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Economy of El Salvador vs Taiwan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

El Salvador has a GDP of $36.7B compared to $802B for Taiwan, ranking 108/197 and 22/197 by economy size, respectively.

El Salvador has $32B in government debt (87.2% of GDP), compared to $215B (22.4% of GDP) in Taiwan.

El Salvador vs Taiwan GDP by year

El Salvador
Taiwan
1x
Year GDP, current $
El Salvador Taiwan
2025 $36,708,110,000 -
2024 $34,879,730,000 $801,529,000,000
2023 $33,565,430,000 $757,328,000,000
2022 $31,870,110,000 $765,529,000,000
2021 $29,043,140,000 $777,062,000,000
2020 $24,921,190,000 $676,935,000,000
2019 $26,881,140,000 $613,453,000,000
2018 $26,020,850,000 $610,744,000,000
2017 $24,979,190,000 $591,734,000,000
2016 $24,191,430,000 $543,002,000,000
2015 $23,438,240,000 $534,474,000,000
2014 $22,593,470,000 $535,332,000,000
2013 $21,990,960,000 $512,957,000,000
2012 $21,386,150,000 $495,536,000,000
2011 $20,283,780,000 $483,957,000,000
2010 $18,447,920,000 $444,245,000,000
2009 $17,601,620,000 $390,788,000,000
2008 $17,986,890,000 $415,824,000,000
2007 $17,011,750,000 $406,940,000,000
2006 $15,999,890,000 $386,492,000,000
2005 $14,698,000,000 $374,042,000,000
2004 $13,724,810,900 $346,881,000,000
2003 $13,243,892,200 $317,374,000,000
2002 $12,664,190,300 $307,429,000,000
2001 $12,282,533,600 $299,303,000,000
2000 $11,784,927,700 $330,725,000,000
1999 $11,284,197,000 $303,827,000,000
1998 $10,936,669,900 $279,926,000,000
1997 $10,221,705,900 $303,315,000,000
1996 $9,586,327,800 $292,473,000,000
1995 $8,921,947,100 $279,013,000,000
1994 $7,679,384,000 $256,213,000,000
1993 $6,680,269,200 $234,943,000,000
1992 $5,813,399,300 $222,947,000,000
1991 $5,252,342,400 $187,100,000,000
1990 $4,817,542,204 $166,392,000,000
1989 $4,372,215,300 $152,687,000,000
1988 $4,189,880,000 $126,378,000,000
1987 $3,958,045,800 $104,956,000,000
1986 $3,771,663,200 $78,347,000,000
1985 $3,800,368,600 $63,599,000,000
1984 $3,661,683,400 $61,036,000,000
1983 $3,506,347,800 $54,155,000,000
1982 $3,399,189,100 $49,540,000,000
1981 $3,437,200,200 $49,047,000,000
1980 $3,573,959,900 $42,292,000,000
1979 $3,463,639,900 $33,875,000,000
1978 $3,127,960,000 $27,373,000,000
1977 $2,941,640,100 $22,252,000,000
1976 $2,328,280,100 $18,988,000,000
1975 $1,884,120,100 $15,836,000,000
1974 $1,665,880,000 $14,739,000,000
1973 $1,442,320,000 $10,940,000,000
1972 $1,263,720,000 $8,063,000,000
1971 $1,186,120,000 $6,727,000,000
1970 $1,132,920,000 $5,785,000,000
1969 $1,049,400,000 $5,017,000,000
1968 $1,009,760,100 $4,325,000,000
1967 $976,200,000 $3,709,000,000
1966 $929,520,000 $3,207,000,000
1965 $877,720,000 $2,869,000,000
1964 - $2,592,000,000
1963 - $2,218,000,000
1962 - $1,960,000,000
1961 - $1,778,000,000
1960 - $1,743,000,000
1959 - $1,444,000,000
1958 - $1,836,000,000
1957 - $1,636,000,000
1956 - $1,399,000,000
1955 - $1,940,000,000
1954 - $1,628,000,000
1953 - $1,481,000,000
1952 - $1,677,000,000
1951 - $1,197,000,000

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in El Salvador vs Taiwan by year

