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Economy of El Salvador vs Liberia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a GDP of $35.4B compared to $4.78B for Liberia, ranking 105/197 and 163/197 by economy size, respectively.

El Salvador has $30.9B in government debt (87.5% of GDP), compared to $2.73B (57.2% of GDP) in Liberia.

El Salvador vs Liberia GDP by year

El Salvador
Liberia
1x
Year GDP, current $
El Salvador Liberia
2024 $35,364,960,000 $4,779,300,900
2023 $33,853,940,000 $4,390,000,000
2022 $31,870,120,000 $4,001,047,000
2021 $29,043,140,000 $3,513,049,500
2020 $24,921,190,000 $3,176,126,300
2019 $26,881,140,000 $3,319,596,500
2018 $26,020,850,000 $3,422,754,800
2017 $24,979,190,000 $3,390,703,400
2016 $24,191,430,000 $3,398,419,600
2015 $23,438,240,000 $3,227,075,700
2014 $22,593,470,000 $3,225,652,000
2013 $21,990,960,000 $3,177,198,100
2012 $21,386,150,000 $2,791,614,000
2011 $20,283,780,000 $2,398,000,000
2010 $18,447,920,000 $1,998,000,000
2009 $17,601,620,000 $1,768,000,000
2008 $17,986,890,000 $1,726,000,000
2007 $17,011,750,000 $1,373,000,000
2006 $15,999,890,000 $1,119,000,000
2005 $14,698,000,000 $949,000,000
2004 $13,724,810,900 $897,000,000
2003 $13,243,892,200 $748,000,000
2002 $12,664,190,300 $927,000,000
2001 $12,282,533,600 $906,000,000
2000 $11,784,927,700 $874,000,000
1999 $11,284,197,000 $441,800,000
1998 $10,936,669,900 $359,600,000
1997 $10,221,705,900 $295,900,000
1996 $9,586,327,800 $159,400,000
1995 $8,921,947,100 $134,800,000
1994 $7,679,384,000 $132,200,000
1993 $6,680,269,200 $160,400,000
1992 $5,813,399,300 $223,500,000
1991 $5,252,342,400 $348,000,000
1990 $4,817,542,204 $384,400,000
1989 $4,372,215,300 $786,300,000
1988 $4,189,880,000 $1,038,300,000
1987 $3,958,045,800 $972,800,000
1986 $3,771,663,200 $840,964,400
1985 $3,800,368,600 $851,296,100
1984 $3,661,683,400 $848,478,300
1983 $3,506,347,800 $823,374,900
1982 $3,399,189,100 $863,933,200
1981 $3,437,200,200 $846,514,500
1980 $3,573,959,900 $854,711,500
1979 $3,463,639,900 $814,067,900
1978 $3,127,960,000 $717,240,400
1977 $2,941,640,100 $673,010,600
1976 $2,328,280,100 $596,675,700
1975 $1,884,120,100 $577,549,300
1974 $1,665,880,000 $486,955,000
1973 $1,442,320,000 $386,968,300
1972 $1,263,720,000 $368,098,000
1971 $1,186,120,000 $341,543,100
1970 $1,132,920,000 $323,099,700
1969 $1,049,400,000 $306,961,800
1968 $1,009,760,100 $276,820,700
1967 $976,200,000 $261,024,300
1966 $929,520,000 $244,459,500
1965 $877,720,000 $229,260,800
1964 - $218,929,100
1963 - $200,229,600
1962 - $191,861,800
1961 - $183,920,900
1960 - $190,495,600

