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Economy of El Salvador vs Moldova compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a GDP of $35.4B compared to $18.2B for Moldova, ranking 105/197 and 134/197 by economy size, respectively.

El Salvador has $31B in government debt (87.9% of GDP), compared to $6.94B (36.3% of GDP) in Moldova.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

El Salvador
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Moldova
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
El Salvador Moldova
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1965 $877,720,000 $8,436,981,024 - -
1966 $929,520,000 $9,041,164,856 - -
1967 $976,200,000 $9,532,719,324 - -
1968 $1,009,760,100 $9,841,264,124 - -
1969 $1,049,400,000 $10,184,273,395 - -
1970 $1,132,920,000 $10,487,489,268 - -
1971 $1,186,120,000 $10,892,123,610 - -
1972 $1,263,720,000 $11,558,452,941 - -
1973 $1,442,320,000 $12,120,387,185 - -
1974 $1,665,880,000 $12,767,131,180 - -
1975 $1,884,120,100 $13,140,382,331 - -
1976 $2,328,280,100 $13,803,874,423 - -
1977 $2,941,640,100 $14,739,785,630 - -
1978 $3,127,960,000 $15,524,349,903 - -
1979 $3,463,639,900 $14,875,390,870 - -
1980 $3,573,959,900 $12,519,595,405 - -
1981 $3,437,200,200 $11,803,350,547 - -
1982 $3,399,189,100 $11,058,739,557 - -
1983 $3,506,347,800 $11,228,936,354 - -
1984 $3,661,683,400 $11,378,871,629 - -
1985 $3,800,368,600 $11,448,773,885 - -
1986 $3,771,663,200 $11,471,061,561 - -
1987 $3,958,045,800 $11,758,775,195 - -
1988 $4,189,880,000 $11,979,625,802 - -
1989 $4,372,215,300 $12,095,116,486 - -
1990 $4,817,542,204 $12,679,661,441 $3,592,857,043 $11,137,693,133
1991 $5,252,342,400 $12,869,106,686 $3,094,565,871 $9,355,662,201
1992 $5,813,399,300 $13,772,770,637 $2,319,243,436 $6,633,164,508
1993 $6,680,269,200 $14,574,113,893 $2,371,813,324 $6,553,566,539
1994 $7,679,384,000 $15,257,940,313 $1,702,314,268 $4,528,514,463
1995 $8,921,947,100 $15,980,263,628 $1,752,999,370 $4,465,115,304
1996 $9,586,327,800 $16,109,937,379 $1,695,122,174 $4,202,697,785
1997 $10,221,705,900 $16,615,462,392 $1,930,081,169 $4,271,918,931
1998 $10,936,669,900 $17,056,150,529 $1,698,717,505 $3,992,441,789
1999 $11,284,197,000 $17,424,910,258 $1,170,782,957 $3,857,966,190
2000 $11,784,927,700 $17,621,447,036 $1,288,429,392 $3,939,281,164
2001 $12,282,533,600 $17,776,447,691 $1,480,673,594 $4,179,577,331
2002 $12,664,190,300 $18,056,056,716 $1,661,818,168 $4,505,584,348
2003 $13,243,892,200 $18,338,704,970 $1,980,907,435 $4,802,952,913
2004 $13,724,810,900 $18,501,810,235 $2,598,249,556 $5,158,371,416
2005 $14,698,000,000 $18,997,812,331 $2,988,342,907 $5,545,249,280
2006 $15,999,890,000 $19,821,747,187 $3,408,255,451 $5,811,421,236
2007 $17,011,750,000 $20,187,974,225 $4,401,173,152 $5,985,763,886
2008 $17,986,890,000 $20,622,904,544 $6,054,824,248 $6,452,653,478
2009 $17,601,620,000 $20,188,015,255 $5,439,434,272 $6,065,494,253
2010 $18,447,920,000 $20,622,904,544 $6,974,982,370 $6,496,144,351
2011 $20,283,780,000 $21,401,127,376 $8,414,352,020 $6,874,100,823
2012 $21,386,150,000 $22,019,127,753 $8,709,138,635 $6,833,561,916
2013 $21,990,960,000 $22,499,794,814 $9,496,717,876 $7,451,580,072
2014 $22,593,470,000 $22,888,906,230 $9,402,090,138 $7,824,131,196
2015 $23,438,240,000 $23,438,240,000 $7,797,667,197 $7,797,667,197
2016 $24,191,430,000 $24,033,351,542 $7,980,917,076 $8,159,947,935
2017 $24,979,190,000 $24,573,529,737 $9,514,404,016 $8,500,675,704
2018 $26,020,850,000 $25,166,352,436 $11,252,353,421 $8,847,128,858
2019 $26,881,140,000 $25,779,775,127 $11,736,797,055 $9,161,406,662
2020 $24,921,190,000 $23,744,951,346 $11,530,746,234 $8,403,210,633
2021 $29,043,140,000 $26,571,731,219 $13,691,869,264 $9,573,777,856
2022 $31,870,120,000 $27,356,823,620 $14,525,337,524 $9,133,384,075
2023 $33,853,940,000 $28,325,024,474 $16,711,906,746 $9,242,984,684
2024 $35,364,960,000 $29,062,047,321 $18,200,340,854 $9,252,510,450

