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Economy of El Salvador vs Lebanon compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

El Salvador has a GDP of $36.7B compared to $26B for Lebanon, ranking 108/197 and 121/197 by economy size, respectively.

El Salvador has $32B in government debt (87.2% of GDP), compared to $41B (139.4% of GDP) in Lebanon.

El Salvador vs Lebanon GDP by year

El Salvador
Lebanon
1x
Year GDP, current $
El Salvador Lebanon
2025 $36,708,110,000 -
2024 $34,879,730,000 $25,971,643,441
2023 $33,565,430,000 $20,078,620,357
2022 $31,870,110,000 $20,992,421,949
2021 $29,043,140,000 $23,131,941,557
2020 $24,921,190,000 $31,712,128,254
2019 $26,881,140,000 $51,605,959,131
2018 $26,020,850,000 $54,901,519,156
2017 $24,979,190,000 $53,027,680,686
2016 $24,191,430,000 $51,147,308,774
2015 $23,438,240,000 $49,929,337,837
2014 $22,593,470,000 $48,095,213,747
2013 $21,990,960,000 $46,880,103,081
2012 $21,386,150,000 $44,016,799,516
2011 $20,283,780,000 $39,927,125,962
2010 $18,447,920,000 $38,443,907,042
2009 $17,601,620,000 $35,399,582,929
2008 $17,986,890,000 $29,118,916,105
2007 $17,011,750,000 $24,827,355,015
2006 $15,999,890,000 $22,022,709,851
2005 $14,698,000,000 $21,497,336,499
2004 $13,724,810,900 $21,159,827,992
2003 $13,243,892,200 $20,082,918,740
2002 $12,664,190,300 $19,152,238,806
2001 $12,282,533,600 $17,649,751,244
2000 $11,784,927,700 $17,260,364,842
1999 $11,284,197,000 $17,391,056,369
1998 $10,936,669,900 $17,247,179,006
1997 $10,221,705,900 $15,751,867,489
1996 $9,586,327,800 $13,690,217,334
1995 $8,921,947,100 $11,718,795,529
1994 $7,679,384,000 $9,599,127,050
1993 $6,680,269,200 $7,941,744,492
1992 $5,813,399,300 $5,843,579,161
1991 $5,252,342,400 $4,690,415,093
1990 $4,817,542,204 $2,838,485,354
1989 $4,372,215,300 $2,717,998,688
1988 $4,189,880,000 $3,313,540,068
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 (1965–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in El Salvador vs Lebanon by year

El Salvador
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Lebanon
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
El Salvador Lebanon
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $5,767 - - -
2024 $5,503 $13,264 $4,473 -
2023 $5,320 $12,680 $3,478 $12,575
2022 $5,075 $11,876 $3,654 $12,293
2021 $4,643 $10,810 $4,045 $11,600
2020 $3,997 $9,393 $5,561 $16,260
2019 $4,320 $9,757 $8,906 $21,710
2018 $4,184 $9,204 $9,175 $21,985
2017 $4,020 $8,965 $8,608 $20,964
2016 $3,901 $8,456 $8,089 $18,941
2015 $3,790 $7,934 $7,714 $17,046
2014 $3,666 $7,504 $7,578 $16,140
2013 $3,582 $7,093 $8,162 $16,316
2012 $3,498 $6,708 $8,407 $16,121
2011 $3,331 $6,594 $7,835 $14,975
2010 $3,040 $6,248 $7,626 $14,704
2009 $2,910 $6,063 $7,091 $13,586
2008 $2,983 $6,175 $5,912 $12,416
2007 $2,831 $5,949 $5,125 $11,356
2006 $2,666 $5,695 $4,635 $10,312
2005 $2,447 $5,292 $4,602 $10,020
2004 $2,286 $4,998 $4,601 $9,609
2003 $2,208 $4,829 $4,438 $8,914
2002 $2,115 $4,672 $4,291 $8,586
2001 $2,058 $4,543 $4,010 $8,289
2000 $1,983 $4,422 $3,987 $7,938
1999 $1,908 $4,298 $4,087 $7,793
1998 $1,860 $4,171 $4,125 $7,861
1997 $1,749 $4,043 $3,834 $7,632
1996 $1,651 $3,880 $3,393 $7,560
1995 $1,548 $3,808 $2,959 $6,796
1994 $1,344 $3,591 $2,468 $6,367
1993 $1,180 $3,390 $2,079 $5,871
1992 $1,041 $3,171 $1,559 $5,279
1991 $956 $2,945 $1,278 $4,527
1990 $892 $2,856 $790 $2,990
1989 $825 - $771 -
1988 $806 - $959 -
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 (1965–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

El Salvador's GDP per capita is $5,767, ranking 117/197, compared to $4,473 in Lebanon, ranking 129/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), El Salvador ranks 120th at $13,264, while Lebanon ranks 123rd at $12,575.

