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El Salvador vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a population of 6.34M (ranked 111/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). El Salvador's land area is 8,000 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 150th vs. 24th).

By GDP, El Salvador ranks 105/197 ($35.4B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, El Salvador ranks 116/197 ($5,580), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

El Salvador South Africa
Population
6399793
65683993
Population rank 111/197 24/197
GDP
$35.4B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 105/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$5,580
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 116/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,264
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$30.9B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.5%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,883
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 81/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,768
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 8,000 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
799 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
28.5 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
72.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

El Salvador and South Africa: Comparison Charts

El Salvador and South Africa economies compared

GDP
El Salvador

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
El Salvador South Africa
2024 $35,364,960,000 $401,144,998,374
2023 $33,853,940,000 $381,440,724,491
2022 $31,870,120,000 $407,596,043,068
2021 $29,043,140,000 $419,986,284,375
2020 $24,921,190,000 $337,974,655,408
2019 $26,881,140,000 $389,330,032,224
2018 $26,020,850,000 $405,260,723,893
2017 $24,979,190,000 $381,448,814,653
2016 $24,191,430,000 $323,585,509,674
2015 $23,438,240,000 $346,709,790,459
2014 $22,593,470,000 $381,198,869,776
2013 $21,990,960,000 $400,886,013,596
2012 $21,386,150,000 $434,400,545,086
2011 $20,283,780,000 $458,199,494,831
2010 $18,447,920,000 $417,363,822,802
2009 $17,601,620,000 $329,754,060,647
2008 $17,986,890,000 $316,131,258,616
2007 $17,011,750,000 $333,077,117,254
2006 $15,999,890,000 $303,858,675,364
2005 $14,698,000,000 $288,867,217,197
2004 $13,724,810,900 $255,806,908,595
2003 $13,243,892,200 $197,018,965,309
2002 $12,664,190,300 $129,087,556,612
2001 $12,282,533,600 $135,429,905,923
2000 $11,784,927,700 $151,752,757,215
1999 $11,284,197,000 $151,516,957,079
1998 $10,936,669,900 $152,982,984,557
1997 $10,221,705,900 $168,978,057,328
1996 $9,586,327,800 $163,234,925,381
1995 $8,921,947,100 $171,735,933,897
1994 $7,679,384,000 $153,512,712,382
1993 $6,680,269,200 $147,194,747,566
1992 $5,813,399,300 $146,956,150,987
1991 $5,252,342,400 $135,203,698,238
1990 $4,817,542,204 $126,048,140,142
1989 $4,372,215,300 $108,055,624,082
1988 $4,189,880,000 $103,976,831,871
1987 $3,958,045,800 $96,535,763,418
1986 $3,771,663,200 $73,354,771,399
1985 $3,800,368,600 $64,459,376,087
1984 $3,661,683,400 $84,870,163,366
1983 $3,506,347,800 $96,204,110,942
1982 $3,399,189,100 $85,904,057,409
1981 $3,437,200,200 $93,141,472,164
1980 $3,573,959,900 $89,411,864,402
1979 $3,463,639,900 $63,038,658,089
1978 $3,127,960,000 $51,607,412,902
1977 $2,941,640,100 $45,328,411,332
1976 $2,328,280,100 $41,150,460,288
1975 $1,884,120,100 $42,906,905,672
1974 $1,665,880,000 $41,389,186,095
1973 $1,442,320,000 $33,262,772,008
1972 $1,263,720,000 $24,515,919,217
1971 $1,186,120,000 $23,411,076,638
1970 $1,132,920,000 $21,218,391,513
1969 $1,049,400,000 $19,256,992,297
1968 $1,009,760,100 $17,124,793,150
1967 $976,200,000 $15,821,393,671
1966 $929,520,000 $14,211,394,315
1965 $877,720,000 $13,068,994,772
1964 - $11,955,995,218
1963 - $10,854,195,658
1962 - $9,813,996,074
1961 - $9,225,996,310
1960 - $8,748,596,501

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/south-africa | CC BY

El Salvador and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
El Salvador

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
El Salvador South Africa
2024 $5,580 $6,267
2023 $5,365 $6,034
2022 $5,075 $6,534
2021 $4,643 $6,829
2020 $3,997 $5,581
2019 $4,320 $6,534
2018 $4,184 $6,914
2017 $4,020 $6,618
2016 $3,901 $5,651
2015 $3,790 $6,112
2014 $3,666 $6,857
2013 $3,582 $7,332
2012 $3,498 $8,077
2011 $3,331 $8,646
2010 $3,040 $7,973
2009 $2,910 $6,375
2008 $2,983 $6,185
2007 $2,831 $6,592
2006 $2,666 $6,077
2005 $2,447 $5,837
2004 $2,286 $5,221
2003 $2,208 $4,062
2002 $2,115 $2,688
2001 $2,058 $2,847
2000 $1,983 $3,218
1999 $1,908 $3,242
1998 $1,860 $3,310
1997 $1,749 $3,700
1996 $1,651 $3,618
1995 $1,548 $3,856
1994 $1,344 $3,489
1993 $1,180 $3,400
1992 $1,041 $3,462
1991 $956 $3,243
1990 $892 $3,093
1989 $825 $2,727
1988 $806 $2,702
1987 $777 $2,586
1986 $755 $2,027
1985 $776 $1,839
1984 $763 $2,504
1983 $745 $2,938
1982 $735 $2,717
1981 $752 $3,050
1980 $787 $3,029
1979 $773 $2,202
1978 $712 $1,852
1977 $684 $1,671
1976 $553 $1,559
1975 $457 $1,670
1974 $413 $1,656
1973 $366 $1,369
1972 $329 $1,038
1971 $316 $1,020
1970 $309 $952
1969 $293.4 $891
1968 $290.1 $817
1967 $288.4 $779
1966 $282.4 $722
1965 $274.3 $685
1964 - $646
1963 - $605
1962 - $563
1961 - $546
1960 - $532