Economic indicators

El Salvador Moldova
Gross domestic product
$35.4B
2024
$18.2B
2024
GDP rank
105/197
2024
134/197
2024
GDP growth
4.46%
2023-2024
8.91%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,580
2024
$7,618
2024
GDP per capita rank
116/197
2024
99/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$18,717
2024
Government debt
$31B
2024
$6.94B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.9%
2025
36.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$4,887
2024
$2,905
2024
Government debt per person rank
80/185
2024
103/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,836
2025
$4,214
2025
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
22.8%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
4.3%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.5%
2025
39.8%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2023-2024
4.68%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
6.25%
2025
Unemployment rate
2.99%
2023
1.43%
2024
Population
6386184
2358679

GDP per capita in El Salvador vs Moldova

El Salvador's GDP per capita is $5,580, ranking 116/197, compared to $7,618 in Moldova, ranking 99/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), El Salvador ranks 120th at $13,264, while Moldova ranks 98th at $18,717.

El Salvador
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Moldova
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
El Salvador Moldova
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1965 $274.3 - - -
1966 $282.4 - - -
1967 $288.4 - - -
1968 $290.1 - - -
1969 $293.4 - - -
1970 $309 - - -
1971 $316 - - -
1972 $329 - - -
1973 $366 - - -
1974 $413 - - -
1975 $457 - - -
1976 $553 - - -
1977 $684 - - -
1978 $712 - - -
1979 $773 - - -
1980 $787 - - -
1981 $752 - - -
1982 $735 - - -
1983 $745 - - -
1984 $763 - - -
1985 $776 - - -
1986 $755 - - -
1987 $777 - - -
1988 $806 - - -
1989 $825 - - -
1990 $892 $2,856 $1,207 $6,895
1991 $956 $2,945 $1,038 $5,980
1992 $1,041 $3,171 $778 $4,337
1993 $1,180 $3,390 $797 $4,394
1994 $1,344 $3,591 $574 $3,111
1995 $1,548 $3,808 $594 $3,146
1996 $1,651 $3,880 $575 $3,021
1997 $1,749 $4,043 $657 $3,136
1998 $1,860 $4,171 $579 $2,965
1999 $1,908 $4,298 $399 $2,910
2000 $1,983 $4,422 $441 $3,045
2001 $2,058 $4,543 $507 $3,311
2002 $2,115 $4,672 $571 $3,633
2003 $2,208 $4,829 $682 $3,960
2004 $2,286 $4,998 $897 $4,378
2005 $2,447 $5,292 $1,034 $4,866
2006 $2,666 $5,695 $1,183 $5,271
2007 $2,831 $5,949 $1,531 $5,590
2008 $2,983 $6,175 $2,111 $6,153
2009 $2,910 $6,063 $1,898 $5,827
2010 $3,040 $6,248 $2,437 $6,323
2011 $3,331 $6,594 $2,941 $6,833
2012 $3,498 $6,708 $3,045 $7,255
2013 $3,582 $7,093 $3,321 $8,233
2014 $3,666 $7,504 $3,290 $8,643
2015 $3,790 $7,934 $2,750 $9,198
2016 $3,901 $8,456 $2,847 $10,326
2017 $4,020 $8,965 $3,453 $11,252
2018 $4,184 $9,204 $4,156 $11,868
2019 $4,320 $9,757 $4,405 $13,413
2020 $3,997 $9,393 $4,376 $13,527
2021 $4,643 $10,810 $5,275 $15,682
2022 $5,075 $11,876 $5,744 $16,453
2023 $5,365 $12,680 $6,800 $17,747
2024 $5,580 $13,264 $7,618 $18,717

