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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,338,193 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,399,793 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 19.2 times bigger than El Salvador's.
  • El Salvador is ranked the 111th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.56% of the world: 0.08% for El Salvador vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.62% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

El Salvador vs Japan: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Japan
2100 5,106,358 76,978,998
2099 5,150,403 77,363,458
2098 5,195,110 77,742,445
2097 5,240,164 78,118,375
2096 5,286,555 78,498,614
2095 5,333,357 78,875,245
2094 5,380,368 79,250,325
2093 5,427,291 79,628,057
2092 5,474,174 80,007,967
2091 5,521,257 80,383,529
2090 5,568,339 80,760,724
2089 5,615,550 81,140,553
2088 5,662,256 81,521,696
2087 5,709,072 81,908,373
2086 5,755,593 82,304,497
2085 5,801,778 82,709,534
2084 5,847,545 83,123,058
2083 5,891,829 83,544,006
2082 5,935,056 83,980,325
2081 5,977,631 84,429,305
2080 6,019,326 84,899,768
2079 6,059,817 85,387,247
2078 6,098,689 85,897,934
2077 6,136,133 86,434,291
2076 6,172,686 86,993,007
2075 6,206,865 87,577,777
2074 6,239,356 88,190,392
2073 6,272,337 88,834,763
2072 6,301,557 89,499,356
2071 6,330,086 90,184,464
2070 6,358,052 90,899,136
2069 6,384,863 91,625,421
2068 6,410,986 92,367,969
2067 6,435,437 93,113,499
2066 6,458,779 93,869,240
2065 6,481,938 94,633,430
2064 6,503,884 95,391,433
2063 6,524,373 96,148,081
2062 6,543,157 96,902,907
2061 6,560,419 97,654,031
2060 6,577,429 98,400,894
2059 6,592,662 99,144,216
2058 6,606,305 99,868,968
2057 6,620,473 100,585,601
2056 6,633,666 101,295,868
2055 6,645,594 101,989,736
2054 6,656,251 102,683,462
2053 6,664,115 103,359,083
2052 6,670,429 104,036,901
2051 6,676,658 104,706,698
2050 6,679,973 105,377,283
2049 6,683,494 106,053,011
2048 6,684,918 106,731,207
2047 6,684,723 107,419,237
2046 6,684,063 108,115,358
2045 6,681,948 108,820,982
2044 6,679,505 109,529,333
2043 6,674,197 110,245,586
2042 6,668,140 110,968,174
2041 6,660,323 111,704,629
2040 6,651,019 112,438,759
2039 6,641,112 113,175,948
2038 6,628,299 113,915,783
2037 6,615,428 114,662,374
2036 6,600,845 115,410,956
2035 6,585,074 116,162,381
2034 6,568,788 116,911,001
2033 6,549,941 117,652,676
2032 6,530,975 118,393,188
2031 6,511,064 119,127,425
2030 6,490,493 119,856,131
2029 6,467,381 120,574,242
2028 6,443,426 121,287,543
2027 6,418,289 121,989,133
2026 6,392,935 122,677,250
2025 6,366,672 123,339,586
2024 6,338,193 123,975,371
2023 6,309,624 124,516,650
2022 6,280,319 125,124,989
2021 6,255,782 125,681,593
2020 6,234,673 126,261,000
2019 6,222,318 126,633,000
2018 6,219,807 126,811,000
2017 6,213,533 126,972,000
2016 6,200,800 127,076,000
2015 6,183,676 127,141,000
2014 6,162,955 127,276,000
2013 6,138,839 127,445,000
2012 6,113,975 127,629,000
2011 6,090,127 127,833,000
2010 6,068,249 128,070,000
2009 6,048,279 128,047,000
2008 6,029,297 128,063,000
2007 6,009,824 128,001,000
2006 6,002,319 127,854,000
2005 6,005,578 127,773,000
2004 6,004,671 127,761,000
2003 5,998,599 127,718,000
2002 5,986,631 127,445,000
2001 5,968,060 127,149,000
2000 5,943,366 126,843,000
1999 5,913,900 126,631,000
1998 5,880,781 126,400,000
1997 5,844,578 126,057,000
1996 5,805,286 125,757,000
1995 5,762,131 125,472,000
1994 5,714,129 125,178,000
1993 5,659,957 124,829,000
1992 5,585,609 124,425,000
1991 5,495,077 123,964,000
1990 5,399,726 123,478,000
1989 5,298,979 123,069,000
1988 5,195,833 122,578,000
1987 5,092,441 122,069,000
1986 4,992,769 121,482,000