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/south-africa | CC BY

El Salvador vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
El Salvador

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
El Salvador South Africa
2026 72.7 66.7
2025 72.5 66.5
2024 72.3 66.3
2023 72.1 66.1
2022 72 65.5
2021 69.9 62
2020 70.2 65.2
2019 71.7 66.1
2018 71.4 65.7
2017 71 65.4
2016 70.9 64.7
2015 71 64.1
2014 71.1 63.2
2013 71.2 62.4
2012 71.4 61.7
2011 71.2 60.6
2010 70.9 58.9
2009 70.4 57.4
2008 70.1 56
2007 69.8 54.9
2006 69.6 54.2
2005 69.3 53.9
2004 69.3 54
2003 68.8 54.2
2002 68.5 55.6
2001 68 57.2
2000 67.7 58.4
1999 67.3 59.2
1998 66.7 59.9
1997 66.2 60.5
1996 65.5 61.1
1995 64.9 61.6
1994 64.5 62.1
1993 64 62.6
1992 62.9 62.8
1991 62.5 63
1990 62 62.9
1989 61.3 63
1988 60 62.9
1987 59.4 62.7
1986 59.3 62.4
1985 58 62.2
1984 56.6 61.8
1983 54.4 61.4
1982 53.3 60.9
1981 50.9 60.4
1980 48.6 60
1979 53.8 59.5
1978 54.7 59
1977 54 58.5
1976 54.4 58
1975 53.4 57.6
1974 52.9 57.1
1973 52.8 56.7
1972 52 56.4
1971 51.7 56
1970 51.4 55.7
1969 51.3 55.4
1968 50.8 55.2
1967 50.8 55
1966 50.7 54.7
1965 50.2 54.4
1964 49.7 54.2
1963 49.4 53.9
1962 49 53.6
1961 48.6 53.1
1960 48.3 52.6
1959 48 51.9
1958 47.7 51.1
1957 47.1 50.2
1956 46.6 49.2
1955 46 48.2
1954 45.5 47.1
1953 45 46.1
1952 44.8 45
1951 43.8 44.1
1950 44.2 43.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/south-africa | CC BY

El Salvador and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
El Salvador

South Africa
1x
Year Population
El Salvador South Africa
2024 6,338,193 64,007,187
2023 6,309,624 63,212,384
2022 6,280,319 62,378,410
2021 6,255,782 61,502,603
2020 6,234,673 60,562,381
2019 6,222,318 59,587,885
2018 6,219,807 58,613,001
2017 6,213,533 57,635,162
2016 6,200,800 57,259,551
2015 6,183,676 56,723,537
2014 6,162,955 55,594,838
2013 6,138,839 54,678,791
2012 6,113,975 53,782,567
2011 6,090,127 52,995,205
2010 6,068,249 52,344,051
2009 6,048,279 51,728,516
2008 6,029,297 51,114,599
2007 6,009,824 50,528,584
2006 6,002,319 49,998,277
2005 6,005,578 49,490,033
2004 6,004,671 48,991,421
2003 5,998,599 48,500,348
2002 5,986,631 48,019,415
2001 5,968,060 47,566,800
2000 5,943,366 47,159,719
1999 5,913,900 46,730,335
1998 5,880,781 46,223,880
1997 5,844,578 45,666,838
1996 5,805,286 45,123,018
1995 5,762,131 44,541,554
1994 5,714,129 44,004,139
1993 5,659,957 43,297,156
1992 5,585,609 42,443,509
1991 5,495,077 41,687,898
1990 5,399,726 40,746,268
1989 5,298,979 39,628,575
1988 5,195,833 38,480,649
1987 5,092,441 37,326,190
1986 4,992,769 36,180,515
1985 4,894,706 35,042,093
1984 4,798,003 33,892,788
1983 4,707,367 32,739,304
1982 4,622,477 31,615,339
1981 4,570,599 30,541,044
1980 4,540,382 29,518,857
1979 4,480,388 28,634,162
1978 4,394,114 27,869,507
1977 4,301,256 27,118,952
1976 4,210,310 26,395,450
1975 4,120,449 25,690,940
1974 4,029,671 24,989,108
1973 3,938,068 24,294,263
1972 3,846,830 23,609,456
1971 3,757,523 22,942,143
1970 3,668,796 22,279,984
1969 3,576,485 21,614,676
1968 3,480,773 20,957,287
1967 3,385,184 20,314,066
1966 3,290,961 19,690,087
1965 3,199,466 19,089,380
1964 3,111,883 18,511,361
1963 3,028,679 17,954,564
1962 2,949,204 17,418,522
1961 2,870,016 16,908,035
1960 2,791,459 16,440,172

