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Economy of El Salvador vs Hungary compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a GDP of $35.4B compared to $223B for Hungary, ranking 105/197 and 55/197 by economy size, respectively.

El Salvador has $30.9B in government debt (87.5% of GDP), compared to $164B (73.5% of GDP) in Hungary.

El Salvador vs Hungary GDP by year

El Salvador
Hungary
1x
Year GDP, current $
El Salvador Hungary
2024 $35,364,960,000 $222,722,738,926
2023 $33,853,940,000 $213,240,316,635
2022 $31,870,120,000 $177,002,580,544
2021 $29,043,140,000 $183,282,685,440
2020 $24,921,190,000 $158,468,487,754
2019 $26,881,140,000 $164,936,682,034
2018 $26,020,850,000 $161,184,691,014
2017 $24,979,190,000 $143,335,098,992
2016 $24,191,430,000 $128,983,560,865
2015 $23,438,240,000 $125,244,126,623
2014 $22,593,470,000 $141,128,696,412
2013 $21,990,960,000 $135,646,053,779
2012 $21,386,150,000 $128,470,269,690
2011 $20,283,780,000 $141,712,804,954
2010 $18,447,920,000 $131,898,737,241
2009 $17,601,620,000 $130,807,441,076
2008 $17,986,890,000 $158,228,265,916
2007 $17,011,750,000 $140,123,326,896
2006 $15,999,890,000 $115,604,111,412
2005 $14,698,000,000 $113,098,237,571
2004 $13,724,810,900 $104,015,363,080
2003 $13,243,892,200 $85,190,469,121
2002 $12,664,190,300 $67,636,468,625
2001 $12,282,533,600 $53,800,068,066
2000 $11,784,927,700 $47,275,954,429
1999 $11,284,197,000 $49,160,204,397
1998 $10,936,669,900 $48,784,412,624
1997 $10,221,705,900 $47,398,564,799
1996 $9,586,327,800 $46,833,767,124
1995 $8,921,947,100 $46,577,614,589
1994 $7,679,384,000 $43,307,949,890
1993 $6,680,269,200 $40,256,233,360
1992 $5,813,399,300 $38,857,339,125
1991 $5,252,342,400 $34,867,307,353
1990 $4,817,542,204 $34,478,360,679
1989 $4,372,215,300 $30,422,508,938
1988 $4,189,880,000 $29,799,838,597
1987 $3,958,045,800 $27,232,016,527
1986 $3,771,663,200 $24,778,163,812
1985 $3,800,368,600 $21,510,643,750
1984 $3,661,683,400 $21,242,726,264
1983 $3,506,347,800 $21,910,365,258
1982 $3,399,189,100 $24,141,667,188
1981 $3,437,200,200 $23,705,883,892
1980 $3,573,959,900 $23,116,977,148
1979 $3,463,639,900 $19,959,731,325
1978 $3,127,960,000 $17,286,744,154
1977 $2,941,640,100 $14,783,674,055
1976 $2,328,280,100 $13,235,612,079
1975 $1,884,120,100 $11,420,392,515
1974 $1,665,880,000 $10,016,338,179
1973 $1,442,320,000 $9,138,292,402
1972 $1,263,720,000 $7,379,313,742
1971 $1,186,120,000 $6,291,568,221
1970 $1,132,920,000 $5,780,929,203
1969 $1,049,400,000 $5,429,812,387
1968 $1,009,760,100 $4,886,222,555
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/hungary | CC BY

