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Population density: El Salvador vs Portugal compared

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a population density of 799 people per square mile compared to 302 people in Portugal. El Salvador has 35,733 sq ft of land per person vs 92,822 sq ft in Portugal. El Salvador and Portugal rank 33rd and 81st 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 0.13% of the population and 0.06% of the land area for Portugal, making the population density in El Salvador 165% higher than in Portugal.

Population density by year

El Salvador
Portugal

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
El Salvador Portugal
2026 799 302
2025 796 302
2024 792 302
2023 789 299.1
2022 785 295
2021 782 293
2020 779 291.1
2019 778 290.8
2018 777 290.8
2017 777 291.2
2016 775 291.9
2015 773 292.9
2014 770 294.1
2013 767 295.7
2012 764 297.3
2011 761 298.5
2010 759 299
2009 756 298.8
2008 754 299
2007 751 298.5
2006 750 297.9
2005 751 297.4
2004 751 296.8
2003 750 296
2002 748 294.9
2001 746 293.3
2000 743 291.3
1999 739 289.2
1998 735 287.6
1997 731 286.1
1996 726 284.9
1995 720 283.8
1994 714 282.8
1993 707 282.1
1992 698 281.7
1991 687 281.9
1990 675 282.6
1989 662 283.2
1988 649 283.6
1987 637 283.9
1986 624 284
1985 612 283.7
1984 600 283
1983 588 281.9
1982 578 280.6
1981 571 278.9
1980 568 276.4
1979 560 273.5
1978 549 270.6
1977 538 267.7
1976 526 264.8
1975 512 257.4
1974 501 247.8
1973 489 244.4
1972 478 244.3
1971 467 244.7
1970 456 245.7
1969 444 247.9
1968 432 250.1
1967 421 251.2
1966 409 252.8
1965 397 254.7
1964 387 255.8
1963 376 255.6
1962 366 254.6
1961 357 252.8

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in El Salvador increased by 6.51%, compared to a 1.23% growth in Portugal.

In 2006, El Salvador ranked 29th by population density and is 33rd now. Portugal was 68th in 2006 and ranks 81st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

El Salvador
Portugal
1x
Year Urban population
El Salvador Portugal
2024 75.1% 61.3%
2023 74.6% 61.2%
2022 74.1% 61.1%
2021 73.7% 61.1%
2020 73.1% 61.1%
2019 72.4% 61.1%
2018 71.8% 61.1%
2017 71.1% 61.1%
2016 70.4% 61.1%
2015 69.7% 61.1%
2014 68.9% 61.1%
2013 68.1% 61.1%
2012 67.2% 61.1%
2011 66.3% 61.1%
2010 65.4% 61.1%
2009 64.5% 60.8%
2008 63.6% 60.4%
2007 62.8% 59.7%
2006 61.9% 59%
2005 61% 58.2%
2004 60.1% 57.4%
2003 59.2% 56.6%
2002 58.3% 55.8%
2001 57.5% 55.1%
2000 56.6% 54.4%
1999 55.7% 53.7%
1998 54.8% 53.1%
1997 54% 52.4%
1996 53.2% 51.7%
1995 52.4% 51%
1994 51.7% 50.3%
1993 50.9% 49.7%
1992 50.3% 49%
1991 49.6% 48.4%
1990 49% 47.7%
1989 48.3% 47.1%
1988 47.7% 46.5%
1987 47% 45.8%
1986 46.4% 45.2%
1985 45.7% 44.5%
1984 45.1% 43.9%
1983 44.5% 43.2%
1982 43.9% 42.6%
1981 43.4% 41.9%
1980 42.8% 41.3%
1979 42.3% 40.6%
1978 41.8% 40%
1977 41.4% 39.3%
1976 41% 38.7%
1975 40.6% 38.1%
1974 40.2% 37.5%
1973 40% 36.9%
1972 39.7% 36.3%
1971 39.5% 35.8%
1970 39.4% 35.2%
1969 39.3% 34.7%
1968 39.2% 34.2%
1967 39.1% 33.7%
1966 39% 33.2%
1965 38.9% 32.7%
1964 38.8% 32.3%
1963 38.7% 31.9%
1962 38.6% 31.5%
1961 38.5% 31.2%
1960 38.4% 30.8%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador and from 57.4% to 61.3% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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. Wikidata (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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