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Economy of El Salvador vs Estonia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a GDP of $35.4B compared to $43.1B for Estonia, ranking 105/197 and 100/197 by economy size, respectively.

El Salvador has $30.9B in government debt (87.5% of GDP), compared to $10.1B (23.4% of GDP) in Estonia.

El Salvador vs Estonia GDP by year

El Salvador
Estonia
1x
Year GDP, current $
El Salvador Estonia
2024 $35,364,960,000 $43,130,419,829
2023 $33,853,940,000 $41,470,344,395
2022 $31,870,120,000 $38,226,641,740
2021 $29,043,140,000 $37,201,101,171
2020 $24,921,190,000 $31,820,771,494
2019 $26,881,140,000 $31,873,748,770
2018 $26,020,850,000 $31,222,632,741
2017 $24,979,190,000 $27,469,461,919
2016 $24,191,430,000 $24,561,027,788
2015 $23,438,240,000 $23,311,847,751
2014 $22,593,470,000 $27,055,689,003
2013 $21,990,960,000 $25,451,032,781
2012 $21,386,150,000 $23,237,406,116
2011 $20,283,780,000 $23,303,915,795
2010 $18,447,920,000 $19,524,355,419
2009 $17,601,620,000 $19,633,984,440
2008 $17,986,890,000 $24,342,935,404
2007 $17,011,750,000 $22,450,264,166
2006 $15,999,890,000 $17,025,671,810
2005 $14,698,000,000 $14,109,491,357
2004 $13,724,810,900 $12,148,595,031
2003 $13,243,892,200 $9,876,595,528
2002 $12,664,190,300 $7,370,119,619
2001 $12,282,533,600 $6,250,218,423
2000 $11,784,927,700 $5,686,579,748
1999 $11,284,197,000 $5,756,912,266
1998 $10,936,669,900 $5,674,080,543
1997 $10,221,705,900 $5,154,420,649
1996 $9,586,327,800 $4,786,018,988
1995 $8,921,947,100 $4,502,970,889
1994 $7,679,384,000 $4,123,011,420
1993 $6,680,269,200 $4,013,091,682
1992 $5,813,399,300 -
1991 $5,252,342,400 -
1990 $4,817,542,204 -
1989 $4,372,215,300 -
1988 $4,189,880,000 -
1987 $3,958,045,800 -
1986 $3,771,663,200 -
1985 $3,800,368,600 -
1984 $3,661,683,400 -
1983 $3,506,347,800 -
1982 $3,399,189,100 -
1981 $3,437,200,200 -
1980 $3,573,959,900 -
1979 $3,463,639,900 -
1978 $3,127,960,000 -
1977 $2,941,640,100 -
1976 $2,328,280,100 -
1975 $1,884,120,100 -
1974 $1,665,880,000 -
1973 $1,442,320,000 -
1972 $1,263,720,000 -
1971 $1,186,120,000 -
1970 $1,132,920,000 -
1969 $1,049,400,000 -
1968 $1,009,760,100 -
1967 $976,200,000 -
1966 $929,520,000 -
1965 $877,720,000 -

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

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

GDP per capita in El Salvador vs Estonia by year

El Salvador
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Estonia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
El Salvador Estonia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $5,580 $13,264 $31,428 $49,969
2023 $5,365 $12,680 $30,264 $48,637
2022 $5,075 $11,876 $28,340 $48,218
2021 $4,643 $10,810 $27,951 $44,252
2020 $3,997 $9,393 $23,934 $40,672
2019 $4,320 $9,757 $24,021 $40,586
2018 $4,184 $9,204 $23,618 $37,121
2017 $4,020 $8,965 $20,852 $34,507
2016 $3,901 $8,456 $18,666 $31,948
2015 $3,790 $7,934 $17,722 $29,713
2014 $3,666 $7,504 $20,582 $29,404
2013 $3,582 $7,093 $19,310 $27,831
2012 $3,498 $6,708 $17,568 $26,243
2011 $3,331 $6,594 $17,556 $24,652
2010 $3,040 $6,248 $14,664 $21,614
2009 $2,910 $6,063 $14,712 $20,489
2008 $2,983 $6,175 $18,206 $22,804
2007 $2,831 $5,949 $16,745 $22,201
2006 $2,666 $5,695 $12,641 $19,344
2005 $2,447 $5,292 $10,415 $16,638
2004 $2,286 $4,998 $8,916 $14,538
2003 $2,208 $4,829 $7,205 $13,135
2002 $2,115 $4,672 $5,343 $11,667
2001 $2,058 $4,543 $4,503 $10,309
2000 $1,983 $4,422 $4,071 $9,425
1999 $1,908 $4,298 $4,141 $8,412
1998 $1,860 $4,171 $4,093 $8,451
1997 $1,749 $4,043 $3,683 $7,980
1996 $1,651 $3,880 $3,381 $6,892
1995 $1,548 $3,808 $3,134 $6,480
1994 $1,344 $3,591 $2,819 $5,967
1993 $1,180 $3,390 $2,686 $5,814
1992 $1,041 $3,171 - $5,872
1991 $956 $2,945 - $7,151
1990 $892 $2,856 - $7,481
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/estonia | CC BY