GDP per capita in El Salvador vs Hungary by year

El Salvador
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Hungary
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
El Salvador Hungary
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $5,580 $13,264 $23,292 $48,552
2023 $5,365 $12,680 $22,231 $46,592
2022 $5,075 $11,876 $18,428 $44,366
2021 $4,643 $10,810 $19,031 $38,887
2020 $3,997 $9,393 $16,387 $35,584
2019 $4,320 $9,757 $17,013 $35,627
2018 $4,184 $9,204 $16,605 $32,258
2017 $4,020 $8,965 $14,736 $29,728
2016 $3,901 $8,456 $13,216 $28,179
2015 $3,790 $7,934 $12,783 $26,938
2014 $3,666 $7,504 $14,353 $25,796
2013 $3,582 $7,093 $13,739 $24,592
2012 $3,498 $6,708 $12,950 $23,205
2011 $3,331 $6,594 $14,211 $22,992
2010 $3,040 $6,248 $13,190 $21,691
2009 $2,910 $6,063 $13,051 $20,691
2008 $2,983 $6,175 $15,763 $20,709
2007 $2,831 $5,949 $13,935 $19,089
2006 $2,666 $5,695 $11,478 $18,362
2005 $2,447 $5,292 $11,212 $17,091
2004 $2,286 $4,998 $10,291 $16,251
2003 $2,208 $4,829 $8,410 $15,460
2002 $2,115 $4,672 $6,658 $14,532
2001 $2,058 $4,543 $5,281 $13,223
2000 $1,983 $4,422 $4,630 $11,872
1999 $1,908 $4,298 $4,802 $10,892
1998 $1,860 $4,171 $4,752 $10,415
1997 $1,749 $4,043 $4,606 $9,846
1996 $1,651 $3,880 $4,542 $9,388
1995 $1,548 $3,808 $4,509 $9,222
1994 $1,344 $3,591 $4,187 $8,888
1993 $1,180 $3,390 $3,887 $8,441
1992 $1,041 $3,171 $3,747 $8,284
1991 $956 $2,945 $3,361 $8,352
1990 $892 $2,856 $3,324 $9,169
1989 $825 - $2,902 -
1988 $806 - $2,812 -
1987 $777 - $2,566 -
1986 $755 - $2,331 -
1985 $776 - $2,020 -
1984 $763 - $1,991 -
1983 $745 - $2,050 -
1982 $735 - $2,255 -
1981 $752 - $2,213 -
1980 $787 - $2,158 -
1979 $773 - $1,865 -
1978 $712 - $1,618 -
1977 $684 - $1,388 -
1976 $553 - $1,249 -
1975 $457 - $1,083 -
1974 $413 - $956 -
1973 $366 - $876 -
1972 $329 - $710 -
1971 $316 - $607 -
1970 $309 - $559 -
1969 $293.4 - $527 -
1968 $290.1 - $476 -
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/hungary | CC BY

El Salvador's GDP per capita is $5,580, ranking 116/197, compared to $23,292 in Hungary, ranking 55/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), El Salvador ranks 120th at $13,264, while Hungary ranks 48th at $48,552.

Economic indicators

El Salvador Hungary
Gross domestic product
$35.4B
2024
$223B
2024
GDP rank
105/197
2024
55/197
2024
GDP growth
2.6%
2023-2024
0.56%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,580
2024
$23,292
2024
GDP per capita rank
116/197
2024
55/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$48,552
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
120/197
2024
48/197
2024
Government debt
$30.9B
2024
$164B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.5%
2024
73.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,883
2024
$17,109
2024
Government debt per person rank
81/185
2024
37/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,768
2026
$16,996
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$41.5B
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
24,692
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
4
2025
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
24.4%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
2.8%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.4%
2024
46.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2023-2024
3.7%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
6.5%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
4.47%
2024
Population
6399793
9475525