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, El Salvador's government spending was $11.1B, accounting for 30.5% of its GDP, while Moldova's spent $6.92B, or 39.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 87.9% in El Salvador and 36.3% in Moldova, ranking 35/185 and 144/185, respectively.

El Salvador
Government spending

Government debt
Moldova
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
El Salvador Moldova
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 15.9% - - -
1991 18.5% 43.3% - -
1992 20.8% 36.4% - -
1993 18.5% 31.9% - -
1994 18.9% 30.5% - -
1995 18.6% 28% 42% 79.5%
1996 21% 28.5% 43.3% 87.5%
1997 18.6% 27.8% 46% 89%
1998 19.3% 25.7% 39.1% 159.4%
1999 19.7% 28% 33% 150.7%
2000 21% 29.6% 34% 89.1%
2001 21.7% 37.8% 29.5% 85.4%
2002 22.5% 43.8% 30.7% 80.3%
2003 22.6% 46% 33.5% 68.1%
2004 21.5% 46.8% 34.8% 49.3%
2005 22.4% 46.3% 37.1% 40.4%
2006 23.4% 52.6% 40.3% 35%
2007 22.8% 52.2% 42.7% 28.3%
2008 24.5% 54.2% 41.5% 22.2%
2009 26% 65.8% 45.3% 32.6%
2010 25.6% 66.8% 34.1% 25.5%
2011 25.3% 65.6% 32.6% 24.2%
2012 27.4% 70% 33.7% 31.3%
2013 28.5% 69.7% 32.4% 30%
2014 27.6% 71.8% 33.8% 35.4%
2015 27.1% 73.5% 31.7% 42.1%
2016 27.5% 75.2% 30.5% 39.7%
2017 28.1% 77.1% 31% 34.9%
2018 27.6% 77% 31.5% 31.8%
2019 27.8% 77.9% 32% 28.8%
2020 32.7% 95.4% 36.7% 36.6%
2021 31.1% 88% 34.6% 33.6%
2022 28.6% 83.3% 36.6% 35%
2023 30.4% 84.7% 38.8% 34.9%
2024 31.4% 87.6% 38% 38.1%
2025 30.5% 87.9% 39.8% 36.3%

Government deficit by year

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 Moldova's deficit of -$709M, or -3.89% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, El Salvador recorded a fiscal deficit in 30 of those years, while Moldova ran a deficit in 26 years. On average, El Salvador posted an annual deficit equal to -3.79% of GDP, compared to deficit of -2.26% of GDP for Moldova.

Deficit/surplus
El Salvador

Moldova
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
El Salvador Moldova
1990 -0.61% -
1991 -2.3% -
1992 -4.29% -
1993 -1.42% -
1994 -0.94% -
1995 -0.18% -2.58%
1996 -2.7% -7.42%
1997 -1.97% -7.47%
1998 -2.94% -1.52%
1999 -3.08% -2.64%
2000 -3.45% -3.55%
2001 -4.95% -0.34%
2002 -5.5% -1.18%
2003 -4.23% 0.47%
2004 -2.76% 0.59%
2005 -3.47% 1.44%
2006 -3.42% -0.42%
2007 -2.32% 0.15%
2008 -3.8% -0.87%
2009 -6.65% -6.38%
2010 -4.97% -2.18%
2011 -4.47% -2.05%
2012 -3.81% -1.93%
2013 -4.46% -1.57%
2014 -4.02% -1.6%
2015 -3.63% -1.93%
2016 -3.1% -1.56%
2017 -2.53% -0.65%
2018 -2.71% -0.85%
2019 -3.07% -1.47%
2020 -8.18% -5.32%
2021 -5.53% -2.62%
2022 -2.67% -3.24%
2023 -4.66% -5.13%
2024 -4.55% -3.89%
2025 -3.38% -5.11%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, El Salvador has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.76%, compared with 11% in Moldova. In 2024, inflation was 0.85% in El Salvador and 4.68% in Moldova.

