The current population of El Salvador is 6,399,793 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 6,338,193 in 2024.
- For the last 20 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of 0.33% per year.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.62% growth in 20 years).
- El Salvador is ranked 111/197 by population and was ranked 103rd in 2006.
- El Salvador is projected to reach 6.68M people in 2048.
- El Salvador accounts for 0.08% of the world's population.
El Salvador population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 5,106,358 | -0.86% |
| 2099 | 5,150,403 | -0.86% |
| 2098 | 5,195,110 | -0.86% |
| 2097 | 5,240,164 | -0.88% |
| 2096 | 5,286,555 | -0.88% |
| 2095 | 5,333,357 | -0.87% |
| 2094 | 5,380,368 | -0.86% |
| 2093 | 5,427,291 | -0.86% |
| 2092 | 5,474,174 | -0.85% |
| 2091 | 5,521,257 | -0.85% |
| 2090 | 5,568,339 | -0.84% |
| 2089 | 5,615,550 | -0.82% |
| 2088 | 5,662,256 | -0.82% |
| 2087 | 5,709,072 | -0.81% |
| 2086 | 5,755,593 | -0.8% |
| 2085 | 5,801,778 | -0.78% |
| 2084 | 5,847,545 | -0.75% |
| 2083 | 5,891,829 | -0.73% |
| 2082 | 5,935,056 | -0.71% |
| 2081 | 5,977,631 | -0.69% |
| 2080 | 6,019,326 | -0.67% |
| 2079 | 6,059,817 | -0.64% |
| 2078 | 6,098,689 | -0.61% |
| 2077 | 6,136,133 | -0.59% |
| 2076 | 6,172,686 | -0.55% |
| 2075 | 6,206,865 | -0.52% |
| 2074 | 6,239,356 | -0.53% |
| 2073 | 6,272,337 | -0.46% |
| 2072 | 6,301,557 | -0.45% |
| 2071 | 6,330,086 | -0.44% |
| 2070 | 6,358,052 | -0.42% |
| 2069 | 6,384,863 | -0.41% |
| 2068 | 6,410,986 | -0.38% |
| 2067 | 6,435,437 | -0.36% |
| 2066 | 6,458,779 | -0.36% |
| 2065 | 6,481,938 | -0.34% |
| 2064 | 6,503,884 | -0.31% |
| 2063 | 6,524,373 | -0.29% |
| 2062 | 6,543,157 | -0.26% |
| 2061 | 6,560,419 | -0.26% |
| 2060 | 6,577,429 | -0.23% |
| 2059 | 6,592,662 | -0.21% |
| 2058 | 6,606,305 | -0.21% |
| 2057 | 6,620,473 | -0.2% |
| 2056 | 6,633,666 | -0.18% |
| 2055 | 6,645,594 | -0.16% |
| 2054 | 6,656,251 | -0.12% |
| 2053 | 6,664,115 | -0.09% |
| 2052 | 6,670,429 | -0.09% |
| 2051 | 6,676,658 | -0.05% |
| 2050 | 6,679,973 | -0.05% |
| 2049 | 6,683,494 | -0.02% |
| 2048 | 6,684,918 | 0.003% |
| 2047 | 6,684,723 | 0.01% |
| 2046 | 6,684,063 | 0.03% |
| 2045 | 6,681,948 | 0.04% |
| 2044 | 6,679,505 | 0.08% |
| 2043 | 6,674,197 | 0.09% |
| 2042 | 6,668,140 | 0.12% |
| 2041 | 6,660,323 | 0.14% |
| 2040 | 6,651,019 | 0.15% |
| 2039 | 6,641,112 | 0.19% |
| 2038 | 6,628,299 | 0.19% |
| 2037 | 6,615,428 | 0.22% |
| 2036 | 6,600,845 | 0.24% |
| 2035 | 6,585,074 | 0.25% |
| 2034 | 6,568,788 | 0.29% |
| 2033 | 6,549,941 | 0.29% |
| 2032 | 6,530,975 | 0.31% |
| 2031 | 6,511,064 | 0.32% |
