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Economy of El Salvador vs Kuwait compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a GDP of $35.4B compared to $160B for Kuwait, ranking 105/197 and 59/197 by economy size, respectively.

El Salvador has $30.9B in government debt (87.5% of GDP), compared to $4.68B (2.92% of GDP) in Kuwait.

El Salvador vs Kuwait GDP by year

El Salvador
Kuwait
1x
Year GDP, current $
El Salvador Kuwait
2024 $35,364,960,000 $160,227,273,053
2023 $33,853,940,000 $165,384,407,116
2022 $31,870,120,000 $183,502,046,694
2021 $29,043,140,000 $148,350,671,489
2020 $24,921,190,000 $111,045,470,606
2019 $26,881,140,000 $140,856,394,861
2018 $26,020,850,000 $138,646,316,351
2017 $24,979,190,000 $120,687,539,806
2016 $24,191,430,000 $109,406,674,125
2015 $23,438,240,000 $114,585,555,689
2014 $22,593,470,000 $162,650,450,685
2013 $21,990,960,000 $174,168,116,535
2012 $21,386,150,000 $174,047,662,680
2011 $20,283,780,000 $154,039,231,246
2010 $18,447,920,000 $115,416,245,242
2009 $17,601,620,000 $105,968,691,905
2008 $17,986,890,000 $147,379,737,230
2007 $17,011,750,000 $114,634,043,362
2006 $15,999,890,000 $101,557,330,723
2005 $14,698,000,000 $80,798,630,137
2004 $13,724,810,900 $59,439,090,601
2003 $13,243,892,200 $47,874,582,232
2002 $12,664,190,300 $38,135,788,414
2001 $12,282,533,600 $34,889,559,870
2000 $11,784,927,700 $37,718,743,480
1999 $11,284,197,000 $30,122,365,849
1998 $10,936,669,900 $25,943,705,784
1997 $10,221,705,900 $30,350,190,704
1996 $9,586,327,800 $31,492,373,309
1995 $8,921,947,100 $27,186,980,647
1994 $7,679,384,000 $24,848,483,838
1993 $6,680,269,200 $23,941,391,391
1992 $5,813,399,300 $19,858,555,215
1991 $5,252,342,400 $11,009,993,703
1990 $4,817,542,204 $18,427,777,778
1989 $4,372,215,300 $24,313,855,653
1988 $4,189,880,000 $20,690,322,153
1987 $3,958,045,800 $22,368,704,134
1986 $3,771,663,200 $17,903,989,745
1985 $3,800,368,600 $21,445,970,614
1984 $3,661,683,400 $21,700,082,753
1983 $3,506,347,800 $20,871,081,080
1982 $3,399,189,100 $21,577,153,356
1981 $3,437,200,200 $25,058,020,338
1980 $3,573,959,900 $28,638,868,356
1979 $3,463,639,900 $24,749,063,922
1978 $3,127,960,000 $15,503,557,496
1977 $2,941,640,100 $14,137,406,741
1976 $2,328,280,100 $13,132,252,802
1975 $1,884,120,100 $12,022,811,621
1974 $1,665,880,000 $13,006,948,296
1973 $1,442,320,000 $5,408,804,607
1972 $1,263,720,000 $4,450,537,925
1971 $1,186,120,000 $3,880,392,195
1970 $1,132,920,000 $2,873,638,851
1969 $1,049,400,000 $2,769,198,892
1968 $1,009,760,100 $2,662,798,935
1967 $976,200,000 $2,441,599,023
1966 $929,520,000 $2,391,199,044
1965 $877,720,000 $2,097,199,161
1964 - $2,071,668,533
1963 - $1,900,895,857
1962 - $1,828,107,503

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in El Salvador vs Kuwait by year