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in El Salvador and South Africa

Fertility rate
El Salvador

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
El Salvador South Africa
2023 1.78 2.22
2022 1.79 2.23
2021 1.8 2.25
2020 1.82 2.26
2019 1.84 2.26
2018 1.85 2.27
2017 1.9 2.28
2016 1.97 2.26
2015 2.07 2.36
2014 2.13 2.42
2013 2.15 2.43
2012 2.19 2.45
2011 2.22 2.44
2010 2.24 2.44
2009 2.26 2.5
2008 2.29 2.68
2007 2.35 2.55
2006 2.4 2.55
2005 2.44 2.51
2004 2.52 2.44
2003 2.64 2.36
2002 2.78 2.32
2001 2.93 2.37
2000 3.08 2.41
1999 3.22 2.56
1998 3.34 2.63
1997 3.38 2.73
1996 3.48 2.99
1995 3.57 3.17
1994 3.61 3.26
1993 3.69 3.37
1992 3.8 3.48
1991 3.89 3.62
1990 3.96 3.72
1989 4.03 3.98
1988 4.1 4.18
1987 4.18 4.35
1986 4.19 4.41
1985 4.32 4.5
1984 4.48 4.57
1983 4.65 4.63
1982 4.83 4.7
1981 4.99 4.71
1980 5.11 4.78
1979 5.23 4.82
1978 5.36 4.85
1977 5.47 4.94
1976 5.59 5.07
1975 5.71 5.19
1974 5.82 5.3
1973 5.93 5.41
1972 6.03 5.49
1971 6.13 5.57
1970 6.18 5.63
1969 6.28 5.72
1968 6.39 5.78
1967 6.49 5.85
1966 6.57 5.91
1965 6.64 5.89
1964 6.68 5.96
1963 6.69 6.01
1962 6.68 6.05
1961 6.64 6.08
1960 6.62 6.11

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/south-africa | CC BY

El Salvador and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
El Salvador

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
El Salvador South Africa
2024 28.5 29.5
2023 28 29.2
2022 27.6 28.9
2021 27.2 28.6
2020 26.8 28.3
2019 26.4 27.9
2018 26 27.5
2017 25.6 27
2016 25.2 26.7
2015 24.9 26.4
2014 24.6 26
2013 24.3 25.7
2012 24.1 25.3
2011 23.9 25
2010 23.7 24.6
2009 23.5 24.3
2008 23.3 24
2007 23.2 23.8
2006 23 23.5
2005 22.7 23.3
2004 22.5 23.1
2003 22.2 22.8
2002 21.9 22.4
2001 21.6 22.2
2000 21.3 21.9
1999 21 21.6
1998 20.6 21.4
1997 20.3 21.2
1996 19.9 21.2
1995 19.6 21.5
1994 19.3 22
1993 19 21.9
1992 18.8 21.5
1991 18.8 21.5
1990 18.8 21.3
1989 18.7 21.1
1988 18.6 20.9
1987 18.5 20.7
1986 18.4 20.5
1985 18.2 20.4
1984 18 20.2
1983 17.8 20
1982 17.7 19.8
1981 17.6 19.6
1980 17.5 19.4
1979 17.4 19.3
1978 17.2 19.2
1977 17.1 19.1
1976 17 19
1975 16.9 18.9
1974 16.8 18.9
1973 16.7 18.8
1972 16.6 18.8
1971 16.6 18.8
1970 16.6 18.8
1969 16.6 18.8
1968 16.6 18.8
1967 16.7 18.8
1966 16.8 18.8
1965 16.9 18.8
1964 16.9 18.9
1963 17 18.9
1962 17 18.9
1961 17.1 19
1960 17.2 19

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

GeoRank.org/facts/el-salvador/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

El Salvador South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$32.5B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.4%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.17%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.19%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
42,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.55%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.71%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
61%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
57.7
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.7%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.7B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$8.49B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
707,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
12.3%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
43.4%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

El Salvador South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
769 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$15.4
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
9.54 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.51 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
55.5%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
21.9%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
34.2%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
59.5%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
1,110 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
95.6%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
30.3%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
98.3%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

El Salvador South Africa
% of world population
0.08%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-23,934
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
75.1%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
47.5:52.5
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.6 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.13 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.7
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
32
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
33
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
7.83
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
20.9
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
130
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
89.8%
2024
91.2%
2024
English speaking
1%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
67.7%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

El Salvador South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$501
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$162.7
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
72.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.89%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.62
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.8 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
39
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.4
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
31.3%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
12.7%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
56
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.15 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

El Salvador South Africa
% of world land
0.01%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
1,262 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
4,617 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,202 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
5,600 mi
2017
466,028 mi
2016

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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