has an annual birth rate of 15.8 births per 1,000 people, compared to 16 for Panama. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.78 in El Salvador and 2.12 in Panama — 19.4% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 73.2% in El Salvador and by 63.6% in Panama — in 1960, it was 6.62 and 5.83, respectively.

  • El Salvador is ranked 99/196 by birth rate compared to 95/196 for Panama.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.2 in El Salvador — it's 27.5 in Panama.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 54.2 in El Salvador vs 57.3 in Panama.
  • In El Salvador, 28% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.2% in Panama.

Fertility rate in El Salvador vs Panama by year

El Salvador
Panama
1x
Year Fertility rate
El Salvador Panama
2023 1.78 2.12
2022 1.79 2.14
2021 1.8 2.15
2020 1.82 2.18
2019 1.84 2.29
2018 1.85 2.4
2017 1.9 2.46
2016 1.97 2.5
2015 2.07 2.53
2014 2.13 2.55
2013 2.15 2.57
2012 2.19 2.59
2011 2.22 2.6
2010 2.24 2.59
2009 2.26 2.59
2008 2.29 2.61
2007 2.35 2.61
2006 2.4 2.62
2005 2.44 2.64
2004 2.52 2.68
2003 2.64 2.68
2002 2.78 2.7
2001 2.93 2.72
2000 3.08 2.74
1999 3.22 2.77
1998 3.34 2.79
1997 3.38 2.81
1996 3.48 2.83
1995 3.57 2.85
1994 3.61 2.88
1993 3.69 2.91
1992 3.8 2.95
1991 3.89 3
1990 3.96 3.07
1989 4.03 3.12
1988 4.1 3.17
1987 4.18 3.25
1986 4.19 3.34
1985 4.32 3.43
1984 4.48 3.52
1983 4.65 3.6
1982 4.83 3.66
1981 4.99 3.72
1980 5.11 3.8
1979 5.23 3.88
1978 5.36 3.98
1977 5.47 4.12
1976 5.59 4.26
1975 5.71 4.41
1974 5.82 4.58
1973 5.93 4.74
1972 6.03 4.91
1971 6.13 5.05
1970 6.18 5.18
1969 6.28 5.29
1968 6.39 5.41
1967 6.49 5.53
1966 6.57 5.65
1965 6.64 5.73
1964 6.68 5.81
1963 6.69 5.87
1962 6.68 5.87
1961 6.64 5.87
1960 6.62 5.83

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador/panama | 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 2.12 in Panama in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

El Salvador
Panama
1x
Year Natural population change
El Salvador Panama
2023 51,985 50,197
2022 53,138 50,556
2021 46,530 46,747
2020 48,244 46,599
2019 56,816 54,420
2018 57,509 57,508
2017 59,824 58,607
2016 63,751 59,454
2015 69,263 59,896
2014 72,581 60,227
2013 73,869 60,295
2012 75,495 60,471
2011 76,182 60,411
2010 75,695 59,418
2009 74,908 59,168
2008 75,107 58,961
2007 76,776 58,454
2006 80,887 58,067
2005 84,883 58,014
2004 90,905 58,281
2003 97,849 57,458
2002 106,137 57,011
2001 114,313 56,654
2000 122,315 56,236
1999 128,947 55,911
1998 134,065 55,482
1997 134,448 55,060
1996 136,929 54,512
1995 138,268 54,069
1994 137,974 53,845
1993 138,432 53,591
1992 139,221 53,186
1991 140,691 53,079
1990 140,311 53,451
1989 139,093 52,295
1988 136,230 52,767
1987 133,667 52,690
1986 130,177 52,681
1985 127,248 52,573
1984 125,036 52,436
1983 121,700 51,880
1982 120,938 50,858
1981 117,346 50,018
1980 111,771 49,077
1979 123,838 48,362
1978 124,468 47,694
1977 121,446 47,438
1976 120,511 47,307
1975 116,737 47,149
1974 113,846 46,932
1973 111,546 46,540
1972 107,604 46,311
1971 104,714 45,867
1970 100,499 45,075
1969 99,848 44,278
1968 98,851 43,641
1967 98,424 43,054
1966 97,156 42,457
1965 95,341 41,604
1964 93,328 40,806
1963 90,794 39,872
1962 88,237 38,537
1961 84,614 37,100
1960 81,544 35,431

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador/panama | 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 +1.13% in Panama.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.93% in El Salvador and +1.31% in Panama.

