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Population in El Salvador compared to Guatemala: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,338,193 in 2024 vs 18,406,359 people in Guatemala in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,399,793 people compared to 19,049,936 in Guatemala.

Population statistics:

  • Guatemala's population is 2.98 times bigger than El Salvador's.
  • El Salvador is ranked the 111th most populous country in the world, while Guatemala is the 69th.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.08% for El Salvador vs 0.23% for Guatemala.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs +1.64% in Guatemala.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.62% growth), while Guatemala has grown from 13.4M to 19M (42.5% growth).

El Salvador vs Guatemala: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Guatemala
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Guatemala
2100 5,106,358 26,157,456
2099 5,150,403 26,245,641
2098 5,195,110 26,331,619
2097 5,240,164 26,416,090
2096 5,286,555 26,497,966
2095 5,333,357 26,577,430
2094 5,380,368 26,654,549
2093 5,427,291 26,728,912
2092 5,474,174 26,800,726
2091 5,521,257 26,869,103
2090 5,568,339 26,933,745
2089 5,615,550 26,994,393
2088 5,662,256 27,051,725
2087 5,709,072 27,105,725
2086 5,755,593 27,155,743
2085 5,801,778 27,200,252
2084 5,847,545 27,240,081
2083 5,891,829 27,274,635
2082 5,935,056 27,304,601
2081 5,977,631 27,328,275
2080 6,019,326 27,346,322
2079 6,059,817 27,358,846
2078 6,098,689 27,364,710
2077 6,136,133 27,363,544
2076 6,172,686 27,356,220
2075 6,206,865 27,343,275
2074 6,239,356 27,324,366
2073 6,272,337 27,298,193
2072 6,301,557 27,264,801
2071 6,330,086 27,224,139
2070 6,358,052 27,176,996
2069 6,384,863 27,121,679
2068 6,410,986 27,058,279
2067 6,435,437 26,987,818
2066 6,458,779 26,909,977
2065 6,481,938 26,825,610
2064 6,503,884 26,733,472
2063 6,524,373 26,634,443
2062 6,543,157 26,529,537
2061 6,560,419 26,418,318
2060 6,577,429 26,300,043
2059 6,592,662 26,175,298
2058 6,606,305 26,043,910
2057 6,620,473 25,905,522
2056 6,633,666 25,761,415
2055 6,645,594 25,611,347
2054 6,656,251 25,455,341
2053 6,664,115 25,292,387
2052 6,670,429 25,124,081
2051 6,676,658 24,950,631
2050 6,679,973 24,772,432
2049 6,683,494 24,588,164
2048 6,684,918 24,398,840
2047 6,684,723 24,205,409
2046 6,684,063 24,005,250
2045 6,681,948 23,799,564
2044 6,679,505 23,587,909
2043 6,674,197 23,370,717
2042 6,668,140 23,147,742
2041 6,660,323 22,919,092
2040 6,651,019 22,684,402
2039 6,641,112 22,443,876
2038 6,628,299 22,196,908
2037 6,615,428 21,945,561
2036 6,600,845 21,689,784
2035 6,585,074 21,429,391
2034 6,568,788 21,165,636
2033 6,549,941 20,899,157
2032 6,530,975 20,630,118
2031 6,511,064 20,359,005
2030 6,490,493 20,085,689
2029 6,467,381 19,810,652
2028 6,443,426 19,534,112
2027 6,418,289 19,255,397
2026 6,392,935 18,973,755
2025 6,366,672 18,690,875
2024 6,338,193 18,406,359
2023 6,309,624 18,124,838
2022 6,280,319 17,847,877
2021 6,255,782 17,598,650
2020 6,234,673 17,357,325
2019 6,222,318 17,103,803
2018 6,219,807 16,845,685
2017 6,213,533 16,567,357
2016 6,200,800 16,268,760
2015 6,183,676 15,971,743
2014 6,162,955 15,681,725
2013 6,138,839 15,387,337
2012 6,113,975 15,089,647
2011 6,090,127 14,792,126
2010 6,068,249 14,500,112
2009 6,048,279 14,215,611
2008 6,029,297 13,935,174
2007 6,009,824 13,652,040
2006 6,002,319 13,367,459
2005 6,005,578 13,087,629
2004 6,004,671 12,807,402
2003 5,998,599 12,525,842
2002 5,986,631 12,246,915
2001 5,968,060 11,969,422
2000 5,943,366 11,697,592
1999 5,913,900 11,422,965
1998 5,880,781 11,139,145
1997 5,844,578 10,857,754
1996 5,805,286 10,583,526
1995 5,762,131 10,312,996
1994 5,714,129 10,043,718
1993 5,659,957 9,779,761
1992 5,585,609 9,522,266
1991 5,495,077 9,272,584
1990 5,399,726 9,024,773
1989 5,298,979 8,775,546
1988 5,195,833 8,532,099
1987 5,092,441 8,296,485
1986 4,992,769 8,070,818
1985 4,894,706 7,849,693
1984 4,798,003 7,630,682
1983 4,707,367 7,419,642
1982 4,622,477 7,240,241
1981 4,570,599 7,075,648
1980 4,540,382 6,900,212
1979 4,480,388 6,727,797
1978 4,394,114 6,561,534
1977 4,301,256 6,401,515
1976 4,210,310 6,262,404
1975 4,120,449 6,128,731
1974 4,029,671 5,981,197
1973 3,938,068 5,831,631
1972 3,846,830 5,682,833
1971 3,757,523 5,538,355
1970 3,668,796 5,396,966
1969 3,576,485 5,257,081
1968 3,480,773 5,118,111
1967 3,385,184 4,978,862
1966 3,290,961 4,840,958
1965 3,199,466 4,704,965
1964 3,111,883 4,571,109
1963 3,028,679 4,440,264
1962 2,949,204 4,312,044
1961 2,870,016 4,186,201
1960 2,791,459 4,063,655

