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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,365,503 in 2025 vs 18,687,881 people in Guatemala in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,404,781 people compared to 19,115,361 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 +1.61% in Guatemala.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.71% growth), while Guatemala has grown from 13.4M to 19.1M (43% growth).

El Salvador vs Guatemala: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Guatemala
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Guatemala
2100 5,105,420 26,153,266
2099 5,149,457 26,241,436
2098 5,194,156 26,327,401
2097 5,239,201 26,411,858
2096 5,285,584 26,493,721
2095 5,332,377 26,573,173
2094 5,379,380 26,650,279
2093 5,426,293 26,724,630
2092 5,473,168 26,796,433
2091 5,520,243 26,864,799
2090 5,567,316 26,929,431
2089 5,614,518 26,990,069
2088 5,661,216 27,047,391
2087 5,708,023 27,101,383
2086 5,754,535 27,151,393
2085 5,800,712 27,195,895
2084 5,846,470 27,235,718
2083 5,890,746 27,270,266
2082 5,933,965 27,300,227
2081 5,976,533 27,323,897
2080 6,018,220 27,341,942
2079 6,058,704 27,354,464
2078 6,097,568 27,360,327
2077 6,135,005 27,359,161
2076 6,171,552 27,351,838
2075 6,205,725 27,338,895
2074 6,238,209 27,319,989
2073 6,271,184 27,293,820
2072 6,300,399 27,260,434
2071 6,328,923 27,219,778
2070 6,356,884 27,172,642
2069 6,383,690 27,117,335
2068 6,409,808 27,053,945
2067 6,434,255 26,983,495
2066 6,457,592 26,905,666
2065 6,480,747 26,821,312
2064 6,502,689 26,729,190
2063 6,523,174 26,630,176
2062 6,541,955 26,525,287
2061 6,559,213 26,414,086
2060 6,576,220 26,295,830
2059 6,591,451 26,171,105
2058 6,605,091 26,039,738
2057 6,619,257 25,901,372
2056 6,632,447 25,757,288
2055 6,644,372 25,607,244
2054 6,655,028 25,451,264
2053 6,662,891 25,288,335
2052 6,669,204 25,120,056
2051 6,675,431 24,946,634
2050 6,678,745 24,768,464
2049 6,682,265 24,584,225
2048 6,683,689 24,394,931
2047 6,683,495 24,201,532
2046 6,682,835 24,001,405
2045 6,680,720 23,795,751
2044 6,678,277 23,584,131
2043 6,672,970 23,366,974
2042 6,666,915 23,144,034
2041 6,659,099 22,915,420
2040 6,649,797 22,680,768
2039 6,639,891 22,440,281
2038 6,627,081 22,193,352
2037 6,614,212 21,942,046
2036 6,599,632 21,686,309
2035 6,583,864 21,425,958
2034 6,567,581 21,162,245
2033 6,548,738 20,895,809
2032 6,529,775 20,626,813
2031 6,509,868 20,355,744
2030 6,489,300 20,082,472
2029 6,466,193 19,807,478
2028 6,442,242 19,530,983
2027 6,417,110 19,252,313
2026 6,391,761 18,970,716
2025 6,365,503 18,687,881
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 203,981 people (a 3.29% growth), while Guatemala's population increased by 2,846,601 people (a 17.5% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 102nd 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 4.28% to 6,678,745 people with a rank change from 111th to 116th. The population of Guatemala will increase by 29.6% to 24,768,464 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 0.43% 1.53%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.43%, while Guatemala's population grew by 1.53%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Guatemala
Current population
6404781
19115361
Population rank 111/197 69/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.23%
One net population change
19.3 minutes
1.87 minutes
One birth every
5.32 minutes
1.38 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
5.88 minutes
Daily growth/decline +75 +771
Annual growth/decline +27,310 +281,522
Annual growth/decline rate +0.43% +1.53%
Population growth rate rank 137/197 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 51,510 -23,102 290,066 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 59.5% of the population change in El Salvador is from natural causes (a gain of 558,570 people) and 40.5% is from migration (a loss of 380,850 people). In Guatemala 90.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,034,362 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 315,134 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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