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Economy of El Salvador vs Samoa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a GDP of $35.4B compared to $1.18B for Samoa, ranking 105/197 and 185/197 by economy size, respectively.

El Salvador has $30.9B in government debt (87.5% of GDP), compared to $296M (25.2% of GDP) in Samoa.

El Salvador vs Samoa GDP by year

El Salvador
Samoa
1x
Year GDP, current $
El Salvador Samoa
2024 $35,364,960,000 $1,175,749,786
2023 $33,853,940,000 $1,044,909,500
2022 $31,870,120,000 $889,554,712
2021 $29,043,140,000 $859,724,936
2020 $24,921,190,000 $868,884,903
2019 $26,881,140,000 $912,950,466
2018 $26,020,850,000 $878,448,433
2017 $24,979,190,000 $884,844,384
2016 $24,191,430,000 $843,924,797
2015 $23,438,240,000 $824,150,499
2014 $22,593,470,000 $796,683,520
2013 $21,990,960,000 $797,736,334
2012 $21,386,150,000 $773,141,661
2011 $20,283,780,000 $744,097,050
2010 $18,447,920,000 $680,260,907
2009 $17,601,620,000 $628,006,115
2008 $17,986,890,000 $641,346,192
2007 $17,011,750,000 $573,548,460
2006 $15,999,890,000 $499,923,758
2005 $14,698,000,000 $476,801,793
2004 $13,724,810,900 $407,747,565
2003 $13,243,892,200 $333,426,188
2002 $12,664,190,300 $281,790,134
2001 $12,282,533,600 $266,299,591
2000 $11,784,927,700 $258,856,140
1999 $11,284,197,000 $255,408,060
1998 $10,936,669,900 $269,485,244
1997 $10,221,705,900 $285,475,592
1996 $9,586,327,800 $249,907,869
1995 $8,921,947,100 $224,865,731
1994 $7,679,384,000 $221,098,107
1993 $6,680,269,200 $133,122,897
1992 $5,813,399,300 $132,303,041
1991 $5,252,342,400 $125,597,205
1990 $4,817,542,204 $125,766,270
1989 $4,372,215,300 $122,888,610
1988 $4,189,880,000 $133,016,065
1987 $3,958,045,800 $111,713,922
1986 $3,771,663,200 $100,947,849
1985 $3,800,368,600 $95,572,173
1984 $3,661,683,400 $109,200,934
1983 $3,506,347,800 $111,862,824
1982 $3,399,189,100 $121,221,652
1981 $3,437,200,200 $118,190,655
1980 $3,573,959,900 $125,747,038
1979 $3,463,639,900 $122,257,393
1978 $3,127,960,000 $108,223,444
1977 $2,941,640,100 $98,295,671
1976 $2,328,280,100 $85,003,078
1975 $1,884,120,100 $93,489,283
1974 $1,665,880,000 $93,549,611
1973 $1,442,320,000 $82,452,985
1972 $1,263,720,000 $62,566,116
1971 $1,186,120,000 $53,719,569
1970 $1,132,920,000 $45,208,338
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 (1965–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in El Salvador vs Samoa by year

El Salvador
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Samoa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
El Salvador Samoa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $5,580 $13,264 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $5,365 $12,680 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $5,075 $11,876 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $4,643 $10,810 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $3,997 $9,393 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $4,320 $9,757 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $4,184 $9,204 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $4,020 $8,965 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $3,901 $8,456 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $3,790 $7,934 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $3,666 $7,504 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $3,582 $7,093 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $3,498 $6,708 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $3,331 $6,594 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $3,040 $6,248 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $2,910 $6,063 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $2,983 $6,175 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $2,831 $5,949 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $2,666 $5,695 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $2,447 $5,292 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $2,286 $4,998 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $2,208 $4,829 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $2,115 $4,672 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $2,058 $4,543 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $1,983 $4,422 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $1,908 $4,298 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $1,860 $4,171 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $1,749 $4,043 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $1,651 $3,880 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $1,548 $3,808 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $1,344 $3,591 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $1,180 $3,390 $775 $2,323
1992 $1,041 $3,171 $777 $2,198
1991 $956 $2,945 $742 $2,166
1990 $892 $2,856 $744 $2,148
1989 $825 - $728 -
1988 $806 - $790 -
1987 $777 - $666 -
1986 $755 - $604 -
1985 $776 - $573 -
1984 $763 - $655 -
1983 $745 - $671 -
1982 $735 - $728 -
1981 $752 - $713 -
1980 $787 - $765 -
1979 $773 - $751 -
1978 $712 - $671 -
1977 $684 - $615 -
1976 $553 - $541 -
1975 $457 - $610 -
1974 $413 - $626 -
1973 $366 - $563 -
1972 $329 - $433 -
1971 $316 - $377 -
1970 $309 - $322 -
1969 $293.4 - - -
1968 $290.1 - - -
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/samoa | CC BY