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/guatemala | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of El Salvador increased by 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth), while Guatemala gained 2,901,301 people (a 21.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, El Salvador gained 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth), while Guatemala's population increased by 2,781,176 people (a 17.1% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 111th in 2026. Guatemala was ranked 68th in 2006 and ranked 69th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) El Salvador's population will grow by 4.38% to 6,679,973 people with a rank change from 111th to 116th. The population of Guatemala will increase by 30% to 24,772,432 people and rank change from 69th to 67th.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people compared to the peak of 27.4M people in 2078 for Guatemala.

Population growth rate by year

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Guatemala
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
El Salvador Guatemala
2100 -0.86% -0.34%
2099 -0.86% -0.33%
2098 -0.86% -0.32%
2097 -0.88% -0.31%
2096 -0.88% -0.3%
2095 -0.87% -0.29%
2094 -0.86% -0.28%
2093 -0.86% -0.27%
2092 -0.85% -0.25%
2091 -0.85% -0.24%
2090 -0.84% -0.22%
2089 -0.82% -0.21%
2088 -0.82% -0.2%
2087 -0.81% -0.18%
2086 -0.8% -0.16%
2085 -0.78% -0.15%
2084 -0.75% -0.13%
2083 -0.73% -0.11%
2082 -0.71% -0.09%
2081 -0.69% -0.07%
2080 -0.67% -0.05%
2079 -0.64% -0.02%
2078 -0.61% 0.004%
2077 -0.59% 0.03%
2076 -0.55% 0.05%
2075 -0.52% 0.07%
2074 -0.53% 0.1%
2073 -0.46% 0.12%
2072 -0.45% 0.15%
2071 -0.44% 0.17%
2070 -0.42% 0.2%
2069 -0.41% 0.23%
2068 -0.38% 0.26%
2067 -0.36% 0.29%
2066 -0.36% 0.31%
2065 -0.34% 0.34%
2064 -0.31% 0.37%
2063 -0.29% 0.4%
2062 -0.26% 0.42%
2061 -0.26% 0.45%
2060 -0.23% 0.48%
2059 -0.21% 0.5%
2058 -0.21% 0.53%
2057 -0.2% 0.56%
2056 -0.18% 0.59%
2055 -0.16% 0.61%
2054 -0.12% 0.64%
2053 -0.09% 0.67%
2052 -0.09% 0.7%
2051 -0.05% 0.72%
2050 -0.05% 0.75%
2049 -0.02% 0.78%
2048 0.003% 0.8%
2047 0.01% 0.83%
2046 0.03% 0.86%
2045 0.04% 0.9%
2044 0.08% 0.93%
2043 0.09% 0.96%
2042 0.12% 1%
2041 0.14% 1.03%
2040 0.15% 1.07%
2039 0.19% 1.11%
2038 0.19% 1.15%
2037 0.22% 1.18%