1985 4,894,706 120,837,000
1984 4,798,003 120,083,000
1983 4,707,367 119,307,000
1982 4,622,477 118,480,000
1981 4,570,599 117,661,000
1980 4,540,382 116,807,000
1979 4,480,388 115,890,000
1978 4,394,114 114,913,000
1977 4,301,256 113,872,000
1976 4,210,310 112,775,000
1975 4,120,449 111,573,000
1974 4,029,671 110,162,000
1973 3,938,068 108,707,000
1972 3,846,830 107,188,000
1971 3,757,523 105,697,000
1970 3,668,796 103,403,000
1969 3,576,485 102,219,000
1968 3,480,773 101,011,000
1967 3,385,184 99,879,000
1966 3,290,961 98,851,000
1965 3,199,466 97,952,000
1964 3,111,883 96,903,000
1963 3,028,679 95,900,000
1962 2,949,204 94,933,000
1961 2,870,016 94,055,000
1960 2,791,459 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of El Salvador increased by 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, El Salvador gained 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

El Salvador was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 111th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
El Salvador Japan
2100 -0.86% -0.5%
2099 -0.86% -0.49%
2098 -0.86% -0.48%
2097 -0.88% -0.48%
2096 -0.88% -0.48%
2095 -0.87% -0.47%
2094 -0.86% -0.47%
2093 -0.86% -0.47%
2092 -0.85% -0.47%
2091 -0.85% -0.47%
2090 -0.84% -0.47%
2089 -0.82% -0.47%
2088 -0.82% -0.47%
2087 -0.81% -0.48%
2086 -0.8% -0.49%
2085 -0.78% -0.5%
2084 -0.75% -0.5%
2083 -0.73% -0.52%
2082 -0.71% -0.53%
2081 -0.69% -0.55%
2080 -0.67% -0.57%
2079 -0.64% -0.59%
2078 -0.61% -0.62%
2077 -0.59% -0.64%
2076 -0.55% -0.67%
2075 -0.52% -0.69%
2074 -0.53% -0.73%
2073 -0.46% -0.74%
2072 -0.45% -0.76%
2071 -0.44% -0.79%
2070 -0.42% -0.79%
2069 -0.41% -0.8%
2068 -0.38% -0.8%
2067 -0.36% -0.81%
2066 -0.36% -0.81%
2065 -0.34% -0.79%
2064 -0.31% -0.79%
2063 -0.29% -0.78%
2062 -0.26% -0.77%
2061 -0.26% -0.76%
2060 -0.23% -0.75%
2059 -0.21% -0.73%
2058 -0.21% -0.71%
2057 -0.2% -0.7%
2056 -0.18% -0.68%
2055 -0.16% -0.68%
2054 -0.12% -0.65%
2053 -0.09% -0.65%
2052 -0.09% -0.64%
2051 -0.05% -0.64%
2050 -0.05% -0.64%
2049 -0.02% -0.64%
2048 0.003% -0.64%
2047 0.01% -0.64%
2046 0.03% -0.65%
2045 0.04% -0.65%
2044 0.08% -0.65%
2043 0.09% -0.65%
2042 0.12% -0.66%
2041 0.14% -0.65%
2040 0.15% -0.65%
2039 0.19% -0.65%
2038 0.19% -0.65%
2037 0.22% -0.65%
2036 0.24% -0.65%
2035 0.25% -0.64%
2034 0.29% -0.63%
2033 0.29% -0.63%
2032 0.31% -0.62%
2031 0.32% -0.61%
2030 0.36% -0.6%
2029 0.37% -0.59%
2028 0.39% -0.58%
2027 0.4% -0.56%
2026 0.41% -0.54%
2025 0.45% -0.51%
2024 0.45% -0.43%
2023 0.47% -0.49%
2022 0.39% -0.44%
2021 0.34% -0.46%
2020 0.2% -0.29%
2019 0.04% -0.14%
2018 0.1% -0.13%
2017 0.21% -0.08%
2016 0.28% -0.05%
2015 0.34% -0.11%
2014 0.39% -0.13%
2013 0.41% -0.14%
2012 0.39% -0.16%
2011 0.36% -0.19%
2010 0.33% 0.02%
2009 0.31% -0.01%
2008 0.32% 0.05%
2007 0.13% 0.11%
2006 -0.05% 0.06%
2005 0.02% 0.009%
2004 0.1% 0.03%
2003 0.2% 0.21%
2002 0.31% 0.23%
2001 0.42% 0.24%
2000 0.5% 0.17%
1999 0.56% 0.18%
1998 0.62% 0.27%
1997 0.68% 0.24%
1996 0.75% 0.23%
1995 0.84% 0.23%
1994 0.96% 0.28%
1993 1.33% 0.32%
1992 1.65% 0.37%
1991 1.77% 0.39%
1990 1.9% 0.33%
1989 1.99% 0.4%
1988 2.03% 0.42%
1987 2% 0.48%
1986 2% 0.53%
1985 2.02% 0.63%
1984 1.93% 0.65%
1983 1.84% 0.7%
1982 1.14% 0.7%
1981 0.67% 0.73%
1980 1.34% 0.79%
1979 1.96% 0.85%
1978 2.16% 0.91%
1977 2.16% 0.97%
1976 2.18% 1.08%
1975 2.25% 1.28%
1974 2.33% 1.34%
1973 2.37% 1.42%
1972 2.38% 1.41%
1971 2.42% 2.22%
1970 2.58% 1.16%
1969 2.75% 1.2%
1968 2.82% 1.13%
1967 2.86% 1.04%
1966 2.86% 0.92%
1965 2.81% 1.08%
1964 2.75% 1.05%
1963 2.69% 1.02%
1962 2.76% 0.93%
1961 2.81% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.45%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Japan
Current population
