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El Salvador vs Nicaragua statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a population of 6.34M (ranked 111/197), compared with 6.92M in Nicaragua (ranked 108/197). El Salvador's land area is 8,000 sq mi versus 46,464 sq mi for Nicaragua (ranked 150th vs. 98th).

By GDP, El Salvador ranks 105/197 ($35.4B) and Nicaragua ranks 131/197 ($19.7B). By GDP per capita, El Salvador ranks 116/197 ($5,580), while Nicaragua ranks 141/197 ($2,848).

Main facts and rankings

El Salvador Nicaragua
Population
6399793
7124343
Population rank 111/197 107/197
GDP
$35.4B
2024
$19.7B
2024
GDP rank 105/197 131/197
GDP per capita
$5,580
2024
$2,848
2024
GDP per capita rank 116/197 141/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$8,709
2024
Government debt
$30.9B
2024
$7.71B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.5%
2024
39.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,883
2024
$1,115
2024
Government debt per person rank 81/185 138/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,768
2026
$2,318
2026
Land area 8,000 sq mi 46,464 sq mi
Population density
799 ppl/mi²
2026
152.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
28.5 years
2024
26.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
72.7 years
2026
75.4 years
2026

El Salvador and Nicaragua: Comparison Charts

El Salvador and Nicaragua economies compared

GDP
El Salvador

Nicaragua
1x
Year GDP
El Salvador Nicaragua
2024 $35,364,960,000 $19,693,982,968
2023 $33,853,940,000 $17,805,842,284
2022 $31,870,120,000 $15,634,572,502
2021 $29,043,140,000 $14,209,020,362
2020 $24,921,190,000 $12,726,422,432
2019 $26,881,140,000 $12,699,023,614
2018 $26,020,850,000 $13,025,221,974
2017 $24,979,190,000 $13,785,893,007
2016 $24,191,430,000 $13,286,093,388
2015 $23,438,240,000 $12,756,696,261
2014 $22,593,470,000 $11,880,438,824
2013 $21,990,960,000 $10,982,988,249
2012 $21,386,150,000 $10,532,017,232
2011 $20,283,780,000 $9,774,329,333
2010 $18,447,920,000 $8,758,602,233
2009 $17,601,620,000 $8,298,702,489
2008 $17,986,890,000 $8,496,967,597
2007 $17,011,750,000 $7,423,375,015
2006 $15,999,890,000 $6,763,672,381
2005 $14,698,000,000 $6,321,324,279
2004 $13,724,810,900 $5,792,932,838
2003 $13,243,892,200 $5,322,228,351
2002 $12,664,190,300 $5,223,727,303
2001 $12,282,533,600 $5,351,752,034
2000 $11,784,927,700 $5,109,587,050
1999 $11,284,197,000 $4,856,026,259
1998 $10,936,669,900 $4,635,347,386
1997 $10,221,705,900 $4,389,973,490
1996 $9,586,327,800 $4,308,351,903
1995 $8,921,947,100 $4,140,470,000
1994 $7,679,384,000 $3,863,185,119
1993 $6,680,269,200 $1,756,454,248
1992 $5,813,399,300 $1,792,800,000
1991 $5,252,342,400 $1,488,804,124
1990 $4,817,542,204 $1,009,455,484
1989 $4,372,215,300 $1,013,184,756
1988 $4,189,880,000 $2,630,900,096
1987 $3,958,045,800 $3,851,200,118
1986 $3,771,663,200 $2,885,799,994
1985 $3,800,368,600 $2,683,699,935
1984 $3,661,683,400 $3,117,599,872
1983 $3,506,347,800 $2,753,100,058
1982 $3,399,189,100 $2,454,499,872
1981 $3,437,200,200 $2,474,700,227
1980 $3,573,959,900 $2,144,300,006
1979 $3,463,639,900 $1,567,599,982
1978 $3,127,960,000 $2,127,699,979
1977 $2,941,640,100 $2,226,999,874
1976 $2,328,280,100 $1,836,899,999
1975 $1,884,120,100 $1,581,599,959
1974 $1,665,880,000 $1,521,400,012
1973 $1,442,320,000 $1,092,900,015
1972 $1,263,720,000 $878,570,045
1971 $1,186,120,000 $828,569,953
1970 $1,132,920,000 $778,569,939
1969 $1,049,400,000 $750,000,003
1968 $1,009,760,100 $692,859,985
1967 $976,200,000 $657,140,011
1966 $929,520,000 $607,140,010
1965 $877,720,000 $564,290,020
1964 - $347,119,918
1963 - $297,324,163
1962 - $269,283,804
1961 - $244,144,237
1960 - $227,223,322