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

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

GDP per capita in El Salvador vs Liberia by year

El Salvador
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Liberia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
El Salvador Liberia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $5,580 $13,264 $851 $1,871
2023 $5,365 $12,680 $799 $1,795
2022 $5,075 $11,876 $745 $1,692
2021 $4,643 $10,810 $668 $1,539
2020 $3,997 $9,393 $617 $1,660
2019 $4,320 $9,757 $658 $1,900
2018 $4,184 $9,204 $692 $1,800
2017 $4,020 $8,965 $699 $1,665
2016 $3,901 $8,456 $715 $1,490
2015 $3,790 $7,934 $693 $1,340
2014 $3,666 $7,504 $707 $1,419
2013 $3,582 $7,093 $711 $1,360
2012 $3,498 $6,708 $638 $1,157
2011 $3,331 $6,594 $568 $1,041
2010 $3,040 $6,248 $492 $980
2009 $2,910 $6,063 $448 $939
2008 $2,983 $6,175 $452 $915
2007 $2,831 $5,949 $374 $873
2006 $2,666 $5,695 $321 $815
2005 $2,447 $5,292 $287.5 $774
2004 $2,286 $4,998 $284.1 $745
2003 $2,208 $4,829 $239.8 $716
2002 $2,115 $4,672 $299.5 $1,013
2001 $2,058 $4,543 $300 $987
2000 $1,983 $4,422 $298.5 $965
1999 $1,908 $4,298 $156.6 $762
1998 $1,860 $4,171 $134.7 $652
1997 $1,749 $4,043 $122.6 $548
1996 $1,651 $3,880 $71.4 $282.2
1995 $1,548 $3,808 $62.1 $254.4
1994 $1,344 $3,591 $61.5 $262.6
1993 $1,180 $3,390 $74.4 $328
1992 $1,041 $3,171 $107.8 $497
1991 $956 $2,945 $177.9 $793
1990 $892 $2,856 $172.9 $787
1989 $825 - $312 -
1988 $806 - $424 -
1987 $777 - $409 -
1986 $755 - $364 -
1985 $776 - $380 -
1984 $763 - $390 -
1983 $745 - $391 -
1982 $735 - $422 -
1981 $752 - $426 -
1980 $787 - $443 -
1979 $773 - $435 -
1978 $712 - $394 -
1977 $684 - $381 -
1976 $553 - $347 -
1975 $457 - $346 -
1974 $413 - $299.4 -
1973 $366 - $244.4 -
1972 $329 - $238.6 -
1971 $316 - $227.1 -
1970 $309 - $220.3 -
1969 $293.4 - $214.7 -
1968 $290.1 - $198.6 -
1967 $288.4 - $192.2 -
1966 $282.4 - $184.6 -
1965 $274.3 - $177.6 -
1964 - - $173.9 -
1963 - - $163.1 -
1962 - - $160.3 -
1961 - - $157.5 -
1960 - - $167.2 -

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

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

El Salvador's GDP per capita is $5,580, ranking 116/197, compared to $851 in Liberia, ranking 184/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), El Salvador ranks 120th at $13,264, while Liberia ranks 188th at $1,871.

Economic indicators

El Salvador Liberia
Gross domestic product
$35.4B
2024
$4.78B
2024
GDP rank
105/197
2024
163/197
2024
GDP growth
2.6%
2023-2024
4.02%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,580
2024
$851
2024
GDP per capita rank
116/197
2024
184/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$1,871
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
120/197
2024
188/197
2024
Government debt
$30.9B
2024
$2.73B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.5%
2024
57.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,883
2024
$487
2024
Government debt per person rank
81/185
2024
167/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,768
2026
$1,191
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
27.1%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
2.9%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.4%
2024
24.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2023-2024
8.2%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
5.93%
2017
Population
6399793
5887000

Spending and national debt comparison by year

El Salvador
Spending

Debt
Liberia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
El Salvador Liberia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 31.4% 87.5% 24.3% 57.2%
2023 30.5% 85.1% 27.1% 57.8%
2022 28.7% 83.7% 26.9% 54.3%
2021 31.1% 88% 29.8% 53.3%
2020 32.7% 95.4% 35.3% 58.7%
2019 27.8% 77.9% 32.3% 48.6%
2018 27.6% 77% 32.7% 37.1%
2017 28.1% 77.1% 35.1% 31.8%
2016 27.5% 75.2% 35.8% 28.6%
2015 27.1% 73.5% 37.1% 24.8%
2014 27.6% 71.8% 33.4% 24.3%
2013 28.5% 69.7% 27.4% 20.6%
2012 27.4% 70% 30.8% 20.5%
2011 25.3% 65.6% 30.1% 22.7%
2010 25.6% 66.8% 25.2% 25.6%
2009 26% 65.8% 23.7% 130.9%
2008 24.5% 54.2% 21.6% 233.1%
2007 22.8% 52.2% 17.2% 394%
2006 23.4% 52.6% 11.1% 472%
2005 22.4% 46.3% 12.8% 535%
2004 21.5% 46.8% 12.1% 543%
2003 22.6% 46% 9.85% 658%
2002 22.5% 43.8% 13.2% 481%
2001 21.7% 37.8% 12.6% 484%
2000 21% 29.6% 15.2% 489%
1999 19.7% 28% - -
1998 19.3% 25.7% - -
1997 18.6% 27.8% - -
1996 21% 28.5% - -
1995 18.6% 28% - -
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/liberia | CC BY

In 2024, El Salvador's government spending was $11.1B, accounting for 31.4% of its GDP, while Liberia spent $1.16B, or 24.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 87.5% in El Salvador and 57.2% in Liberia, ranking 36/185 and 91/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
El Salvador