El Salvador
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Kuwait
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
El Salvador Kuwait
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $5,580 $13,264 $32,718 $52,444
2023 $5,365 $12,680 $34,076 $53,025
2022 $5,075 $11,876 $39,982 $55,043
2021 $4,643 $10,810 $34,019 $50,652
2020 $3,997 $9,393 $25,236 $41,462
2019 $4,320 $9,757 $31,708 $50,703
2018 $4,184 $9,204 $32,068 $51,371
2017 $4,020 $8,965 $29,048 $46,566
2016 $3,901 $8,456 $27,324 $41,862
2015 $3,790 $7,934 $29,882 $45,267
2014 $3,666 $7,504 $44,369 $68,337
2013 $3,582 $7,093 $49,651 $76,813
2012 $3,498 $6,708 $52,155 $82,090
2011 $3,331 $6,594 $49,170 $79,037
2010 $3,040 $6,248 $39,212 $75,184
2009 $2,910 $6,063 $37,907 $80,110
2008 $2,983 $6,175 $55,585 $90,337
2007 $2,831 $5,949 $45,709 $91,435
2006 $2,666 $5,695 $42,947 $89,075
2005 $2,447 $5,292 $36,123 $84,968
2004 $2,286 $4,998 $27,552 $77,227
2003 $2,208 $4,829 $22,691 $69,752
2002 $2,115 $4,672 $18,513 $59,713
2001 $2,058 $4,543 $17,374 $58,553
2000 $1,983 $4,422 $19,296 $58,703
1999 $1,908 $4,298 $15,854 $56,406
1998 $1,860 $4,171 $14,067 $58,344
1997 $1,749 $4,043 $16,977 $57,420
1996 $1,651 $3,880 $18,201 $56,913
1995 $1,548 $3,808 $16,168 $57,163
1994 $1,344 $3,591 $14,930 $53,946
1993 $1,180 $3,390 $14,318 $48,482
1992 $1,041 $3,171 $12,146 $36,149
1991 $956 $2,945 $8,147 $23,390
1990 $892 $2,856 $10,938 $30,763
1989 $825 - $10,965 -
1988 $806 - $9,692 -
1987 $777 - $10,896 -
1986 $755 - $9,077 -
1985 $776 - $11,322 -
1984 $763 - $11,919 -
1983 $745 - $11,965 -
1982 $735 - $12,979 -
1981 $752 - $15,825 -
1980 $787 - $19,032 -
1979 $773 - $17,386 -
1978 $712 - $11,567 -
1977 $684 - $11,238 -
1976 $553 - $11,141 -
1975 $457 - $10,882 -
1974 $413 - $12,527 -
1973 $366 - $5,532 -
1972 $329 - $4,836 -
1971 $316 - $4,486 -
1970 $309 - $3,552 -
1969 $293.4 - $3,695 -
1968 $290.1 - $3,872 -
1967 $288.4 - $3,887 -
1966 $282.4 - $4,176 -
1965 $274.3 - $4,024 -
1964 - - $4,379 -
1963 - - $4,445 -
1962 - - $4,748 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

El Salvador's GDP per capita is $5,580, ranking 116/197, compared to $32,718 in Kuwait, ranking 37/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), El Salvador ranks 120th at $13,264, while Kuwait ranks 40th at $52,444.

Economic indicators

El Salvador Kuwait
Gross domestic product
$35.4B
2024
$160B
2024
GDP rank
105/197
2024
59/197
2024
GDP growth
2.6%
2023-2024
-2.56%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,580
2024
$32,718
2024
GDP per capita rank
116/197
2024
37/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$52,444
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
120/197
2024
40/197
2024
Government debt
$30.9B
2024
$4.68B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.5%
2024
2.92%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,883
2024
$956
2024
Government debt per person rank
81/185
2024
143/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,768
2026
$23,828
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$141B
2024
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.4%
2024
50.4%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2023-2024
2.9%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
2.16%
2016
Population
6399793
5100145

Spending and national debt comparison by year

El Salvador
Spending

Debt
Kuwait
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
El Salvador Kuwait
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 31.4% 87.5% 50.4% 2.92%
2023 30.5% 85.1% 48.3% 3.13%
2022 28.7% 83.7% 39.6% 2.95%
2021 31.1% 88% 48.3% 7.2%
2020 32.7% 95.4% 62.9% 10.2%
2019 27.8% 77.9% 50.3% 10.5%
2018 27.6% 77% 51.1% 14.3%
2017 28.1% 77.1% 51.9% 19.6%
2016 27.5% 75.2% 54.1% 9.88%
2015 27.1% 73.5% 55.4% 4.6%
2014 27.6% 71.8% 45% 3.43%
2013 28.5% 69.7% 38.4% 3.09%
2012 27.4% 70% 38.2% 3.6%
2011 25.3% 65.6% 39.7% 4.64%
2010 25.6% 66.8% 45.5% 6.16%
2009 26% 65.8% 42.9% 6.65%
2008 24.5% 54.2% 40.9% 5.38%
2007 22.8% 52.2% 30.4% 7.05%
2006 23.4% 52.6% 32.3% 7.79%
2005 22.4% 46.3% 28.8% 10.2%
2004 21.5% 46.8% 35.3% 13.9%
2003 22.6% 46% 38.2% 17.2%
2002 22.5% 43.8% 42.8% 21.3%
2001 21.7% 37.8% 41.4% 23%
2000 21% 29.6% 29.9% 21.4%
1999 19.7% 28% 44.5% 25.5%
1998 19.3% 25.7% 51.7% 25.6%
1997 18.6% 27.8% 43.8% 24.3%
1996 21% 28.5% 42.8% 26.5%
1995 18.6% 28% 52% 34.9%
1994 18.9% 30.5% 57.8% 37.7%
1993 18.5% 31.9% 58.2% 28.8%
1992 20.8% 36.4% 77.6% 27.9%
1991 18.5% 43.3% 208.9% 45.3%
1990 15.9% - 122.9% -

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

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

In 2024, El Salvador's government spending was $11.1B, accounting for 31.4% of its GDP, while Kuwait spent $80.8B, or 50.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 87.5% in El Salvador and 2.92% in Kuwait, ranking 36/185 and 184/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
El Salvador