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/nicaragua | CC BY

El Salvador and Nicaragua economies compared

GDP per capita
El Salvador

Nicaragua
1x
Year GDP per capita
El Salvador Nicaragua
2024 $5,580 $2,848
2023 $5,365 $2,609
2022 $5,075 $2,323
2021 $4,643 $2,138
2020 $3,997 $1,938
2019 $4,320 $1,959
2018 $4,184 $2,035
2017 $4,020 $2,183
2016 $3,901 $2,132
2015 $3,790 $2,074
2014 $3,666 $1,958
2013 $3,582 $1,835
2012 $3,498 $1,785
2011 $3,331 $1,680
2010 $3,040 $1,527
2009 $2,910 $1,467
2008 $2,983 $1,524
2007 $2,831 $1,350
2006 $2,666 $1,248
2005 $2,447 $1,183
2004 $2,286 $1,099
2003 $2,208 $1,021
2002 $2,115 $1,014
2001 $2,058 $1,052
2000 $1,983 $1,017
1999 $1,908 $980
1998 $1,860 $949
1997 $1,749 $913
1996 $1,651 $911
1995 $1,548 $892
1994 $1,344 $849
1993 $1,180 $394
1992 $1,041 $411
1991 $956 $350
1990 $892 $242.5
1989 $825 $249.2
1988 $806 $662
1987 $777 $992
1986 $755 $761
1985 $776 $724
1984 $763 $861
1983 $745 $780
1982 $735 $714
1981 $752 $740
1980 $787 $659
1979 $773 $495
1978 $712 $691
1977 $684 $744
1976 $553 $633
1975 $457 $561
1974 $413 $557
1973 $366 $413
1972 $329 $341
1971 $316 $331
1970 $309 $321
1969 $293.4 $319
1968 $290.1 $304
1967 $288.4 $297.9
1966 $282.4 $284
1965 $274.3 $272.3
1964 - $172.7
1963 - $152.5
1962 - $142.3
1961 - $132.9
1960 - $127.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/nicaragua | CC BY

El Salvador vs. Nicaragua life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
El Salvador

Nicaragua
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
El Salvador Nicaragua
2026 72.7 75.4
2025 72.5 75.3
2024 72.3 75.1
2023 72.1 74.9
2022 72 74.5
2021 69.9 70.5
2020 70.2 70.8
2019 71.7 73.8
2018 71.4 73.9
2017 71 73.4
2016 70.9 73.2
2015 71 72.9
2014 71.1 72.8
2013 71.2 72.6
2012 71.4 72.4
2011 71.2 72
2010 70.9 71.8
2009 70.4 71.5
2008 70.1 71.4
2007 69.8 71.2
2006 69.6 71
2005 69.3 70.4
2004 69.3 69.5
2003 68.8 68.7
2002 68.5 68
2001 68 67
2000 67.7 66.4
1999 67.3 65.9
1998 66.7 64.1
1997 66.2 65.5
1996 65.5 65.2
1995 64.9 64.9
1994 64.5 64.5
1993 64 64.1
1992 62.9 63.7
1991 62.5 63.3
1990 62 62.5
1989 61.3 61.9
1988 60 59.8
1987 59.4 57.3
1986 59.3 57.6
1985 58 56.4
1984 56.6 56.1
1983 54.4 56.9
1982 53.3 58.7
1981 50.9 58.3
1980 48.6 58
1979 53.8 50.8
1978 54.7 53.5
1977 54 56.1
1976 54.4 56.1
1975 53.4 55.8
1974 52.9 55.4
1973 52.8 55
1972 52 48
1971 51.7 54.2
1970 51.4 53.8
1969 51.3 53.4
1968 50.8 52.9
1967 50.8 52.3
1966 50.7 51.6
1965 50.2 50.6
1964 49.7 49.6
1963 49.4 48.8
1962 49 48
1961 48.6 47.3
1960 48.3 46.4
1959 48 46.1
1958 47.7 45.5
1957 47.1 44.9
1956 46.6 44.3
1955 46 43.7
1954 45.5 43.1
1953 45 42.4
1952 44.8 41.9
1951 43.8 40.8
1950 44.2 40.6