2036 0.24% 1.22%
2035 0.25% 1.25%
2034 0.29% 1.28%
2033 0.29% 1.3%
2032 0.31% 1.33%
2031 0.32% 1.36%
2030 0.36% 1.39%
2029 0.37% 1.42%
2028 0.39% 1.45%
2027 0.4% 1.48%
2026 0.41% 1.51%
2025 0.45% 1.55%
2024 0.45% 1.55%
2023 0.47% 1.55%
2022 0.39% 1.42%
2021 0.34% 1.39%
2020 0.2% 1.48%
2019 0.04% 1.53%
2018 0.1% 1.68%
2017 0.21% 1.84%
2016 0.28% 1.86%
2015 0.34% 1.85%
2014 0.39% 1.91%
2013 0.41% 1.97%
2012 0.39% 2.01%
2011 0.36% 2.01%
2010 0.33% 2%
2009 0.31% 2.01%
2008 0.32% 2.07%
2007 0.13% 2.13%
2006 -0.05% 2.14%
2005 0.02% 2.19%
2004 0.1% 2.25%
2003 0.2% 2.28%
2002 0.31% 2.32%
2001 0.42% 2.32%
2000 0.5% 2.4%
1999 0.56% 2.55%
1998 0.62% 2.59%
1997 0.68% 2.59%
1996 0.75% 2.62%
1995 0.84% 2.68%
1994 0.96% 2.7%
1993 1.33% 2.7%
1992 1.65% 2.69%
1991 1.77% 2.75%
1990 1.9% 2.84%
1989 1.99% 2.85%
1988 2.03% 2.84%
1987 2% 2.8%
1986 2% 2.82%
1985 2.02% 2.87%
1984 1.93% 2.84%
1983 1.84% 2.48%
1982 1.14% 2.33%
1981 0.67% 2.54%
1980 1.34% 2.56%
1979 1.96% 2.53%
1978 2.16% 2.5%
1977 2.16% 2.22%
1976 2.18% 2.18%
1975 2.25% 2.47%
1974 2.33% 2.56%
1973 2.37% 2.62%
1972 2.38% 2.61%
1971 2.42% 2.62%
1970 2.58% 2.66%
1969 2.75% 2.72%
1968 2.82% 2.8%
1967 2.86% 2.85%
1966 2.86% 2.89%
1965 2.81% 2.93%
1964 2.75% 2.95%
1963 2.69% 2.97%
1962 2.76% 3.01%
1961 2.81% 3.02%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/guatemala | CC BY

In 2024, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.45%, while Guatemala's population grew by 1.55%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Guatemala
Current population
6399793
19049936
Population rank 111/197 69/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.23%
One net population change
18.4 minutes
1.87 minutes
One birth every
5.29 minutes
1.39 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
6.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +78 +771
Annual growth/decline +28,569 +281,521
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.55%
Population growth rate rank 140/197 69/197
One migration net change every
22 minutes
1.1 hours
Annual migration change -23,934 -7,959
Net migration rank 155/196 128/196
Foreign-born residents 43,342 92,732
Foreign-born residents rank 155/195 133/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.5%
Foreign-born share rank 164/195 176/195

