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El Salvador economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador ranked 105/197 by economy size with a GDP of $35.4B and 116/197 by GDP per capita at $5,580. El Salvador has $30.9B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 87.5%.

In 2024, El Salvador made up 0.03% of the world's economy, compared to 0.04% in 1965.

El Salvador GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $35,364,960,000 2.6%
2023 $33,853,940,000 3.54%
2022 $31,870,120,000 2.95%
2021 $29,043,140,000 11.9%
2020 $24,921,190,000 -7.89%
2019 $26,881,140,000 2.44%
2018 $26,020,850,000 2.41%
2017 $24,979,190,000 2.25%
2016 $24,191,430,000 2.54%
2015 $23,438,240,000 2.4%
2014 $22,593,470,000 1.73%
2013 $21,990,960,000 2.18%
2012 $21,386,150,000 2.89%
2011 $20,283,780,000 3.77%
2010 $18,447,920,000 2.15%
2009 $17,601,620,000 -2.11%
2008 $17,986,890,000 2.15%
2007 $17,011,750,000 1.85%
2006 $15,999,890,000 4.34%
2005 $14,698,000,000 2.68%
2004 $13,724,810,900 0.89%
2003 $13,243,892,200 1.57%
2002 $12,664,190,300 1.57%
2001 $12,282,533,600 0.88%
2000 $11,784,927,700 1.13%
1999 $11,284,197,000 2.16%
1998 $10,936,669,900 2.65%
1997 $10,221,705,900 3.14%
1996 $9,586,327,800 0.81%
1995 $8,921,947,100 4.73%
1994 $7,679,384,000 4.69%
1993 $6,680,269,200 5.82%
1992 $5,813,399,300 7.02%
1991 $5,252,342,400 1.49%
1990 $4,817,542,204 4.83%
1989 $4,372,215,300 0.96%
1988 $4,189,880,000 1.88%
1987 $3,958,045,800 2.51%
1986 $3,771,663,200 0.19%
1985 $3,800,368,600 0.61%
1984 $3,661,683,400 1.34%
1983 $3,506,347,800 1.54%
1982 $3,399,189,100 -6.31%
1981 $3,437,200,200 -5.72%
1980 $3,573,959,900 -15.8%
1979 $3,463,639,900 -4.18%
1978 $3,127,960,000 5.32%
1977 $2,941,640,100 6.78%
1976 $2,328,280,100 5.05%
1975 $1,884,120,100 2.92%
1974 $1,665,880,000 5.34%
1973 $1,442,320,000 4.86%
1972 $1,263,720,000 6.12%
1971 $1,186,120,000 3.86%
1970 $1,132,920,000 2.98%
1969 $1,049,400,000 3.49%
1968 $1,009,760,100 3.24%
1967 $976,200,000 5.44%
1966 $929,520,000 7.16%
1965 $877,720,000 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador | CC BY

El Salvador GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $5,580 $13,264
2023 $5,365 $12,680
2022 $5,075 $11,876
2021 $4,643 $10,810
2020 $3,997 $9,393
2019 $4,320 $9,757
2018 $4,184 $9,204
2017 $4,020 $8,965
2016 $3,901 $8,456
2015 $3,790 $7,934
2014 $3,666 $7,504
2013 $3,582 $7,093
2012 $3,498 $6,708
2011 $3,331 $6,594
2010 $3,040 $6,248
2009 $2,910 $6,063
2008 $2,983 $6,175
2007 $2,831 $5,949
2006 $2,666 $5,695
2005 $2,447 $5,292
2004 $2,286 $4,998
2003 $2,208 $4,829
2002 $2,115 $4,672
2001 $2,058 $4,543
2000 $1,983 $4,422
1999 $1,908 $4,298
1998 $1,860 $4,171
1997 $1,749 $4,043
1996 $1,651 $3,880
1995 $1,548 $3,808
1994 $1,344 $3,591
1993 $1,180 $3,390
1992 $1,041 $3,171
1991 $956 $2,945
1990 $892 $2,856
1989 $825 -
1988 $806 -
1987 $777 -
1986 $755 -
1985 $776 -
1984 $763 -
1983 $745 -
1982 $735 -
1981 $752 -
1980 $787 -
1979 $773 -
1978 $712 -
1977 $684 -
1976 $553 -
1975 $457 -
1974 $413 -
1973 $366 -
1972 $329 -
1971 $316 -
1970 $309 -
1969 $293.4 -
1968 $290.1 -
1967 $288.4 -
1966 $282.4 -
1965 $274.3 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador | CC BY

El Salvador has a GDP per capita of $5,580, ranking 116/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $13,264, ranking 120/197, and a median annual after tax income of $4,768, ranking 119/197.