El Salvador's GDP per capita is $5,580, ranking 116/197, compared to $31,428 in Estonia, ranking 40/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), El Salvador ranks 120th at $13,264, while Estonia ranks 45th at $49,969.

Economic indicators

El Salvador Estonia
Gross domestic product
$35.4B
2024
$43.1B
2024
GDP rank
105/197
2024
100/197
2024
GDP growth
2.6%
2023-2024
-0.09%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,580
2024
$31,428
2024
GDP per capita rank
116/197
2024
40/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$49,969
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
120/197
2024
45/197
2024
Government debt
$30.9B
2024
$10.1B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.5%
2024
23.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,883
2024
$7,356
2024
Government debt per person rank
81/185
2024
65/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,768
2026
$23,740
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
2
2025
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
23.7%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
3.1%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.4%
2024
43.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2023-2024
3.52%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
7.5%
2024
Population
6399793
1339590

Spending and national debt comparison by year

El Salvador
Spending

Debt
Estonia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
El Salvador Estonia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 31.4% 87.5% 43.6% 23.4%
2023 30.5% 85.1% 43.5% 20.1%
2022 28.7% 83.7% 40.1% 19.2%
2021 31.1% 88% 42.1% 18.4%
2020 32.7% 95.4% 44.7% 19.1%
2019 27.8% 77.9% 39.1% 9.05%
2018 27.6% 77% 38.8% 8.51%
2017 28.1% 77.1% 38.9% 9.43%
2016 27.5% 75.2% 38.9% 10.2%
2015 27.1% 73.5% 39.3% 10.8%
2014 27.6% 71.8% 37.6% 11.6%
2013 28.5% 69.7% 38.3% 11.4%
2012 27.4% 70% 39.4% 11.1%
2011 25.3% 65.6% 37.6% 7.6%
2010 25.6% 66.8% 40.7% 7.99%
2009 26% 65.8% 46.1% 7.98%
2008 24.5% 54.2% 39.5% 4.67%
2007 22.8% 52.2% 33.8% 3.91%
2006 23.4% 52.6% 33.5% 4.72%
2005 22.4% 46.3% 33.7% 4.73%
2004 21.5% 46.8% 34.1% 5.16%
2003 22.6% 46% 35% 5.6%
2002 22.5% 43.8% 35.9% 5.66%
2001 21.7% 37.8% 35.3% 4.93%
2000 21% 29.6% 36.4% 5.11%
1999 19.7% 28% 40.7% 5.93%
1998 19.3% 25.7% 38.9% 5.4%
1997 18.6% 27.8% 35.8% 6.03%
1996 21% 28.5% 38.6% 7.3%
1995 18.6% 28% 39.5% 8.66%
1994 18.9% 30.5% - -
1993 18.5% 31.9% - -
1992 20.8% 36.4% - -
1991 18.5% 43.3% - -
1990 15.9% - - -

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

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

In 2024, El Salvador's government spending was $11.1B, accounting for 31.4% of its GDP, while Estonia spent $18.8B, or 43.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 87.5% in El Salvador and 23.4% in Estonia, ranking 36/185 and 171/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
El Salvador

Estonia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
El Salvador Estonia
2024 -4.55% -1.51%
2023 -4.69% -3.13%
2022 -2.68% -1.08%
2021 -5.53% -2.57%
2020 -8.18% -5.42%
2019 -3.07% -0.11%
2018 -2.71% -1.15%
2017 -2.53% -1.07%
2016 -3.1% -0.62%
2015 -3.63% -0.24%
2014 -4.02% 0.42%
2013 -4.46% -0.66%
2012 -3.81% -0.86%
2011 -4.47% 0.09%
2010 -4.97% -1.09%
2009 -6.65% -3.43%
2008 -3.8% -2.92%
2007 -2.32% 2.5%
2006 -3.42% 2.71%
2005 -3.47% 1.07%
2004 -2.76% 2.29%
2003 -4.23% 1.67%
2002 -5.5% 0.29%
2001 -4.95% 0.4%
2000 -3.45% -0.11%
1999 -3.08% -3.42%
1998 -2.94% 0.65%
1997 -1.97% 2.98%
1996 -2.7% -0.93%
1995 -0.18% -0.26%
1994 -0.94% -
1993 -1.42% -
1992 -4.29% -
1991 -2.3% -
1990 -0.61% -