Spending and national debt comparison by year

El Salvador
Spending

Debt
Hungary
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
El Salvador Hungary
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 31.4% 87.5% 46.9% 73.5%
2023 30.5% 85.1% 49.2% 73%
2022 28.7% 83.7% 48.7% 73.9%
2021 31.1% 88% 48.1% 76.2%
2020 32.7% 95.4% 51% 78.7%
2019 27.8% 77.9% 45.8% 65%
2018 27.6% 77% 45.9% 68.8%
2017 28.1% 77.1% 46.6% 72%
2016 27.5% 75.2% 46.7% 74.6%
2015 27.1% 73.5% 50.4% 75.7%
2014 27.6% 71.8% 50% 76.5%
2013 28.5% 69.7% 50.1% 77.2%
2012 27.4% 70% 49.2% 78.4%
2011 25.3% 65.6% 49.1% 80.5%
2010 25.6% 66.8% 48.9% 80.2%
2009 26% 65.8% 50.7% 78.2%
2008 24.5% 54.2% 48.8% 71.8%
2007 22.8% 52.2% 49.9% 65.6%
2006 23.4% 52.6% 51.4% 64.5%
2005 22.4% 46.3% 49.4% 60.6%
2004 21.5% 46.8% 48.8% 58.9%
2003 22.6% 46% 49.2% 58.2%
2002 22.5% 43.8% 51% 55.6%
2001 21.7% 37.8% 47.2% 52.2%
2000 21% 29.6% 47.3% 55.6%
1999 19.7% 28% 48.9% 60.3%
1998 19.3% 25.7% 50.7% 60.4%
1997 18.6% 27.8% 49.5% 62.2%
1996 21% 28.5% 50.9% 71.2%
1995 18.6% 28% 55% 83.9%
1994 18.9% 30.5% - 86.2%
1993 18.5% 31.9% - 87.2%
1992 20.8% 36.4% - 76.5%
1991 18.5% 43.3% - 74.2%
1990 15.9% - - 63.7%
1989 - - - 70.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989–1994, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, El Salvador's government spending was $11.1B, accounting for 31.4% of its GDP, while Hungary spent $104B, or 46.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 87.5% in El Salvador and 73.5% in Hungary, ranking 36/185 and 49/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
El Salvador

Hungary
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
El Salvador Hungary
2024 -4.55% -4.92%
2023 -4.69% -6.75%
2022 -2.68% -6.17%
2021 -5.53% -7.11%
2020 -8.18% -7.49%
2019 -3.07% -2.02%
2018 -2.71% -2.05%
2017 -2.53% -2.45%
2016 -3.1% -1.79%
2015 -3.63% -2%
2014 -4.02% -2.77%
2013 -4.46% -2.6%
2012 -3.81% -2.33%
2011 -4.47% -5.22%
2010 -4.97% -4.44%
2009 -6.65% -4.76%
2008 -3.8% -3.78%
2007 -2.32% -5.09%
2006 -3.42% -9.27%
2005 -3.47% -7.79%
2004 -2.76% -6.6%
2003 -4.23% -7.19%
2002 -5.5% -8.79%
2001 -4.95% -4%
2000 -3.45% -3.04%
1999 -3.08% -5.27%
1998 -2.94% -7.41%
1997 -1.97% -5.54%
1996 -2.7% -4.36%
1995 -0.18% -8.57%
1994 -0.94% -
1993 -1.42% -
1992 -4.29% -
1991 -2.3% -
1990 -0.61% -
1989 - -
1988 - -
1987 - -
1986 - -
1985 - -
1984 - -
1983 - -
1982 - -
1981 - -
1980 - -
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - -
1975 - -
1974 - -
1973 - -
1972 - -
1971 - -
1970 - -
1969 - -
1968 - -
1967 - -
1966 - -
1965 - -
1964 - -
1963 - -
1962 - -
1961 - -
1960 - -
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - -
1950 - -
1949 - -
1948 - -
1947 - -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -0.17%
1942 - 0.31%
1941 - 0.2%
1940 - -0.07%
1939 - 0.19%
1938 - -0.11%
1937 - -0.01%
1936 - 0.08%
1935 - 0.03%
1934 - 0.04%
1933 - -0.03%
1932 - -0.22%
1931 - -0.32%
1930 - -0.26%
1929 - 0.02%
1928 - 0.12%
1927 - 0.15%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1927–1943, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador/hungary | 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 Hungary's deficit of $10.9B, or 4.92% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, El Salvador recorded a fiscal deficit in 30 of those years, while Hungary ran a deficit in 30 years. On average, El Salvador posted an annual deficit equal to 3.79% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.05% of GDP for Hungary.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
El Salvador