Inflation
El Salvador

Moldova
Year Inflation
El Salvador Moldova El Salvador Moldova
1996 9.79% 23.5%
1997 4.49% 11.8%
1998 2.55% 7.7%
1999 0.51% 39.3%
2000 2.27% 31.3%
2001 3.75% 9.76%
2002 1.87% 5.3%
2003 2.12% 11.7%
2004 4.45% 12.5%
2005 4.69% 12%
2006 4.04% 12.8%
2007 4.58% 12.4%
2008 6.71% 12.8%
2009 1.06% -0.06%
2010 1.18% 7.48%
2011 5.13% 7.69%
2012 1.73% 4.55%
2013 0.76% 4.6%
2014 1.14% 5.09%
2015 -0.73% 9.68%
2016 0.6% 6.36%
2017 1.01% 6.57%
2018 1.09% 3.05%
2019 0.08% 4.84%
2020 -0.37% 3.77%
2021 3.47% 5.11%
2022 7.2% 28.7%
2023 4.05% 13.4%
2024 0.85% 4.68%

Top exports between countries

El Salvador
Export category Export value
Moldova
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $27K
Machinery & equipment $1K

Balance of trade

El Salvador Moldova
Current account balance
-$633M
2024
-$2.92B
2024
Current account balance ranking
108/189
2024
153/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.79%
2024
-16%
2024
Goods imports
$15.1B
2024
$8.63B
2024
Goods exports
$5.59B
2024
$3.01B
2024
Service imports
$3.26B
2024
$1.78B
2024
Service exports
$6B
2024
$2.7B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
51.9%
2024
57.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
31.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

El Salvador Moldova
Economic freedom 56.6 58.3
Economic freedom ranking 117/197 107/197
Property rights 43.2 40.2
Government integrity 30.9 43.4
Judicial effectiveness 14.6 31.3
Tax burden 78.2 92.8
Government spending 72.2 59.5
Fiscal health 56.1 75.9
Business freedom 62.7 66.2
Labor freedom 54.9 49.1
Monetary freedom 66.2 59.4
Trade freedom 70.4 77.2
Investment freedom 70 55
Financial freedom 60 50

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for El Salvador is 56.6, ranking 117/197, compared to 58.3 for Moldova, ranking 107/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

El Salvador
Moldova
Year Economic freedom index
El Salvador Moldova
1995 69.1 33
1996 70.1 52.5
1997 70.5 48.9
1998 70.2 53.5
1999 75.1 56.1
2000 76.3 59.6
2001 73 54.9
2002 73 57.4
2003 71.5 60
2004 71.2 57.1
2005 71.5 57.4
2006 69.6 58
2007 68.9 58.7
2008 68.5 57.9
2009 69.8 54.9
2010 69.9 53.7
2011 68.8 55.7
2012 68.7 54.4
2013 66.7 55.5
2014 66.2 57.3
2015 65.7 57.5
2016 65.1 57.4
2017 64.1 58
2018 63.2 58.4
2019 61.8 59.1
2020 61.6 62
2021 61 62.5
2022 59.6 61.3
2023 56 58.5
2024 54.4 57.1
2025 56.6 58.3

More economic indicators

El Salvador Moldova
Services, % of GDP
61%
2024
62.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
16.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.38%
2024
7.11%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$32.5B
2024
$16.6B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,420
2024
$18,880
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.7B
2024
$5.48B
2024
Total reserves ranking
110/177
2024
96/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$636M
2024
-$244M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$924M
2024
$333M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$288M
2024
$89.6M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
29%
2023
7.79%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.2%
2023
31.6%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.3%
2024
21.1%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.