El Salvador
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Taiwan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
El Salvador Taiwan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $5,767 - - -
2024 $5,503 $13,264 $34,238 -
2023 $5,320 $12,680 $32,444 -
2022 $5,075 $11,876 $32,827 -
2021 $4,643 $10,810 $33,111 -
2020 $3,997 $9,393 $28,705 -
2019 $4,320 $9,757 $25,998 -
2018 $4,184 $9,204 $25,901 -
2017 $4,020 $8,965 $25,121 $50,500
2016 $3,901 $8,456 $23,091 -
2015 $3,790 $7,934 $22,780 $46,800
2014 $3,666 $7,504 $22,874 -
2013 $3,582 $7,093 $21,973 $39,600
2012 $3,498 $6,708 $21,295 $39,400
2011 $3,331 $6,594 $20,866 $38,200
2010 $3,040 $6,248 $19,197 $35,700
2009 $2,910 $6,063 $16,933 $32,000
2008 $2,983 $6,175 $18,081 $31,100
2007 $2,831 $5,949 $17,757 $30,100
2006 $2,666 $5,695 $16,934 $29,500
2005 $2,447 $5,292 $16,456 $27,500
2004 $2,286 $4,998 $15,317 $25,300
2003 $2,208 $4,829 $14,066 $23,400
2002 $2,115 $4,672 $13,686 $18,000
2001 $2,058 $4,543 $13,397 $17,200
2000 $1,983 $4,422 $14,908 $17,400
1999 $1,908 $4,298 $13,804 $16,100
1998 $1,860 $4,171 $12,820 -
1997 $1,749 $4,043 $14,020 -
1996 $1,651 $3,880 $13,641 -
1995 $1,548 $3,808 $13,119 -
1994 $1,344 $3,591 $12,150 -
1993 $1,180 $3,390 $11,242 -
1992 $1,041 $3,171 $10,768 -
1991 $956 $2,945 $9,125 -
1990 $892 $2,856 $8,205 -
1989 $825 - $7,613 -
1988 $806 - $6,370 -
1987 $777 - $5,350 -
1986 $755 - $4,036 -
1985 $776 - $3,314 -
1984 $763 - $3,224 -
1983 $745 - $2,903 -
1982 $735 - $2,699 -
1981 $752 - $2,720 -
1980 $787 - $2,389 -
1979 $773 - $1,950 -
1978 $712 - $1,606 -
1977 $684 - $1,330 -
1976 $553 - $1,158 -
1975 $457 - $985 -
1974 $413 - $934 -
1973 $366 - $706 -
1972 $329 - $530 -
1971 $316 - $451 -
1970 $309 - $397 -
1969 $293.4 - $357 -
1968 $290.1 - $319 -
1967 $288.4 - $280.8 -
1966 $282.4 - $249.1 -
1965 $274.3 - $229.3 -
1964 - - $213.6 -
1963 - - $188.6 -
1962 - - $172 -
1961 - - $161.2 -
1960 - - $163.4 -
1959 - - $140.4 -
1958 - - $185.1 -
1957 - - $170.5 -
1956 - - $150.6 -
1955 - - $216.3 -
1954 - - $188.3 -
1953 - - $177.7 -
1952 - - $208.4 -
1951 - - $154.3 -

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2017, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

El Salvador's GDP per capita is $5,767, ranking 117/197, compared to $34,238 in Taiwan, ranking 38/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), El Salvador ranks 120th at $13,264, while Taiwan ranks 44th at $50,500.

Economic indicators

El Salvador Taiwan
Gross domestic product
$36.7B
2025
$802B
2024
GDP rank
108/197
2025
22/197
2024
GDP growth
3.91%
2024-2025
2.16%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,767
2025
$34,238
2024
GDP per capita rank
117/197
2025
38/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$50,500
2017
GDP per capita PPP rank
120/197
2024
44/197
2017
Government debt
$32B
2025
$215B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.2%
2025
22.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$5,030
2025
$9,170
2024
Government debt per person rank
86/185
2025
64/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,010
2026
$18,863
2026
Number of millionaires n/a
772,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
66
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.2%
2025
15.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.26%
2024-2025
1.7%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
2%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
3.35%
2025
Population
6404781
23229461

Spending and national debt comparison by year

El Salvador
Spending

Debt
Taiwan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
El Salvador Taiwan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 30.2% 87.2% - 22.4%
2024 31.4% 87.4% 15.8% 26.8%
2023 30.5% 85% 17.1% 29%
2022 28.7% 83.7% 16% 29.5%
2021 31.1% 88% 15.4% 30.1%
2020 32.7% 95.4% 16.2% 32%
2019 27.8% 77.9% 15.3% 32.6%
2018 27.6% 77% 15.4% 33.8%
2017 28.1% 77.1% 15.4% 34.5%
2016 27.5% 75.2% 15.6% 35.4%
2015 27.1% 73.5% 15.5% 35.9%
2014 27.6% 71.8% - 37.5%
2013 28.5% 69.7% - 38.9%
2012 27.4% 70% - 39.2%
2011 25.3% 65.6% 18.3% 38.3%
2010 25.6% 66.8% - 36.9%
2009 26% 65.8% - 36.7%
2008 24.5% 54.2% - 33.4%
2007 22.8% 52.2% - 32.2%
2006 23.4% 52.6% - 33.3%
2005 22.4% 46.3% - 34.1%
2004 21.5% 46.8% - 33.4%
2003 22.6% 46% - 32.1%
2002 22.5% 43.8% - 29.8%
2001 21.7% 37.8% 22.4% 30.1%
2000 21% 29.6% - 26.2%
1999 19.7% 28% - 23.7%
1998 19.3% 25.7% - 23.7%
1997 18.6% 27.8% - 25%
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% 25.4% -
1990 15.9% - - -
1989 - - - -
1988 - - - -
1987 - - - -
1986 - - - -
1985 - - - -
1984 - - - -
1983 - - - -
1982 - - - -
1981 - - 23.6% -
1980 - - - -
1979 - - - -
1978 - - - -
1977 - - - -
1976 - - 20.3% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, El Salvador's government spending was $11.1B, accounting for 30.2% of its GDP, while Taiwan spent $127B, or 15.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 87.2% in El Salvador and 22.4% in Taiwan, ranking 32/185 and 170/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
El Salvador