Hungary
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
El Salvador Hungary
2024 0.85% 3.7%
2023 4.05% 17.1%
2022 7.2% 14.6%
2021 3.47% 5.11%
2020 -0.37% 3.33%
2019 0.08% 3.34%
2018 1.09% 2.85%
2017 1.01% 2.35%
2016 0.6% 0.39%
2015 -0.73% -0.06%
2014 1.14% -0.23%
2013 0.76% 1.73%
2012 1.73% 5.65%
2011 5.13% 3.93%
2010 1.18% 4.86%
2009 1.06% 4.21%
2008 6.71% 6.04%
2007 4.58% 7.96%
2006 4.04% 3.93%
2005 4.69% 3.56%
2004 4.45% 6.74%
2003 2.12% 4.66%
2002 1.87% 5.27%
2001 3.75% 9.12%
2000 2.27% 9.8%
1999 0.51% 10%
1998 2.55% 14.2%
1997 4.49% 18.3%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, El Salvador has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.51%, compared with 6.16% in Hungary. In 2024, inflation was 0.85% in El Salvador and 3.7% in Hungary.

Top exports between countries

El Salvador
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $34K
Machinery & equipment $2K
Textiles & consumer goods $2K
Hungary
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $3.27M
Textiles & consumer goods $270K
Chemicals & pharma $133K
Wood & paper products $17K
Metals $15K

Balance of trade

El Salvador Hungary
Current account balance
-$633M
2024
$3.52B
2024
Current account balance ranking
110/190
2024
36/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.79%
2024
+1.58%
2024
Goods imports
$15.1B
2024
$130B
2024
Goods exports
$5.59B
2024
$129B
2024
Service imports
$3.26B
2024
$27.9B
2024
Service exports
$6B
2024
$38.9B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
51.9%
2024
71.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
75.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

El Salvador Hungary
Economic freedom 57.7 62.5
Economic freedom ranking 114/197 86/197
Property rights 42.7 67.3
Government integrity 31.5 44
Judicial effectiveness 15.3 61.9
Tax burden 76.8 85.1
Government spending 72.7 30.2
Fiscal health 59.4 32.7
Business freedom 65.7 70.8
Labor freedom 51.6 56.5
Monetary freedom 70.6 72.1
Trade freedom 76.4 79.4
Investment freedom 70 80
Financial freedom 60 70

Economic freedom comparison by year

El Salvador
Hungary
1x
Year Economic freedom index
El Salvador Hungary
2026 57.7 62.5
2025 56.6 61.4
2024 54.4 61.2
2023 56 64.1
2022 59.6 66.9
2021 61 67.2
2020 61.6 66.4
2019 61.8 65
2018 63.2 66.7
2017 64.1 65.8
2016 65.1 66
2015 65.7 66.8
2014 66.2 67
2013 66.7 67.3
2012 68.7 67.1
2011 68.8 66.6
2010 69.9 66.1
2009 69.8 66.8
2008 68.5 67.6
2007 68.9 64.8
2006 69.6 65
2005 71.5 63.5
2004 71.2 62.7
2003 71.5 63
2002 73 64.5
2001 73 65.6
2000 76.3 64.4
1999 75.1 59.6
1998 70.2 56.9
1997 70.5 55.3
1996 70.1 56.8
1995 69.1 55.2

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for El Salvador is 57.7, ranking 114/197, compared to 62.5 for Hungary, ranking 86/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

El Salvador Hungary
Services, % of GDP
61%
2024
59.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
23.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.38%
2024
2.71%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$32.5B
2024
$199B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,420
2024
$47,290
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.7B
2024
$46.4B
2024
Total reserves ranking
110/177
2024
42/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$636M
2024
-$15.8B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$924M
2024
-$62.2B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$288M
2024
-$78B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
35%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.2%
2023
12.1%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.3%
2024
23.5%
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/hungary | 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1927–1994, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. 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.