Birth rate in El Salvador vs Panama by year

El Salvador
Panama

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
El Salvador Panama
2023 15.8 16
2022 15.9 16.2
2021 16.2 16.4
2020 16.3 16.7
2019 16.6 17.6
2018 16.7 18.5
2017 17.1 19.1
2016 17.7 19.5
2015 18.6 19.8
2014 19 20.1
2013 19.2 20.4
2012 19.4 20.7
2011 19.6 21
2010 19.7 21
2009 19.8 21.2
2008 20 21.4
2007 20.6 21.6
2006 21 21.8
2005 21.4 22.1
2004 22.1 22.5
2003 23.1 22.7
2002 24.4 22.9
2001 25.8 23.2
2000 27.1 23.5
1999 28.3 23.8
1998 29.4 24.1
1997 29.6 24.4
1996 30.3 24.6
1995 30.8 24.9
1994 31 25.2
1993 31.3 25.5
1992 32.2 25.9
1991 33.1 26.2
1990 33.7 26.8
1989 34.4 27.2
1988 34.9 27.5
1987 35.2 28
1986 35.1 28.5
1985 35.7 29
1984 36.7 29.5
1983 37.7 29.9
1982 38.6 30
1981 39.6 30.2
1980 39.8 30.4
1979 40.1 30.7
1978 40.4 31.1
1977 40.8 31.7
1976 41.2 32.5
1975 41.5 33.3
1974 41.9 34.2
1973 42.2 35
1972 42.5 36
1971 42.8 36.7
1970 42.8 37.4
1969 43.5 37.9
1968 44.3 38.5
1967 45.1 39.2
1966 45.7 39.9
1965 46.3 40.3
1964 46.8 40.8
1963 47 41.2
1962 47.1 41.3
1961 47 41.3
1960 47 41.1

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 15.8 in El Salvador and 16 in Panama, compared with 47 and 41.1, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

El Salvador Panama
Fertility rate 1.78 2.12
Fertility rate rank 113/196 92/196
Birth rate 15.8 16
Birth rate rank 99/196 95/196
Population change due to births and deaths +51,985 +50,197
Natural population change rank 93/196 94/196
Natural population change rate +0.82% +1.13%
Population growth +0.45% +1.27%
Population growth rank 140/197 83/197
Age at first childbirth 20.8 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 27.2 years 27.5 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 52 53
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 87.1 108.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18 19.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 28% 25.2%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.1% 46.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.9% 95%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.04% 0.04%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.44% 0.66%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.92% 1.06%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.04% 1.33%
Life expectancy 72.7 years 80.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

El Salvador
Factual

UN forecast
Panama
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
El Salvador Panama
2100 12.6% 14%
2099 12.6% 14%
2098 12.7% 14%
2097 12.7% 14.1%
2096 12.7% 14.1%
2095 12.7% 14.2%
2094 12.8% 14.2%
2093 12.8% 14.3%
2092 12.8% 14.3%
2091 12.9% 14.4%
2090 12.9% 14.4%
2089 12.9% 14.5%
2088 13% 14.6%
2087 13% 14.6%
2086 13.1% 14.7%
2085 13.1% 14.8%
2084 13.2% 14.8%
2083 13.2% 14.9%
2082 13.3% 15%
2081 13.3% 15.1%
2080 13.4% 15.1%
2079 13.5% 15.2%
2078 13.6% 15.3%
2077 13.6% 15.3%
2076 13.7% 15.4%
2075 13.8% 15.5%
2074 13.9% 15.6%
2073 14% 15.6%
2072 14% 15.7%
2071 14.1% 15.8%
2070 14.2% 15.9%
2069 14.3% 15.9%
2068 14.5% 16%
2067 14.6% 16.1%
2066 14.7% 16.2%
2065 14.8% 16.3%
2064 14.9% 16.4%
2063 15% 16.5%
2062 15.2% 16.7%
2061 15.3% 16.8%
2060 15.5% 16.9%
2059 15.6% 17.1%
2058 15.8% 17.2%
2057 15.9% 17.3%
2056 16.1% 17.5%
2055 16.3% 17.7%
2054 16.4% 17.8%
2053 16.6% 18%
2052 16.8% 18.2%
2051 17% 18.3%
2050 17.2% 18.5%
2049 17.5% 18.7%
2048 17.7% 18.9%
2047 17.9% 19%
2046 18.2% 19.2%
2045 18.4% 19.4%
2044 18.7% 19.5%
2043 18.9% 19.7%
2042 19.2% 19.9%
2041 19.4% 20.1%
2040 19.7% 20.2%
2039 19.9% 20.4%
2038 20.2% 20.6%
2037 20.5% 20.8%
2036 20.7% 20.9%
2035 21% 21.1%
2034 21.2% 21.4%
2033 21.5% 21.7%
2032 21.8% 22.1%
2031 22.1% 22.4%
2030 22.5% 22.8%
2029 22.9% 23.2%
2028 23.3% 23.6%
2027 23.7% 24%
2026 24.2% 24.3%
2025 24.6% 24.7%
2024 24.8% 24.9%
2023 25.2% 25.3%
2022 25.6% 25.7%
2021 26% 26%
2020 26.3% 26.4%
2019 26.7% 26.7%
2018 27% 27.1%
2017 27.5% 27.4%
2016 28% 27.6%
2015 28.6% 27.9%
2014 29.2% 28.2%
2013 29.9% 28.4%
2012 30.6% 28.7%
2011 31.3% 28.9%
2010 32% 29.2%
2009 32.7% 29.5%
2008 33.4% 29.7%
2007 33.9% 30%
2006 34.4% 30.3%
2005 34.9% 30.6%
2004 35.4% 31%
2003 35.9% 31.3%
2002 36.3% 31.6%
2001 36.7% 32%
2000 37.1% 32.4%
1999 37.5% 32.8%
1998 38% 33.1%
1997 38.5% 33.5%
1996 39.1% 33.9%
1995 39.8% 34.2%
1994 40.5% 34.6%
1993 41.1% 34.9%
1992 41.5% 35.3%
1991 41.7% 35.7%
1990 41.7% 36.1%
1989 41.8% 36.5%
1988 41.9% 36.9%
1987 42.1% 37.4%
1986 42.4% 37.8%
1985 42.7% 38.3%
1984 43.1% 38.8%
1983 43.4% 39.3%
1982 43.7% 39.8%
1981 43.9% 40.3%
1980 44.2% 40.8%
1979 44.5% 41.4%
1978 44.9% 41.9%
1977 45.3% 42.4%
1976 45.6% 42.9%
1975 45.9% 43.3%
1974 46.2% 43.6%
1973 46.4% 43.9%
1972 46.6% 44.1%
1971 46.7% 44.3%
1970 46.8% 44.5%
1969 46.8% 44.6%
1968 46.6% 44.7%
1967 46.5% 44.8%
1966 46.3% 44.8%
1965 46.2% 44.8%
1964 46.1% 44.7%
1963 46% 44.6%
1962 45.8% 44.5%
1961 45.7% 44.3%
1960 45.5% 44.2%