| 2030 | 6,490,493 | 0.36% |
| 2029 | 6,467,381 | 0.37% |
| 2028 | 6,443,426 | 0.39% |
| 2027 | 6,418,289 | 0.4% |
| 2026 | 6,392,935 | 0.41% |
| 2025 | 6,366,672 | 0.45% |
| 2024 | 6,338,193 | 0.45% |
| 2023 | 6,309,624 | 0.47% |
| 2022 | 6,280,319 | 0.39% |
| 2021 | 6,255,782 | 0.34% |
| 2020 | 6,234,673 | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 6,222,318 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 6,219,807 | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 6,213,533 | 0.21% |
| 2016 | 6,200,800 | 0.28% |
| 2015 | 6,183,676 | 0.34% |
| 2014 | 6,162,955 | 0.39% |
| 2013 | 6,138,839 | 0.41% |
| 2012 | 6,113,975 | 0.39% |
| 2011 | 6,090,127 | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 6,068,249 | 0.33% |
| 2009 | 6,048,279 | 0.31% |
| 2008 | 6,029,297 | 0.32% |
| 2007 | 6,009,824 | 0.13% |
| 2006 | 6,002,319 | -0.05% |
| 2005 | 6,005,578 | 0.02% |
| 2004 | 6,004,671 | 0.1% |
| 2003 | 5,998,599 | 0.2% |
| 2002 | 5,986,631 | 0.31% |
| 2001 | 5,968,060 | 0.42% |
| 2000 | 5,943,366 | 0.5% |
| 1999 | 5,913,900 | 0.56% |
| 1998 | 5,880,781 | 0.62% |
| 1997 | 5,844,578 | 0.68% |
| 1996 | 5,805,286 | 0.75% |
| 1995 | 5,762,131 | 0.84% |
| 1994 | 5,714,129 | 0.96% |
| 1993 | 5,659,957 | 1.33% |
| 1992 | 5,585,609 | 1.65% |
| 1991 | 5,495,077 | 1.77% |
| 1990 | 5,399,726 | 1.9% |
| 1989 | 5,298,979 | 1.99% |
| 1988 | 5,195,833 | 2.03% |
| 1987 | 5,092,441 | 2% |
| 1986 | 4,992,769 | 2% |
| 1985 | 4,894,706 | 2.02% |
| 1984 | 4,798,003 | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 4,707,367 | 1.84% |
| 1982 | 4,622,477 | 1.14% |
| 1981 | 4,570,599 | 0.67% |
| 1980 | 4,540,382 | 1.34% |
| 1979 | 4,480,388 | 1.96% |
| 1978 | 4,394,114 | 2.16% |
| 1977 | 4,301,256 | 2.16% |
| 1976 | 4,210,310 | 2.18% |
| 1975 | 4,120,449 | 2.25% |
| 1974 | 4,029,671 | 2.33% |
| 1973 | 3,938,068 | 2.37% |
| 1972 | 3,846,830 | 2.38% |
| 1971 | 3,757,523 | 2.42% |
| 1970 | 3,668,796 | 2.58% |
| 1969 | 3,576,485 | 2.75% |
| 1968 | 3,480,773 | 2.82% |
| 1967 | 3,385,184 | 2.86% |
| 1966 | 3,290,961 | 2.86% |
| 1965 | 3,199,466 | 2.81% |
| 1964 | 3,111,883 | 2.75% |
| 1963 | 3,028,679 | 2.69% |
| 1962 | 2,949,204 | 2.76% |
| 1961 | 2,870,016 | 2.81% |
| 1960 | 2,791,459 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador | CC BY 
El Salvador has a population of 6.4M as of 2026, compared to 6.2M in 2016, 6M in 2006, and 5.81M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 0.32% per year. El Salvador is ranked 151st out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) El Salvador will have 6,684,063 people (4.44% growth) with a rank change from 111th to 116th.