Liberia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
El Salvador Liberia
2024 -4.55% -1.98%
2023 -4.69% -7.03%
2022 -2.68% -5.33%
2021 -5.53% -2.5%
2020 -8.18% -4.02%
2019 -3.07% -4.92%
2018 -2.71% -4.7%
2017 -2.53% -7.14%
2016 -3.1% -3.83%
2015 -3.63% -3.74%
2014 -4.02% -4.92%
2013 -4.46% 1.29%
2012 -3.81% -2.86%
2011 -4.47% -4.43%
2010 -4.97% 1.17%
2009 -6.65% -1.39%
2008 -3.8% -2.68%
2007 -2.32% 2.44%
2006 -3.42% 4.42%
2005 -3.47% -0.55%
2004 -2.76% -0.56%
2003 -4.23% 0.39%
2002 -5.5% -1.63%
2001 -4.95% -0.98%
2000 -3.45% -0.08%
1999 -3.08% -
1998 -2.94% -
1997 -1.97% -
1996 -2.7% -
1995 -0.18% -
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/liberia | 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 Liberia's deficit of $94.6M, or 1.98% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, El Salvador recorded a fiscal deficit in 25 of those years, while Liberia ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, El Salvador posted an annual deficit equal to 4.12% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.22% of GDP for Liberia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
El Salvador

Liberia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
El Salvador Liberia
2024 0.85% 8.2%
2023 4.05% 10.1%
2022 7.2% 7.6%
2021 3.47% 7.8%
2020 -0.37% 17%
2019 0.08% 27%
2018 1.09% 23.5%
2017 1.01% 12.4%
2016 0.6% 8.8%
2015 -0.73% 7.7%
2014 1.14% 9.9%
2013 0.76% 7.6%
2012 1.73% 6.8%
2011 5.13% 8.5%
2010 1.18% 7.3%
2009 1.06% 7.4%
2008 6.71% 17.5%
2007 4.58% 11.4%
2006 4.04% 9.5%
2005 4.69% 6.9%
2004 4.45% 3.6%
2003 2.12% 10.3%
2002 1.87% 14.2%
2001 3.75% 12.1%
2000 2.27% 5.3%
1999 0.51% 2%
1998 2.55% -
1997 4.49% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 26 years, El Salvador has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.43%, compared with 10.4% in Liberia. In 2024, inflation was 0.85% in El Salvador and 8.2% in Liberia.

Top exports between countries

El Salvador
Export category Export value
Metals $5K
Liberia
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

El Salvador Liberia
Current account balance
-$633M
2024
$64.8M
2022
Current account balance ranking
110/190
2024
73/190
2022
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.79%
2024
+1.62%
2022
Goods imports
$15.1B
2024
$1.53B
2022
Goods exports
$5.59B
2024
$1.03B
2022
Service imports
$3.26B
2024
$434M
2022
Service exports
$6B
2024
$192M
2022
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
51.9%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
28.5%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

El Salvador Liberia
Economic freedom 57.7 49.8
Economic freedom ranking 114/197 163/197
Property rights 42.7 40.4
Government integrity 31.5 25.8
Judicial effectiveness 15.3 23.4
Tax burden 76.8 86.1
Government spending 72.7 79.5
Fiscal health 59.4 56.9
Business freedom 65.7 38
Labor freedom 51.6 43.4
Monetary freedom 70.6 71.4
Trade freedom 76.4 57.4
Investment freedom 70 55
Financial freedom 60 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

El Salvador
Liberia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
El Salvador Liberia
2026 57.7 49.8
2025 56.6 48.5
2024 54.4 49.9
2023 56 49.6
2022 59.6 47.9
2021 61 49.2
2020 61.6 49
2019 61.8 49.7
2018 63.2 50.9
2017 64.1 49.1
2016 65.1 52.2
2015 65.7 52.7
2014 66.2 52.4
2013 66.7 49.3
2012 68.7 48.6
2011 68.8 46.5
2010 69.9 46.2
2009 69.8 48.1
2008 68.5 -
2007 68.9 -
2006 69.6 -
2005 71.5 -
2004 71.2 -
2003 71.5 -
2002 73 -
2001 73 -
2000 76.3 -
1999 75.1 -
1998 70.2 -
1997 70.5 -
1996 70.1 -
1995 69.1 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for El Salvador is 57.7, ranking 114/197, compared to 49.8 for Liberia, ranking 163/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

El Salvador Liberia
Services, % of GDP
61%
2024
41.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
22.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.38%
2024
33.8%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$32.5B
2024
$4.28B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,420
2024
$1,750
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.7B
2024
$600M
2022
Total reserves ranking
110/177
2024
153/177
2022
Net foreign direct investment
-$636M
2024
-$960M
2022
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$924M
2024
$472M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$288M
2024
$74.9M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
35%
2024
3.09%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.2%
2023
50.9%
2016
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.3%
2024
n/a

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/liberia | 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. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.