El Salvador GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 104 108 111
2023 104 114 116
2022 102 112 118
2021 104 111 116
2020 106 117 119
2019 105 119 118
2018 107 120 119
2017 108 119 122
2016 105 116 122
2015 105 119 124
2014 108 124 124
2013 107 125 125
2012 109 126 125
2011 109 126 125
2010 107 123 125
2009 106 119 124
2008 106 122 123
2007 103 116 123
2006 98 111 123
2005 94 109 118
2004 91 108 116
2003 88 101 114
2002 87 92 112
2001 84 88 110
2000 86 92 109
1999 86 93 108
1998 87 95 106
1997 86 98 105
1996 85 97 103
1995 88 100 103
1994 84 100 103
1993 88 104 105
1992 96 107 108
1991 101 114 111
1990 102 118 109
1989 94 108 -
1988 95 109 -
1987 92 105 -
1986 88 101 -
1985 88 96 -
1984 86 98 -
1983 88 102 -
1982 89 103 -
1981 90 103 -
1980 88 101 -
1979 80 89 -
1978 79 86 -
1977 79 85 -
1976 85 89 -
1975 86 98 -
1974 84 99 -
1973 80 97 -
1972 79 89 -
1971 78 86 -
1970 77 85 -
1969 76 69 -
1968 76 71 -
1967 72 65 -
1966 70 64 -
1965 71 61 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 El Salvador is ranked 104th out of 182 by GDP (down from 86th), 108th by GDP per capita (down from 92nd), and 111th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 109th).

Economic indicators

El Salvador Rank
Gross domestic product
$35.4B
2024
105/197
GDP growth
2.6%
2023-2024
117/194
GDP per capita
$5,580
2024
116/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
120/197
Government debt
$30.9B
2024
87/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.5%
2024
36/185
Government debt per person
$4,883
2024
81/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,768
2026
119/197
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
64/169
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
143/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.4%
2024
87/195
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2023-2024
175/195
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
161/196
Population
6399793
111/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 31.4% 87.5% -4.55%
2023 30.5% 85.1% -4.69%
2022 28.7% 83.7% -2.68%
2021 31.1% 88% -5.53%
2020 32.7% 95.4% -8.18%
2019 27.8% 77.9% -3.07%
2018 27.6% 77% -2.71%
2017 28.1% 77.1% -2.53%
2016 27.5% 75.2% -3.1%
2015 27.1% 73.5% -3.63%
2014 27.6% 71.8% -4.02%
2013 28.5% 69.7% -4.46%
2012 27.4% 70% -3.81%
2011 25.3% 65.6% -4.47%
2010 25.6% 66.8% -4.97%
2009 26% 65.8% -6.65%
2008 24.5% 54.2% -3.8%
2007 22.8% 52.2% -2.32%
2006 23.4% 52.6% -3.42%
2005 22.4% 46.3% -3.47%
2004 21.5% 46.8% -2.76%
2003 22.6% 46% -4.23%
2002 22.5% 43.8% -5.5%
2001 21.7% 37.8% -4.95%
2000 21% 29.6% -3.45%
1999 19.7% 28% -3.08%
1998 19.3% 25.7% -2.94%
1997 18.6% 27.8% -1.97%
1996 21% 28.5% -2.7%
1995 18.6% 28% -0.18%
1994 18.9% 30.5% -0.94%
1993 18.5% 31.9% -1.42%
1992 20.8% 36.4% -4.29%
1991 18.5% 43.3% -2.3%
1990 15.9% - -0.61%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador | CC BY

This chart shows El Salvador's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, El Salvador recorded a fiscal deficit in 35 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 3.52% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $11.1B (31.4% of GDP), with a deficit of 4.55%.

The national debt reached $30.9B, ranking 87th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 87.5%, ranking 36th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 0.85%
2023 4.05%
2022 7.2%
2021 3.47%
2020 -0.37%
2019 0.08%
2018 1.09%
2017 1.01%
2016 0.6%
2015 -0.73%
2014 1.14%
2013 0.76%
2012 1.73%
2011 5.13%
2010 1.18%
2009 1.06%
2008 6.71%
2007 4.58%
2006 4.04%
2005 4.69%
2004 4.45%
2003 2.12%
2002 1.87%
2001 3.75%
2000 2.27%
1999 0.51%
1998 2.55%
1997 4.49%
1996 9.79%
1995 10%
1994 10.6%
1993 18.5%
1992 11.2%
1991 14.4%
1990 24%
1989 17.6%
1988 19.8%
1987 24.9%
1986 31.9%
1985 22.3%
1984 11.5%
1983 13.3%
1982 11.7%
1981 14.8%
1980 17.4%
1979 14.1%
1978 13.3%
1977 11.8%
1976 7.03%
1975 19.1%
1974 16.9%
1973 6.39%
1972 1.54%
1971 0.45%
1970 2.82%
1969 -0.19%
1968 2.54%
1967 1.47%
1966 -1.19%
1965 0.46%
1964 1.76%
1963 1.57%
1962 0.1%
1961 -2.68%
1960 -0.04%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, El Salvador has had an average annual inflation rate of 2.41%. In 2024, inflation was 0.85%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