6399793
122677250
Population rank 111/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.48%
One net population change
18.4 minutes
58.3 seconds
One birth every
5.29 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
11.1 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +78 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +28,569 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 140/197 185/197
One migration net change every
22 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -23,934 +140,579
Net migration rank 155/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 43,342 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 155/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 164/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

El Salvador
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
El Salvador Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,934 - 140,579
2024 - -23,102 - 153,357
2023 51,985 -23,253 -871,617 175,003
2022 53,138 -23,255 -825,825 175,003
2021 46,530 -27,343 -640,976 -34,996
2020 48,244 -25,213 -542,923 42,001
2019 56,816 -55,144 -531,858 318,190
2018 57,509 -54,163 -456,520 320,601
2017 59,824 -50,608 -406,310 322,564
2016 63,751 -47,491 -343,106 314,732
2015 69,263 -51,278 -292,424 168,896
2014 72,581 -49,126 -267,279 58,109
2013 73,869 -49,087 -242,146 66,449
2012 75,495 -50,546 -229,733 67,904
2011 76,182 -53,433 -204,533 97,720
2010 75,695 -54,688 -128,070 131,860
2009 74,908 -55,966 -76,828 125,450
2008 75,107 -56,086 -51,225 142,605
2007 76,776 -56,857 -25,600 138,024
2006 80,887 -85,789 12,785 130,065
2005 84,883 -86,501 -25,554 113,017
2004 90,905 -87,466 76,656 69,014
2003 97,849 -89,146 114,946 74,875
2002 106,137 -90,908 178,423 60,864
2001 114,313 -92,389 203,438 59,563
2000 122,315 -94,861 228,317 23,468
1999 128,947 -97,475 202,610 56,901
1998 134,065 -99,293 265,440 45,912
1997 134,448 -96,820 277,325 43,366
1996 136,929 -95,977 314,392 25,030
1995 138,268 -92,912 276,039 87,714
1994 137,974 -87,318 363,017 154,214
1993 138,432 -80,736 312,073 168,836
1992 139,221 -48,232 360,833 170,878
1991 140,691 -50,622 396,685 161,331
1990 140,311 -39,689 407,478 124,582
1989 139,093 -38,211 467,662 31,202
1988 136,230 -30,806 527,085 51,154
1987 133,667 -32,308 598,138 28,001
1986 130,177 -32,181 631,706 27,987
1985 127,248 -29,111 676,687 -141,323
1984 125,036 -29,767 756,523 -273,686
1983 121,700 -35,694 775,495 -269,755
1982 120,938 -37,159 805,664 -288,550
1981 117,346 -97,365 811,861 -278,525
1980 111,771 -71,318 864,372 -92,314
1979 123,838 -44,302 950,298 -57,692
1978 124,468 -31,463 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 121,446 -28,742 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 120,511 -31,317 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 116,737 -26,198 1,204,989 107
1974 113,846 -22,844 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 111,546 -19,347 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 107,604 -17,317 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 104,714 -16,389 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 100,499 -11,367 1,230,496 33,731
1969 99,848 -4,355 1,195,962 49,447
1968 98,851 -2,919 1,191,930 43,593
1967 98,424 -3,192 1,258,475 29,632
1966 97,156 -3,945 682,072 68,934
1965 95,341 -5,560 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 93,328 -7,937 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 90,794 -9,774 987,770 -100,742
1962 88,237 -10,307 901,864 -57,075
1961 84,614 -4,159 893,522 -58,882
1960 81,544 -4,885 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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