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/panama | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 24.8% of the population in El Salvador and 24.9% in Panama in 2024, compared to 41.7% and 36.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of El Salvador and Panama compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: El Salvador vs Panama

El Salvador
Panama
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
El Salvador Panama
2023 39 37
2022 39 40
2021 58 59
2020 48 74
2019 40 41
2018 43 43
2017 44 47
2016 43 47
2015 43 48
2014 41 49
2013 39 52
2012 36 53
2011 35 55
2010 34 56
2009 35 55
2008 33 55
2007 33 55
2006 33 56
2005 34 57
2004 35 57
2003 38 58
2002 40 59
2001 45 62
2000 48 64
1999 53 65
1998 61 68
1997 67 70
1996 78 73
1995 89 77
1994 101 78
1993 114 81
1992 121 85
1991 129 87
1990 145 89
1989 155 96
1988 173 93
1987 178 93
1986 169 94
1985 193 95

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador/panama | 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 37 deaths in Panama.

Under-five mortality rates

El Salvador
Panama

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
El Salvador Panama
2023 1.04% 1.33%
2022 1.08% 1.39%
2021 1.12% 1.45%
2020 1.17% 1.52%
2019 1.22% 1.59%
2018 1.27% 1.65%
2017 1.33% 1.68%
2016 1.39% 1.7%
2015 1.45% 1.72%
2014 1.52% 1.73%
2013 1.59% 1.75%
2012 1.67% 1.77%
2011 1.75% 1.81%
2010 1.84% 1.86%
2009 1.94% 1.91%
2008 2.04% 1.97%
2007 2.15% 2.03%
2006 2.27% 2.1%
2005 2.4% 2.17%
2004 2.55% 2.25%
2003 2.7% 2.33%
2002 2.86% 2.41%
2001 3.04% 2.49%
2000 3.23% 2.56%
1999 3.43% 2.63%
1998 3.65% 2.68%
1997 3.89% 2.73%
1996 4.15% 2.77%
1995 4.42% 2.8%
1994 4.71% 2.83%
1993 5% 2.87%
1992 5.3% 2.91%
1991 5.61% 2.97%
1990 5.94% 3.05%
1989 6.28% 3.14%
1988 6.65% 3.24%
1987 7.04% 3.35%
1986 7.47% 3.47%
1985 7.93% 3.61%
1984 8.42% 3.75%
1983 8.94% 3.9%
1982 9.46% 4.05%
1981 10% 4.19%
1980 12.5% 4.34%
1979 11.1% 4.47%
1978 11.6% 4.61%
1977 12.1% 4.76%
1976 12.6% 4.93%
1975 13.1% 5.15%
1974 13.5% 5.41%
1973 13.9% 5.72%
1972 14.3% 6.07%
1971 14.6% 6.43%
1970 15% 6.78%
1969 15.3% 7.1%
1968 15.6% 7.38%
1967 16% 7.62%
1966 16.3% 7.83%
1965 16.6% 8.05%
1964 17% 8.28%
1963 17.3% 8.52%
1962 17.7% 8.78%
1961 18.1% 9.04%
1960 18.5% 9.31%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.04% in El Salvador and 1.33% in Panama. 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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