El Salvador Rank
Current account balance
-$633M
2024
110/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.79%
2024
104/190
Goods imports
$15.1B
2024
94/189
Goods exports
$5.59B
2024
116/189
Service imports
$3.26B
2024
104/189
Service exports
$6B
2024
88/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
51.9%
2024
74/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
101/193

El Salvador top 10 trading partners

El Salvador's biggest trading partner accounting for 29.6% of all exports and imports is the United States, with a trade balance between the two of -$2.27B: El Salvador exports $2.16B worth of goods and services to the United States and imports $4.43B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of El Salvador.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 United States $6.6B 29.6% $2.16B $4.43B Textiles & consumer goods Raw materials & minerals
2 Guatemala $2.84B 12.8% $1.3B $1.54B Processed food, beverages & tobacco Processed food, beverages & tobacco
3 China $2.78B 12.5% $52.8M $2.73B Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment
4 Honduras $1.79B 8.03% $1.04B $746M Textiles & consumer goods Textiles & consumer goods
5 Mexico $1.59B 7.12% $249M $1.34B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
6 Nicaragua $1.07B 4.83% $581M $493M Chemicals & pharma Animal & marine products
7 Costa Rica $755M 3.39% $310M $445M Chemicals & pharma Processed food, beverages & tobacco
8 South Korea $344M 1.54% $44M $300M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment
9 Japan $293M 1.32% $9.86M $283M Raw agricultural goods Machinery & equipment
10 Brazil $293M 1.32% $8.86M $284M Metals Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

El Salvador Rank
Transport & tourism services $3.41B 84/188
Textiles & consumer goods $2.28B 57/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.15B 74/192
Chemicals & pharma $960M 74/193
Manufacturing & construction services $708M 51/164
Machinery & equipment $460M 95/193
IT & IP services $423M 77/183
Raw materials & minerals $412M 126/193
Wood & paper products $412M 66/192
Business & finance services $402M 95/188

Top 10 imports

El Salvador Rank
Machinery & equipment $3.6B 100/193
Raw materials & minerals $2.76B 103/193
Chemicals & pharma $2.61B 81/193
Textiles & consumer goods $1.97B 77/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.76B 76/193
Transport & tourism services $1.73B 108/188
Metals $1.04B 93/193
Raw agricultural goods $762M 96/193
Animal & marine products $724M 73/193
Business & finance services $561M 109/188

Economic freedom indices

El Salvador Rank
Economic freedom 57.7 114/197
Property rights 42.7 112/182
Government integrity 31.5 127/182
Judicial effectiveness 15.3 157/182
Tax burden 76.8 106/182
Government spending 72.7 96/180
Fiscal health 59.4 118/181
Business freedom 65.7 91/182
Labor freedom 51.6 132/182
Monetary freedom 70.6 128/180
Trade freedom 76.4 67/181
Investment freedom 70 30/181
Financial freedom 60 44/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 57.7 15.3 76.8 72.7 59.4
2025 56.6 14.6 78.2 72.2 56.1
2024 54.4 14.4 76.6 71.7 42.8
2023 56 34.6 77.2 71.6 35.8
2022 59.6 46.8 77.7 74.7 50.3
2021 61 33.5 77.9 81 79.6
2020 61.6 30.1 77.8 82.8 80
2019 61.8 29.1 78.1 86.3 81.9
2018 63.2 35.4 78.9 86.3 78.5
2017 64.1 35.4 79 85.9 74.7
2016 65.1 - 79.1 85.3 -
2015 65.7 - 79.4 85.5 -
2014 66.2 - 79.6 85.8 -
2013 66.7 - 85.7 85.4 -
2012 68.7 - 85.5 91.1 -
2011 68.8 - 85.8 88 -
2010 69.9 - 85.7 89.2 -
2009 69.8 - 85.7 87.9 -
2008 68.5 - 83.4 88.7 -
2007 68.9 - 83.5 90 -
2006 69.6 - 86.2 92.2 -
2005 71.5 - 83.5 92.7 -
2004 71.2 - 83.6 90.8 -
2003 71.5 - 83.7 93.1 -
2002 73 - 83.7 93.3 -
2001 73 - 83.7 94.1 -
2000 76.3 - 83.7 94.1 -
1999 75.1 - 83.6 90.3 -
1998 70.2 - 83.5 91.9 -
1997 70.5 - 83.6 92 -
1996 70.1 - 83.7 92 -
1995 69.1 - 83.8 93.6 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador | CC BY

El Salvador is ranked 101/174 for economic freedom with a score of 57.7, compared to 30/162 and a score of 69.6 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

El Salvador Rank
Services, % of GDP
61%
2024
67/191
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
113/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.38%
2024
113/193
GNI, Atlas method
$32.5B
2024
104/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,420
2024
118/191
Total reserves including gold
$3.7B
2024
110/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$636M
2024
107/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$924M
2024
99/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$288M
2024
70/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
35%
2024
1/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.2%
2023
66/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.3%
2024
122/178

Compare El Salvador vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.