Taiwan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
El Salvador Taiwan
2025 -2.82% -
2024 -4.55% 0.43%
2023 -4.69% -0.61%
2022 -2.68% 0.17%
2021 -5.53% -0.18%
2020 -8.14% -1.03%
2019 -3.07% 0.11%
2018 -2.71% 0.02%
2017 -2.53% -0.14%
2016 -3.1% -0.31%
2015 -3.63% 0.1%
2014 -4.02% -
2013 -4.46% -
2012 -3.81% -
2011 -4.47% -2.15%
2010 -4.97% -
2009 -6.65% -
2008 -3.8% -
2007 -2.32% -
2006 -3.42% -
2005 -3.47% -
2004 -2.76% -
2003 -4.23% -
2002 -5.5% -
2001 -4.95% -3.7%
2000 -3.45% -
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% -4.5%
1990 -0.61% -
1989 - -
1988 - -
1987 - -
1986 - -
1985 - -
1984 - -
1983 - -
1982 - -
1981 - -0.78%
1980 - -
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - 1.32%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/el-salvador/taiwan | 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 Taiwan's surplus of $3.45B, or 0.43% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, El Salvador recorded a fiscal deficit in 35 of those years, while Taiwan ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, El Salvador posted an annual deficit equal to 3.52% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.91% of GDP for Taiwan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
El Salvador

Taiwan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
El Salvador Taiwan
2025 0.26% 1.7%
2024 0.85% 2.2%
2023 4.05% 2.5%
2022 7.2% 2.9%
2021 3.47% 2%
2020 -0.37% -0.2%
2019 0.08% 0.6%
2018 1.09% 1.4%
2017 1.01% 0.6%
2016 0.6% 1.4%
2015 -0.73% -0.3%
2014 1.14% 1.2%
2013 0.76% 0.8%
2012 1.73% 1.9%
2011 5.13% 1.4%
2010 1.18% 1%
2009 1.06% -0.9%
2008 6.71% 3.5%
2007 4.58% 1.8%
2006 4.04% 0.6%
2005 4.69% 2.3%
2004 4.45% 1.6%
2003 2.12% -0.3%
2002 1.87% -0.2%
2001 3.75% 0%
2000 2.27% 1.2%
1999 0.51% 0.2%
1998 2.55% 1.7%
1997 4.49% 0.9%

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/taiwan | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, El Salvador has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.43%, compared with 1.16% in Taiwan. In 2025, inflation was 0.26% in El Salvador and 1.7% in Taiwan.

Balance of trade

El Salvador Taiwan
Current account balance
-$1.3B
2025
$113B
2024
Current account balance ranking
125/190
2025
5/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.54%
2025
+14.1%
2024
Goods imports
$16.7B
2025
n/a
Goods exports
$5.55B
2025
n/a
Service imports
$3.94B
2025
n/a
Service exports
$6.21B
2025
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
56.1%
2025
54.5%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32%
2025
73.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

El Salvador Taiwan
Economic freedom 57.7 79.8
Economic freedom ranking 114/197 6/197
Property rights 42.7 83.4
Government integrity 31.5 74.3
Judicial effectiveness 15.3 94.3
Tax burden 76.8 78.9
Government spending 72.7 90
Fiscal health 59.4 92.9
Business freedom 65.7 78.6
Labor freedom 51.6 69
Monetary freedom 70.6 80.3
Trade freedom 76.4 86
Investment freedom 70 70
Financial freedom 60 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

El Salvador
Taiwan
1x
Year Economic freedom index
El Salvador Taiwan
2026 57.7 79.8
2025 56.6 79.7
2024 54.4 80
2023 56 80.7
2022 59.6 80.1
2021 61 78.6
2020 61.6 77.1
2019 61.8 77.3
2018 63.2 76.6
2017 64.1 76.5
2016 65.1 74.7
2015 65.7 75.1
2014 66.2 73.9
2013 66.7 72.7
2012 68.7 71.9
2011 68.8 70.8
2010 69.9 70.4
2009 69.8 69.5
2008 68.5 70.3
2007 68.9 69.4
2006 69.6 69.7
2005 71.5 71.3
2004 71.2 69.6
2003 71.5 71.7
2002 73 71.3
2001 73 72.8
2000 76.3 72.5
1999 75.1 71.5
1998 70.2 70.4
1997 70.5 70
1996 70.1 74.1
1995 69.1 74.2

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for El Salvador is 57.7, ranking 114/197, compared to 79.8 for Taiwan, ranking 6/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

El Salvador Taiwan
Services, % of GDP
58.9%
2025
58.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.5%
2025
40.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.4%
2025
1.46%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$34.4B
2025
$832B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$13,140
2025
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$4.82B
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
107/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$445M
2025
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.05B
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$310M
2024
n/a
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
35.5%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.2%
2023
1.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.3%
2025
26.9%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); National Statistics, Taiwan (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, 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.