Economic indicators

El Salvador Lebanon
Gross domestic product
$36.7B
2025
$26B
2024
GDP rank
108/197
2025
121/197
2024
GDP growth
3.91%
2024-2025
-7.08%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,767
2025
$4,473
2024
GDP per capita rank
117/197
2025
129/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$12,575
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
120/197
2024
123/197
2023
Government debt
$32B
2025
$41B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.2%
2025
139.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$5,030
2025
$7,061
2024
Government debt per person rank
86/185
2025
71/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,010
2026
$3,055
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$10.6B
2021
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
25.6%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
2.8%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.2%
2025
15.5%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.26%
2024-2025
14.6%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
20%
2023
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
11.3%
2019
Population
6404781
5921719

Spending and national debt comparison by year

El Salvador
Spending

Debt
Lebanon
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
El Salvador Lebanon
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 30.2% 87.2% 15.5% 139.4%
2024 31.4% 87.4% 15.3% 157.9%
2023 30.5% 85% 14.3% 185.8%
2022 28.7% 83.7% 12.9% 235.9%
2021 31.1% 88% 10.5% 346%
2020 32.7% 95.4% 24.5% 157.2%
2019 27.8% 77.9% 31.3% 171.9%
2018 27.6% 77% 32.1% 154%
2017 28.1% 77.1% 30.7% 150.4%
2016 27.5% 75.2% 28.6% 147.9%
2015 27.1% 73.5% 26.7% 140.9%
2014 27.6% 71.8% 28.9% 138.5%
2013 28.5% 69.7% 28.9% 135.4%
2012 27.4% 70% 30.2% 131.1%
2011 25.3% 65.6% 28.8% 134.4%
2010 25.6% 66.8% 29.2% 136.8%
2009 26% 65.8% 32.1% 144.5%
2008 24.5% 54.2% 34.3% 161.5%
2007 22.8% 52.2% 35.2% 169.3%
2006 23.4% 52.6% 36.1% 183.3%
2005 22.4% 46.3% 31.4% 178.9%
2004 21.5% 46.8% 33.3% 169.5%
2003 22.6% 46% 36.4% 171.3%
2002 22.5% 43.8% 36.8% 163.1%
2001 21.7% 37.8% 38.9% 163.1%
2000 21% 29.6% 42.8% 148.1%
1999 19.7% 28% 35.6% 130.2%
1998 19.3% 25.7% 34.7% 108.2%
1997 18.6% 27.8% 40.5% 100.2%
1996 21% 28.5% 43.6% 101.2%
1995 18.6% 28% 31.1% 79.6%
1994 18.9% 30.5% 47.3% 71.5%
1993 18.5% 31.9% 23% 50.5%
1992 20.8% 36.4% 36.1% 51.7%
1991 18.5% 43.3% 35.6% 67.1%
1990 15.9% - 40% 99.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, El Salvador's government spending was $11.1B, accounting for 30.2% of its GDP, while Lebanon spent $3.98B, or 15.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 87.2% in El Salvador and 139.4% in Lebanon, ranking 32/185 and 8/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
El Salvador

Lebanon
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
El Salvador Lebanon
2025 -2.82% 3.25%
2024 -4.55% 0.39%
2023 -4.69% -1.64%
2022 -2.68% -7.49%
2021 -5.53% -2.57%
2020 -8.14% -7.79%
2019 -3.07% -10.5%
2018 -2.71% -11.2%
2017 -2.53% -8.68%
2016 -3.1% -8.98%
2015 -3.63% -7.49%
2014 -4.02% -6.22%
2013 -4.46% -8.83%
2012 -3.81% -8.43%
2011 -4.47% -5.94%
2010 -4.97% -7.47%
2009 -6.65% -8.1%
2008 -3.8% -9.86%
2007 -2.32% -10.9%
2006 -3.42% -10.6%
2005 -3.47% -8.57%
2004 -2.76% -9.83%
2003 -4.23% -14%
2002 -5.5% -16.2%
2001 -4.95% -21%
2000 -3.45% -23.9%
1999 -3.08% -16.7%
1998 -2.94% -17.3%
1997 -1.97% -24.5%
1996 -2.7% -25.7%
1995 -0.18% -13.6%
1994 -0.94% -29.1%
1993 -1.42% -7.19%
1992 -4.29% -24%
1991 -2.3% -19.5%
1990 -0.61% -30.2%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2024, El Salvador's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.59B, equivalent to 4.55% of GDP. This compares to Lebanon's surplus of $102M, or 0.39% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, El Salvador recorded a fiscal deficit in 35 of those years, while Lebanon ran a deficit in 34 years. On average, El Salvador posted an annual deficit equal to 3.52% of GDP, compared to deficit of 12.7% of GDP for Lebanon.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
El Salvador

