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Population density: El Salvador vs Jamaica compared

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a population density of 799 people per square mile compared to 678 people in Jamaica. El Salvador has 35,733 sq ft of land per person vs 41,673 sq ft in Jamaica. El Salvador and Jamaica rank 33rd and 43rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. El Salvador has 0.08% of the world's population and 0.01% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.03% of the population and 0.007% of the land area for Jamaica, making the population density in El Salvador 17.9% higher than in Jamaica.

Population density by year

El Salvador
Jamaica

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
El Salvador Jamaica
2026 799 678
2025 796 679
2024 792 679
2023 789 679
2022 785 679
2021 782 679
2020 779 677
2019 778 675
2018 777 674
2017 777 673
2016 775 672
2015 773 670
2014 770 668
2013 767 666
2012 764 663
2011 761 660
2010 759 657
2009 756 655
2008 754 652
2007 751 649
2006 750 646
2005 751 643
2004 751 639
2003 750 635
2002 748 631
2001 746 628
2000 743 624
1999 739 619
1998 735 615
1997 731 609
1996 726 604
1995 720 598
1994 714 592
1993 707 586
1992 698 580
1991 687 574
1990 675 569
1989 662 565
1988 649 561
1987 637 557
1986 624 553
1985 612 548
1984 600 542
1983 588 534
1982 578 527
1981 571 520
1980 568 513
1979 560 507
1978 549 501
1977 538 495
1976 526 489
1975 512 483
1974 501 476
1973 489 469
1972 478 462
1971 467 455
1970 456 449
1969 444 444
1968 432 439
1967 421 434
1966 409 428
1965 397 423
1964 387 417
1963 376 412
1962 366 406
1961 357 400

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/el-salvador/jamaica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in El Salvador increased by 6.51%, compared to a 4.96% growth in Jamaica.

In 2006, El Salvador ranked 29th by population density and is 33rd now. Jamaica was 36th in 2006 and ranks 43rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

El Salvador
Jamaica
1x
Year Urban population
El Salvador Jamaica
2024 75.1% 58.9%
2023 74.6% 58.5%
2022 74.1% 58%
2021 73.7% 57.5%
2020 73.1% 57.1%
2019 72.4% 56.7%
2018 71.8% 56.3%
2017 71.1% 55.9%
2016 70.4% 55.5%
2015 69.7% 55.2%
2014 68.9% 54.9%
2013 68.1% 54.5%
2012 67.2% 54.2%
2011 66.3% 54%
2010 65.4% 53.8%
2009 64.5% 53.6%
2008 63.6% 53.4%
2007 62.8% 53.2%
2006 61.9% 53%
2005 61% 52.8%
2004 60.1% 52.6%
2003 59.2% 52.4%
2002 58.3% 52.1%
2001 57.5% 51.9%
2000 56.6% 51.7%
1999 55.7% 51.5%
1998 54.8% 51.3%
1997 54% 51%
1996 53.2% 50.8%
1995 52.4% 50.6%
1994 51.7% 50.3%
1993 50.9% 50.1%
1992 50.3% 49.9%
1991 49.6% 49.7%
1990 49% 49.4%
1989 48.3% 49.3%
1988 47.7% 49.1%
1987 47% 48.9%
1986 46.4% 48.7%
1985 45.7% 48.5%
1984 45.1% 48.3%
1983 44.5% 48.1%
1982 43.9% 47.8%
1981 43.4% 47.5%
1980 42.8% 47.2%
1979 42.3% 46.8%
1978 41.8% 46.3%
1977 41.4% 45.8%
1976 41% 45.3%
1975 40.6% 44.8%
1974 40.2% 44.2%
1973 40% 43.5%
1972 39.7% 42.9%
1971 39.5% 42.2%
1970 39.4% 41.4%
1969 39.3% 40.6%
1968 39.2% 39.6%
1967 39.1% 38.4%
1966 39% 37.2%
1965 38.9% 35.8%
1964 38.8% 34.5%
1963 38.7% 33.2%
1962 38.6% 31.9%
1961 38.5% 30.7%
1960 38.4% 29.7%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/el-salvador/jamaica | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador and from 52.6% to 58.9% in Jamaica.

Densely populated cities

El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K
Jamaica
City Population
Kingston 938K
Spanish Town 131K
Montego Bay 124K
Half Way Tree 96.5K
May Pen 61.5K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/el-salvador/jamaica | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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