Kuwait
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
El Salvador Kuwait
2024 -4.55% 23.8%
2023 -4.69% 28.2%
2022 -2.68% 30%
2021 -5.53% 9.98%
2020 -8.18% 0.14%
2019 -3.07% 13%
2018 -2.71% 17.5%
2017 -2.53% 15.3%
2016 -3.1% 13.1%
2015 -3.63% 16.6%
2014 -4.02% 30%
2013 -4.46% 40.6%
2012 -3.81% 40.7%
2011 -4.47% 38.8%
2010 -4.97% 31.9%
2009 -6.65% 31.3%
2008 -3.8% 21.3%
2007 -2.32% 37.1%
2006 -3.42% 28%
2005 -3.47% 38.9%
2004 -2.76% 32.5%
2003 -4.23% 27.2%
2002 -5.5% 31%
2001 -4.95% 45.2%
2000 -3.45% 52.5%
1999 -3.08% 28.2%
1998 -2.94% 19.5%
1997 -1.97% 29.5%
1996 -2.7% 24.3%
1995 -0.18% 11.7%
1994 -0.94% 1.76%
1993 -1.42% -3.12%
1992 -4.29% -28.1%
1991 -2.3% -145%
1990 -0.61% -50%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador/kuwait | 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 Kuwait's surplus of $38.1B, or 23.8% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, El Salvador recorded a fiscal deficit in 35 of those years, while Kuwait ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, El Salvador posted an annual deficit equal to 3.52% of GDP, compared to surplus of 16.7% of GDP for Kuwait.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
El Salvador

Kuwait
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
El Salvador Kuwait
2024 0.85% 2.9%
2023 4.05% 3.64%
2022 7.2% 3.98%
2021 3.47% 3.42%
2020 -0.37% 2.1%
2019 0.08% 1.09%
2018 1.09% 0.54%
2017 1.01% 2.17%
2016 0.6% 3.2%
2015 -0.73% 3.27%
2014 1.14% 2.91%
2013 0.76% 2.68%
2012 1.73% 3.26%
2011 5.13% 4.84%
2010 1.18% 4.5%
2009 1.06% 4.61%
2008 6.71% 10.6%
2007 4.58% 5.48%
2006 4.04% 3.06%
2005 4.69% 4.14%
2004 4.45% 1.25%
2003 2.12% 0.96%
2002 1.87% 0.89%
2001 3.75% 1.3%
2000 2.27% 1.81%
1999 0.51% 2.99%
1998 2.55% 0.13%
1997 4.49% 0.68%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, El Salvador has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.51%, compared with 2.94% in Kuwait. In 2024, inflation was 0.85% in El Salvador and 2.9% in Kuwait.

Top exports between countries

El Salvador
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $84K
Chemicals & pharma $62K
Animal & marine products $26K
Kuwait
Export category Export value
Miscellaneous $1K

Balance of trade

El Salvador Kuwait
Current account balance
-$633M
2024
$46.7B
2024
Current account balance ranking
110/190
2024
15/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.79%
2024
+29.1%
2024
Goods imports
$15.1B
2024
$33.4B
2024
Goods exports
$5.59B
2024
$77.5B
2024
Service imports
$3.26B
2024
$28.1B
2024
Service exports
$6B
2024
$12.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
51.9%
2024
38.3%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
57.7%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

El Salvador Kuwait
Economic freedom 57.7 59.9
Economic freedom ranking 114/197 100/197
Property rights 42.7 42
Government integrity 31.5 47.9
Judicial effectiveness 15.3 43.4
Tax burden 76.8 97.7
Government spending 72.7 36.2
Fiscal health 59.4 99.9
Business freedom 65.7 57.4
Labor freedom 51.6 49.2
Monetary freedom 70.6 68.7
Trade freedom 76.4 75.8
Investment freedom 70 50
Financial freedom 60 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

El Salvador
Kuwait
1x
Year Economic freedom index
El Salvador Kuwait
2026 57.7 59.9
2025 56.6 59.9
2024 54.4 58.5
2023 56 56.7
2022 59.6 58.3
2021 61 64.1
2020 61.6 63.2
2019 61.8 60.8
2018 63.2 62.2
2017 64.1 65.1
2016 65.1 62.7
2015 65.7 62.5
2014 66.2 62.3
2013 66.7 63.1
2012 68.7 62.5
2011 68.8 64.9
2010 69.9 67.7
2009 69.8 65.6
2008 68.5 68.1
2007 68.9 66.4
2006 69.6 66.5
2005 71.5 64.6
2004 71.2 63.6
2003 71.5 66.7
2002 73 65.4
2001 73 68.2
2000 76.3 69.7
1999 75.1 69.5
1998 70.2 66.3
1997 70.5 64.8
1996 70.1 66.1
1995 69.1 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for El Salvador is 57.7, ranking 114/197, compared to 59.9 for Kuwait, ranking 100/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

El Salvador Kuwait
Services, % of GDP
61%
2024
55.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
57.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.38%
2024
0.49%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$32.5B
2024
$200B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,420
2024
$63,270
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.7B
2024
$50.7B
2024
Total reserves ranking
110/177
2024
41/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$636M
2024
$9.71B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$924M
2024
$615M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$288M
2024
$10.3B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
35%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.2%
2023
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.3%
2024
17.7%
2023

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/kuwait | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, 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.