El Salvador's GDP per capita is $5,580, ranking 116/197, compared to $5,393 in Samoa, ranking 117/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), El Salvador ranks 120th at $13,264, while Samoa ranks 137th at $8,737.

Economic indicators

El Salvador Samoa
Gross domestic product
$35.4B
2024
$1.18B
2024
GDP rank
105/197
2024
185/197
2024
GDP growth
2.6%
2023-2024
4.75%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,580
2024
$5,393
2024
GDP per capita rank
116/197
2024
117/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$8,737
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
120/197
2024
137/197
2024
Government debt
$30.9B
2024
$296M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.5%
2024
25.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,883
2024
$1,357
2024
Government debt per person rank
81/185
2024
135/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,768
2026
$3,750
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
31.3%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.4%
2024
26.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2023-2024
2.17%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
0.37%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
5.05%
2022
Population
6399793
220932

Spending and national debt comparison by year

El Salvador
Spending

Debt
Samoa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
El Salvador Samoa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 31.4% 87.5% 26.3% 25.2%
2023 30.5% 85.1% 28.8% 31.8%
2022 28.7% 83.7% 31.1% 41%
2021 31.1% 88% 34.1% 45.4%
2020 32.7% 95.4% 30.5% 43.2%
2019 27.8% 77.9% 31.8% 44.3%
2018 27.6% 77% 30% 49.4%
2017 28.1% 77.1% 30.9% 46.7%
2016 27.5% 75.2% 27.3% 49%
2015 27.1% 73.5% 30.5% 56.4%
2014 27.6% 71.8% 35.3% 54.9%
2013 28.5% 69.7% 30.7% 54.1%
2012 27.4% 70% 33.6% 50.9%
2011 25.3% 65.6% 33.7% 41.5%
2010 25.6% 66.8% 29.4% 40.3%
2009 26% 65.8% 31.5% 33.3%
2008 24.5% 54.2% 27.7% 28.2%
2007 22.8% 52.2% 31.1% 31.5%
2006 23.4% 52.6% 27.7% 33.5%
2005 22.4% 46.3% 30.6% 34.2%
2004 21.5% 46.8% 27.3% 39.8%
2003 22.6% 46% 28.5% 42.8%
2002 22.5% 43.8% 30.7% 50.3%
2001 21.7% 37.8% 30% 53.8%
2000 21% 29.6% 30.4% 55.8%
1999 19.7% 28% 33.8% 59.4%
1998 19.3% 25.7% 28.1% 58.9%
1997 18.6% 27.8% 31% -
1996 21% 28.5% 38.9% -
1995 18.6% 28% 42.2% -
1994 18.9% 30.5% 54.1% -
1993 18.5% 31.9% 49.5% -
1992 20.8% 36.4% 43.4% -
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/samoa | CC BY

In 2024, El Salvador's government spending was $11.1B, accounting for 31.4% of its GDP, while Samoa spent $310M, or 26.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 87.5% in El Salvador and 25.2% in Samoa, ranking 36/185 and 165/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
El Salvador

Samoa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
El Salvador Samoa
2024 -4.55% 9.29%
2023 -4.69% 2.7%
2022 -2.68% 5.03%
2021 -5.53% 1.71%
2020 -8.18% 5.41%
2019 -3.07% 1.51%
2018 -2.71% 0.06%
2017 -2.53% -1.98%
2016 -3.1% -0.35%
2015 -3.63% -3.79%
2014 -4.02% -5.38%
2013 -4.46% -3.82%
2012 -3.81% -7.43%
2011 -4.47% -5.25%
2010 -4.97% -5.49%
2009 -6.65% -2.98%
2008 -3.8% -0.36%
2007 -2.32% 0.55%
2006 -3.42% -0.44%
2005 -3.47% 0.23%
2004 -2.76% -0.74%
2003 -4.23% -0.51%
2002 -5.5% -1.77%
2001 -4.95% -1.96%
2000 -3.45% -0.62%
1999 -3.08% 0.27%
1998 -2.94% 1.64%
1997 -1.97% 1.92%
1996 -2.7% 1.21%
1995 -0.18% -5.82%
1994 -0.94% -9.51%
1993 -1.42% -13.2%
1992 -4.29% -9.89%
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/samoa | 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 Samoa's surplus of $109M, or 9.29% of GDP.