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/nicaragua | CC BY

El Salvador and Nicaragua population clocks and comparison

Population
El Salvador

Nicaragua
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Nicaragua
2024 6,338,193 6,916,140
2023 6,309,624 6,823,613
2022 6,280,319 6,730,654
2021 6,255,782 6,644,741
2020 6,234,673 6,565,267
2019 6,222,318 6,483,657
2018 6,219,807 6,400,080
2017 6,213,533 6,316,231
2016 6,200,800 6,232,666
2015 6,183,676 6,149,417
2014 6,162,955 6,066,492
2013 6,138,839 5,983,845
2012 6,113,975 5,901,287
2011 6,090,127 5,819,051
2010 6,068,249 5,737,450
2009 6,048,279 5,656,601
2008 6,029,297 5,576,593
2007 6,009,824 5,497,243
2006 6,002,319 5,418,855
2005 6,005,578 5,342,105
2004 6,004,671 5,272,912
2003 5,998,599 5,210,963
2002 5,986,631 5,149,909
2001 5,968,060 5,087,825
2000 5,943,366 5,022,633
1999 5,913,900 4,954,018
1998 5,880,781 4,883,655
1997 5,844,578 4,809,573
1996 5,805,286 4,729,974
1995 5,762,131 4,642,931
1994 5,714,129 4,549,316
1993 5,659,957 4,453,732
1992 5,585,609 4,357,026
1991 5,495,077 4,259,637
1990 5,399,726 4,162,559
1989 5,298,979 4,066,476
1988 5,195,833 3,972,320
1987 5,092,441 3,882,164
1986 4,992,769 3,794,157
1985 4,894,706 3,706,479
1984 4,798,003 3,619,104
1983 4,707,367 3,530,282
1982 4,622,477 3,438,745
1981 4,570,599 3,345,674
1980 4,540,382 3,252,403
1979 4,480,388 3,164,525
1978 4,394,114 3,080,314
1977 4,301,256 2,992,534
1976 4,210,310 2,903,851
1975 4,120,449 2,816,943
1974 4,029,671 2,732,075
1973 3,938,068 2,649,278
1972 3,846,830 2,573,578
1971 3,757,523 2,499,825
1970 3,668,796 2,423,065
1969 3,576,485 2,348,398
1968 3,480,773 2,275,836
1967 3,385,184 2,205,567
1966 3,290,961 2,137,820
1965 3,199,466 2,072,681
1964 3,111,883 2,010,176
1963 3,028,679 1,950,159
1962 2,949,204 1,892,320
1961 2,870,016 1,836,451
1960 2,791,459 1,782,370

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/nicaragua | CC BY

Fertility rates in El Salvador and Nicaragua

Fertility rate
El Salvador

Nicaragua
1x
Year Fertility rate
El Salvador Nicaragua
2023 1.78 2.22
2022 1.79 2.24
2021 1.8 2.27
2020 1.82 2.3
2019 1.84 2.32
2018 1.85 2.35
2017 1.9 2.38
2016 1.97 2.41
2015 2.07 2.43
2014 2.13 2.46
2013 2.15 2.49
2012 2.19 2.53
2011 2.22 2.56
2010 2.24 2.6
2009 2.26 2.63
2008 2.29 2.66
2007 2.35 2.7
2006 2.4 2.73
2005 2.44 2.77
2004 2.52 2.78
2003 2.64 2.83
2002 2.78 2.89
2001 2.93 3
2000 3.08 3.12
1999 3.22 3.22
1998 3.34 3.34
1997 3.38 3.47
1996 3.48 3.62
1995 3.57 3.78
1994 3.61 3.94
1993 3.69 4.1
1992 3.8 4.27
1991 3.89 4.43
1990 3.96 4.6
1989 4.03 4.76
1988 4.1 4.93
1987 4.18 5.07
1986 4.19 5.22
1985 4.32 5.36
1984 4.48 5.49
1983 4.65 5.61
1982 4.83 5.74
1981 4.99 5.84
1980 5.11 5.96
1979 5.23 6.07
1978 5.36 6.16
1977 5.47 6.28
1976 5.59 6.37
1975 5.71 6.45
1974 5.82 6.52
1973 5.93 6.59
1972 6.03 6.65
1971 6.13 6.71
1970 6.18 6.77
1969 6.28 6.83
1968 6.39 6.89
1967 6.49 6.94
1966 6.57 6.99
1965 6.64 7.03
1964 6.68 7.06
1963 6.69 7.08
1962 6.68 7.1
1961 6.64 7.11
1960 6.62 7.16