By the year 2100, El Salvador's population is projected to decline by 20.2% from its current level to 5.11M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -23,934 |
| 2024 | - | - | -23,102 |
| 2023 | 28,732 | 51,985 | -23,253 |
| 2022 | 29,883 | 53,138 | -23,255 |
| 2021 | 19,187 | 46,530 | -27,343 |
| 2020 | 23,031 | 48,244 | -25,213 |
| 2019 | 1,672 | 56,816 | -55,144 |
| 2018 | 3,346 | 57,509 | -54,163 |
| 2017 | 9,216 | 59,824 | -50,608 |
| 2016 | 16,260 | 63,751 | -47,491 |
| 2015 | 17,985 | 69,263 | -51,278 |
| 2014 | 23,455 | 72,581 | -49,126 |
| 2013 | 24,782 | 73,869 | -49,087 |
| 2012 | 24,949 | 75,495 | -50,546 |
| 2011 | 22,749 | 76,182 | -53,433 |
| 2010 | 21,007 | 75,695 | -54,688 |
| 2009 | 18,942 | 74,908 | -55,966 |
| 2008 | 19,021 | 75,107 | -56,086 |
| 2007 | 19,919 | 76,776 | -56,857 |
| 2006 | -4,902 | 80,887 | -85,789 |
| 2005 | -1,618 | 84,883 | -86,501 |
| 2004 | 3,439 | 90,905 | -87,466 |
| 2003 | 8,703 | 97,849 | -89,146 |
| 2002 | 15,229 | 106,137 | -90,908 |
| 2001 | 21,924 | 114,313 | -92,389 |
| 2000 | 27,454 | 122,315 | -94,861 |
| 1999 | 31,472 | 128,947 | -97,475 |
| 1998 | 34,772 | 134,065 | -99,293 |
| 1997 | 37,628 | 134,448 | -96,820 |
| 1996 | 40,952 | 136,929 | -95,977 |
| 1995 | 45,356 | 138,268 | -92,912 |
| 1994 | 50,656 | 137,974 | -87,318 |
| 1993 | 57,696 | 138,432 | -80,736 |
| 1992 | 90,989 | 139,221 | -48,232 |
| 1991 | 90,069 | 140,691 | -50,622 |
| 1990 | 100,622 | 140,311 | -39,689 |
| 1989 | 100,882 | 139,093 | -38,211 |
| 1988 | 105,424 | 136,230 | -30,806 |
| 1987 | 101,359 | 133,667 | -32,308 |
| 1986 | 97,996 | 130,177 | -32,181 |
| 1985 | 98,137 | 127,248 | -29,111 |
| 1984 | 95,269 | 125,036 | -29,767 |
| 1983 | 86,006 | 121,700 | -35,694 |
| 1982 | 83,779 | 120,938 | -37,159 |
| 1981 | 19,981 | 117,346 | -97,365 |
| 1980 | 40,453 | 111,771 | -71,318 |
| 1979 | 79,536 | 123,838 | -44,302 |
| 1978 | 93,005 | 124,468 | -31,463 |
| 1977 | 92,704 | 121,446 | -28,742 |
| 1976 | 89,194 | 120,511 | -31,317 |
| 1975 | 90,539 | 116,737 | -26,198 |
| 1974 | 91,002 | 113,846 | -22,844 |
| 1973 | 92,199 | 111,546 | -19,347 |
| 1972 | 90,287 | 107,604 | -17,317 |
| 1971 | 88,325 | 104,714 | -16,389 |
| 1970 | 89,132 | 100,499 | -11,367 |
| 1969 | 95,493 | 99,848 | -4,355 |
| 1968 | 95,932 | 98,851 | -2,919 |
| 1967 | 95,232 | 98,424 | -3,192 |
| 1966 | 93,211 | 97,156 | -3,945 |
| 1965 | 89,781 | 95,341 | -5,560 |
| 1964 | 85,391 | 93,328 | -7,937 |
| 1963 | 81,020 | 90,794 | -9,774 |
| 1962 | 77,930 | 88,237 | -10,307 |
| 1961 | 80,455 | 84,614 | -4,159 |
| 1960 | 76,659 | 81,544 | -4,885 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 58.8% of the population change in El Salvador is from natural causes (a gain of 579,641 people) and 41.2% is from migration (a loss of 406,874 people).
As of 2024, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 40,342 and 0.7% in 2010.
El Salvador population clock
El Salvador
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
6399793
|
111/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.08% | 111/197 |
| One net population change |
18.4 minutes
|
120/197 |
| One birth every |
5.29 minutes
|
106/196 |
| One death every |
11.1 minutes
|
110/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +78 | 120/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +28,569 | 120/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.45% | 140/197 |
| One migration net change every |
22 minutes
|
155/196 |
| Annual migration change | -23,934 | 155/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 43,342 | 155/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.7% | 164/195 |
Largest cities by population
|
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 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
El Salvador population statistics
|
El Salvador
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 72.7 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 31.7 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 28.5 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 47.5:52.5 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.78 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 799 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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.