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

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

In 2024, El Salvador's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.61B, equivalent to 4.55% of GDP. This compares to Estonia's deficit of $651M, or 1.51% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, El Salvador recorded a fiscal deficit in 30 of those years, while Estonia ran a deficit in 19 years. On average, El Salvador posted an annual deficit equal to 3.79% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.52% of GDP for Estonia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
El Salvador

Estonia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
El Salvador Estonia
2024 0.85% 3.52%
2023 4.05% 9.16%
2022 7.2% 19.4%
2021 3.47% 4.65%
2020 -0.37% -0.44%
2019 0.08% 2.28%
2018 1.09% 3.44%
2017 1.01% 3.42%
2016 0.6% 0.15%
2015 -0.73% -0.49%
2014 1.14% -0.11%
2013 0.76% 2.78%
2012 1.73% 3.93%
2011 5.13% 4.98%
2010 1.18% 2.97%
2009 1.06% -0.08%
2008 6.71% 10.4%
2007 4.58% 6.6%
2006 4.04% 4.44%
2005 4.69% 4.08%
2004 4.45% 3.05%
2003 2.12% 1.33%
2002 1.87% 3.57%
2001 3.75% 5.75%
2000 2.27% 4.02%
1999 0.51% 3.3%
1998 2.55% 8.21%
1997 4.49% 10.6%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, El Salvador has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.51%, compared with 4.46% in Estonia. In 2024, inflation was 0.85% in El Salvador and 3.52% in Estonia.

Top exports between countries

El Salvador
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $50K
Raw agricultural goods $31K
Estonia
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $122K
Machinery & equipment $105K
Raw materials & minerals $37K
Textiles & consumer goods $3K
Chemicals & pharma $2K

Balance of trade

El Salvador Estonia
Current account balance
-$633M
2024
-$543M
2024
Current account balance ranking
110/190
2024
107/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.79%
2024
-1.26%
2024
Goods imports
$15.1B
2024
$22.1B
2024
Goods exports
$5.59B
2024
$19B
2024
Service imports
$3.26B
2024
$10.4B
2024
Service exports
$6B
2024
$13.6B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
51.9%
2024
75.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
75.7%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

El Salvador Estonia
Economic freedom 57.7 78.7
Economic freedom ranking 114/197 10/197
Property rights 42.7 93.6
Government integrity 31.5 86.3
Judicial effectiveness 15.3 92.4
Tax burden 76.8 77.9
Government spending 72.7 46
Fiscal health 59.4 93.1
Business freedom 65.7 82.8
Labor freedom 51.6 59
Monetary freedom 70.6 73.9
Trade freedom 76.4 79.4
Investment freedom 70 90
Financial freedom 60 70

Economic freedom comparison by year

El Salvador
Estonia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
El Salvador Estonia
2026 57.7 78.7
2025 56.6 78.9
2024 54.4 77.8
2023 56 78.6
2022 59.6 80
2021 61 78.2
2020 61.6 77.7
2019 61.8 76.6
2018 63.2 78.8
2017 64.1 79.1
2016 65.1 77.2
2015 65.7 76.8
2014 66.2 75.9
2013 66.7 75.3
2012 68.7 73.2
2011 68.8 75.2
2010 69.9 74.7
2009 69.8 76.4
2008 68.5 77.9
2007 68.9 78
2006 69.6 74.9
2005 71.5 75.2
2004 71.2 77.4
2003 71.5 77.7
2002 73 77.6
2001 73 76.1
2000 76.3 69.9
1999 75.1 73.8
1998 70.2 72.5
1997 70.5 69.1
1996 70.1 65.4
1995 69.1 65.2

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for El Salvador is 57.7, ranking 114/197, compared to 78.7 for Estonia, ranking 10/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

El Salvador Estonia
Services, % of GDP
61%
2024
65.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
20.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.38%
2024
1.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$32.5B
2024
$39.6B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,420
2024
$48,880
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.7B
2024
$2.07B
2024
Total reserves ranking
110/177
2024
125/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$636M
2024
-$285M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$924M
2024
-$3.44B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$288M
2024
-$3.72B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
35%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.2%
2023
22.5%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.3%
2024
24.6%
2024

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/estonia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2024, 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 (2022–2024, 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.