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/nicaragua | CC BY

El Salvador and Nicaragua demographics compared

Median age
El Salvador

Nicaragua
1x
Year Median age, years
El Salvador Nicaragua
2024 28.5 26.6
2023 28 26.3
2022 27.6 25.9
2021 27.2 25.6
2020 26.8 25.3
2019 26.4 25
2018 26 24.7
2017 25.6 24.3
2016 25.2 24
2015 24.9 23.7
2014 24.6 23.4
2013 24.3 23.1
2012 24.1 22.8
2011 23.9 22.5
2010 23.7 22.2
2009 23.5 22
2008 23.3 21.7
2007 23.2 21.4
2006 23 21.1
2005 22.7 20.8
2004 22.5 20.4
2003 22.2 20.1
2002 21.9 19.7
2001 21.6 19.4
2000 21.3 19.1
1999 21 18.8
1998 20.6 18.4
1997 20.3 18.1
1996 19.9 17.9
1995 19.6 17.6
1994 19.3 17.4
1993 19 17.2
1992 18.8 17
1991 18.8 16.8
1990 18.8 16.7
1989 18.7 16.5
1988 18.6 16.4
1987 18.5 16.4
1986 18.4 16.3
1985 18.2 16.3
1984 18 16.3
1983 17.8 16.3
1982 17.7 16.2
1981 17.6 16.2
1980 17.5 16.2
1979 17.4 16.2
1978 17.2 16.2
1977 17.1 16.2
1976 17 16.2
1975 16.9 16.2
1974 16.8 16.2
1973 16.7 16.2
1972 16.6 16.2
1971 16.6 16.1
1970 16.6 16.1
1969 16.6 16.1
1968 16.6 16
1967 16.7 16
1966 16.8 16
1965 16.9 15.9
1964 16.9 15.9
1963 17 15.9
1962 17 16
1961 17.1 16.1
1960 17.2 16.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/nicaragua | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

El Salvador Nicaragua
GNI, Atlas method
$32.5B
2024
$17.4B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.4%
2024
27.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.17%
2023
2.87%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.19%
2024
0.55%
2024
Armed forces personnel
42,000
2020
12,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.55%
2024
+2.48%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
5.2%
2018
Services, % of GDP
61%
2024
46.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
27.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
57.7
2026
53.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
37.2%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
2%
2014
Total reserves including gold
$3.7B
2024
$6.1B
2024
Personal remittances received
$8.49B
2024
$5.25B
2024
International tourist arrivals
707,000
2020
474,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
12.3%
2020
15.2%
1999
Banked people share
43.4%
2024
23.5%
2024

Energy

El Salvador Nicaragua
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
769 kg
2022
608 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$15.4
2022
$12.8
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
9.54 megatons
2024
5.74 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.51 tons
2024
0.83 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
55.5%
2022
39.9%
2022
Renewable energy use share
21.9%
2021
50.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
34.2%
2022
17%
2022
Net energy imports use share
59.5%
2022
46.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
1,110 kWh
2022
682 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
95.6%
2021
69.5%
2021
Hydroelectric share
30.3%
2022
14.9%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
98.3%
2023
88.3%
2023

Society

El Salvador Nicaragua
% of world population
0.08%
2024
0.09%
2024
Annual migration change
-23,934
2025
-8,371
2025
Urban population
75.1%
2024
59.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
47.5:52.5
2024
49.2:50.8
2024
Average male height
5.6 ft
2025
5.57 ft
2025
Average female height
5.13 ft
2025
5.1 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.7
2026
27.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
32
2025
14
2025
Higher education index
33
2026
23
2026
Homicides per 100K people
7.83
2022
11
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
20.9
2019
16.9
2019
Visa free countries
130
2025
124
2025
Adult literacy rate
89.8%
2024
82.6%
2015
English speaking
1%
2025
1%
2025
People using the Internet
67.7%
2023
58.2%
2023

Health

El Salvador Nicaragua
Government health expenditure per capita
$501
2023
$216.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$162.7
2023
$81.5
2023
Life expectancy
72.7 years
2026
75.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.89%
2023
3.41%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.62
2023
0.68
2018
Age at first childbirth
20.8 years
2025
19.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
39
2023
60
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.4
2023
13.4
2023
Obesity rate
31.3%
2022
34.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
12.7%
2024
10.4%
2024
Air quality index
56
2026
58
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.15 liters
2020
3.67 liters
2020

Territory

El Salvador Nicaragua
% of world land
0.01%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
1,262 sq mi
2024
6,718 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
4,617 sq mi
2026
19,656 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,202 sq mi
2026
11,998 sq mi
2026
Roads length
5,600 mi
2017
14,849 mi
2014

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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