Natural population change vs migration

El Salvador
Natural

Migration
Guatemala
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
El Salvador Guatemala
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,934 - -7,959
2024 - -23,102 - -7,725
2023 51,985 -23,253 289,635 -8,940
2022 53,138 -23,255 281,675 -8,463
2021 46,530 -27,343 255,145 -29,908
2020 48,244 -25,213 281,328 -23,927
2019 56,816 -55,144 307,389 -57,746
2018 57,509 -54,163 323,100 -56,487
2017 59,824 -50,608 332,838 -42,779
2016 63,751 -47,491 338,114 -30,980
2015 69,263 -51,278 335,072 -48,179
2014 72,581 -49,126 333,551 -40,409
2013 73,869 -49,087 331,321 -35,698
2012 75,495 -50,546 332,365 -32,624
2011 76,182 -53,433 328,548 -33,238
2010 75,695 -54,688 324,802 -36,076
2009 74,908 -55,966 323,320 -43,046
2008 75,107 -56,086 323,226 -42,624
2007 76,776 -56,857 326,298 -40,632
2006 80,887 -85,789 325,604 -42,118
2005 84,883 -86,501 325,816 -49,636
2004 90,905 -87,466 331,699 -47,409
2003 97,849 -89,146 333,539 -54,701
2002 106,137 -90,908 334,255 -55,247
2001 114,313 -92,389 335,503 -59,536
2000 122,315 -94,861 332,891 -65,197
1999 128,947 -97,475 328,890 -47,325
1998 134,065 -99,293 325,174 -39,104
1997 134,448 -96,820 320,087 -43,377
1996 136,929 -95,977 315,252 -43,501
1995 138,268 -92,912 309,236 -39,917
1994 137,974 -87,318 302,708 -33,462
1993 138,432 -80,736 295,515 -36,848
1992 139,221 -48,232 288,411 -32,093
1991 140,691 -50,622 283,917 -40,868
1990 140,311 -39,689 280,318 -27,735
1989 139,093 -38,211 276,736 -30,860
1988 136,230 -30,806 271,466 -30,450
1987 133,667 -32,308 261,746 -31,539
1986 130,177 -32,181 252,754 -31,631
1985 127,248 -29,111 246,119 -24,991
1984 125,036 -29,767 241,892 -25,010
1983 121,700 -35,694 238,059 -32,877
1982 120,938 -37,159 199,809 -46,174
1981 117,346 -97,365 221,044 -45,490
1980 111,771 -71,318 218,460 -43,144
1979 123,838 -44,302 216,810 -47,278
1978 124,468 -31,463 211,301 -48,309
1977 121,446 -28,742 203,299 -46,249
1976 120,511 -31,317 171,903 -50,745
1975 116,737 -26,198 188,501 -42,329
1974 113,846 -22,844 184,992 -36,089
1973 111,546 -19,347 179,871 -29,641
1972 107,604 -17,317 173,162 -25,807
1971 104,714 -16,389 165,104 -23,513
1970 100,499 -11,367 155,946 -14,755
1969 99,848 -4,355 149,516 -10,937
1968 98,851 -2,919 146,946 -7,589
1967 98,424 -3,192 143,859 -4,715
1966 97,156 -3,945 140,494 -3,824
1965 95,341 -5,560 135,997 -681
1964 93,328 -7,937 132,832 -440
1963 90,794 -9,774 129,065 240
1962 88,237 -10,307 126,429 713
1961 84,614 -4,159 123,753 797
1960 81,544 -4,885 120,728 -186

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/guatemala | 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). In Guatemala 89.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,077,847 people) and 10.2% is from migration (a loss of 347,818 people).

As of 2024, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 92,732 people or 0.5% in Guatemala.

Biggest 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
Guatemala
City Population
Guatemala 995K
Mixco 528K
Coban 229K
Quetzaltenango 208K
Jalapa 193K
San Miguel Petapa 151K
Momostenango 140K
Mazatenango 83.8K
Flores 44.7K
Panajachel 16.1K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/guatemala | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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