Lebanon
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
El Salvador Lebanon
2025 0.26% 14.6%
2024 0.85% 45.2%
2023 4.05% 221.3%
2022 7.2% 171.2%
2021 3.47% 154.8%
2020 -0.37% 84.9%
2019 0.08% 2.9%
2018 1.09% 6.1%
2017 1.01% 4.4%
2016 0.6% -0.8%
2015 -0.73% -3.7%
2014 1.14% 1.9%
2013 0.76% 4.8%
2012 1.73% 6.6%
2011 5.13% 5%
2010 1.18% 4%
2009 1.06% 1.2%
2008 6.71% 10.7%
2007 4.58% 4.1%
2006 4.04% 4.1%
2005 4.69% -1.4%
2004 4.45% 1.7%
2003 2.12% 1.3%
2002 1.87% 1.8%
2001 3.75% -0.4%
2000 2.27% -0.4%
1999 0.51% 0.2%
1998 2.55% 4.5%
1997 4.49% 7.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 29 years, El Salvador has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.43%, compared with 26.1% in Lebanon. In 2025, inflation was 0.26% in El Salvador and 14.6% in Lebanon.

Top exports between countries

El Salvador
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $9K
Animal & marine products $4K
Lebanon
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $30K
Miscellaneous $10K
Metals $5K

Balance of trade

El Salvador Lebanon
Current account balance
-$1.3B
2025
-$5.64B
2023
Current account balance ranking
125/190
2025
166/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.54%
2025
-28.1%
2023
Goods imports
$16.7B
2025
$16.7B
2023
Goods exports
$5.55B
2025
$3.85B
2023
Service imports
$3.94B
2025
$6.63B
2023
Service exports
$6.21B
2025
$7.92B
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
56.1%
2025
58.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32%
2025
23.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

El Salvador Lebanon
Economic freedom 57.7 43.1
Economic freedom ranking 114/197 183/197
Property rights 42.7 21.8
Government integrity 31.5 23.4
Judicial effectiveness 15.3 23.8
Tax burden 76.8 90.3
Government spending 72.7 93.3
Fiscal health 59.4 63.4
Business freedom 65.7 47.6
Labor freedom 51.6 48.4
Monetary freedom 70.6 0
Trade freedom 76.4 65.6
Investment freedom 70 20
Financial freedom 60 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

El Salvador
Lebanon
1x
Year Economic freedom index
El Salvador Lebanon
2026 57.7 43.1
2025 56.6 44.1
2024 54.4 48.3
2023 56 45.6
2022 59.6 47.3
2021 61 51.4
2020 61.6 51.7
2019 61.8 51.1
2018 63.2 53.2
2017 64.1 53.3
2016 65.1 59.5
2015 65.7 59.3
2014 66.2 59.4
2013 66.7 59.5
2012 68.7 60.1
2011 68.8 60.1
2010 69.9 59.5
2009 69.8 58.1
2008 68.5 60
2007 68.9 60.4
2006 69.6 57.5
2005 71.5 57.2
2004 71.2 56.9
2003 71.5 56.7
2002 73 57.1
2001 73 61
2000 76.3 56.1
1999 75.1 59.1
1998 70.2 59
1997 70.5 63.9
1996 70.1 63.2
1995 69.1 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for El Salvador is 57.7, ranking 114/197, compared to 43.1 for Lebanon, ranking 183/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

El Salvador Lebanon
Services, % of GDP
58.9%
2025
35.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.5%
2025
2.63%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.4%
2025
1.05%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$34.4B
2025
$20.7B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$13,140
2025
$11,790
2024
Total reserves including gold
$4.82B
2025
$33.3B
2024
Total reserves ranking
107/177
2025
56/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$445M
2025
-$583M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.05B
2024
$1.84B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$310M
2024
$391M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
35.5%
2024
9.68%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.2%
2023
27.4%
2012
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.3%
2025
1.44%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2020–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.