Over the past 33 years, El Salvador recorded a fiscal deficit in 33 of those years, while Samoa ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, El Salvador posted an annual deficit equal to 3.65% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.51% of GDP for Samoa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
El Salvador

Samoa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
El Salvador Samoa
2024 0.85% 2.17%
2023 4.05% 7.92%
2022 7.2% 11%
2021 3.47% 3.13%
2020 -0.37% -1.57%
2019 0.08% 0.98%
2018 1.09% 4.2%
2017 1.01% 1.75%
2016 0.6% 1.3%
2015 -0.73% 0.72%
2014 1.14% -0.41%
2013 0.76% 0.61%
2012 1.73% 2.05%
2011 5.13% 5.24%
2010 1.18% 0.78%
2009 1.06% 6.32%
2008 6.71% 11.6%
2007 4.58% 5.58%
2006 4.04% 3.7%
2005 4.69% 1.86%
2004 4.45% 16.3%
2003 2.12% 0.12%
2002 1.87% 8.05%
2001 3.75% 3.84%
2000 2.27% 0.97%
1999 0.51% 0.27%
1998 2.55% 2.22%
1997 4.49% 6.86%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, El Salvador has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.51%, compared with 3.84% in Samoa. In 2024, inflation was 0.85% in El Salvador and 2.17% in Samoa.

Top exports between countries

El Salvador
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
Samoa
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

El Salvador Samoa
Current account balance
-$633M
2024
$65.6M
2024
Current account balance ranking
110/190
2024
72/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.79%
2024
+5.58%
2024
Goods imports
$15.1B
2024
$448M
2024
Goods exports
$5.59B
2024
$42.2M
2024
Service imports
$3.26B
2024
$128M
2024
Service exports
$6B
2024
$327M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
51.9%
2024
48.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
30.7%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

El Salvador Samoa
Economic freedom 57.7 68
Economic freedom ranking 114/197 52/197
Property rights 42.7 77.1
Government integrity 31.5 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 15.3 77.6
Tax burden 76.8 79.3
Government spending 72.7 75.2
Fiscal health 59.4 98.7
Business freedom 65.7 63.7
Labor freedom 51.6 73.7
Monetary freedom 70.6 69.4
Trade freedom 76.4 67.2
Investment freedom 70 40
Financial freedom 60 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

El Salvador
Samoa
1x
Year Economic freedom index
El Salvador Samoa
2026 57.7 68
2025 56.6 66.6
2024 54.4 67.2
2023 56 68.3
2022 59.6 68.3
2021 61 61.9
2020 61.6 62.1
2019 61.8 62.2
2018 63.2 61.5
2017 64.1 58.4
2016 65.1 63.5
2015 65.7 61.9
2014 66.2 61.1
2013 66.7 57.1
2012 68.7 60.5
2011 68.8 60.6
2010 69.9 60.4
2009 69.8 59.5
2008 68.5 -
2007 68.9 -
2006 69.6 -
2005 71.5 -
2004 71.2 -
2003 71.5 -
2002 73 -
2001 73 63.1
2000 76.3 60.8
1999 75.1 58.7
1998 70.2 49.9
1997 70.5 51.5
1996 70.1 47.6
1995 69.1 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for El Salvador is 57.7, ranking 114/197, compared to 68 for Samoa, ranking 52/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

El Salvador Samoa
Services, % of GDP
61%
2024
69.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
10.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.38%
2024
9.8%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$32.5B
2024
$1.1B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,420
2024
$8,620
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.7B
2024
$508M
2024
Total reserves ranking
110/177
2024
155/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$636M
2024
-$1.69M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$924M
2024
$3.74M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$288M
2024
$2.05M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
35%
2024
3.15%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.2%
2023
21.9%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.3%
2024
29%
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/samoa | 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. 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.