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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,365,503 in 2025 vs 7,007,502 people in Nicaragua in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,404,781 people compared to 7,144,725 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Nicaragua's population is 1.12 times bigger than El Salvador's.
  • El Salvador is ranked the 111th most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.08% for El Salvador vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs +1.32% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.71% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.14M (31.8% growth).

El Salvador vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Nicaragua
2100 5,105,420 8,686,387
2099 5,149,457 8,722,801
2098 5,194,156 8,758,489
2097 5,239,201 8,793,005
2096 5,285,584 8,826,676
2095 5,332,377 8,859,393
2094 5,379,380 8,890,985
2093 5,426,293 8,922,511
2092 5,473,168 8,952,706
2091 5,520,243 8,982,238
2090 5,567,316 9,010,281
2089 5,614,518 9,037,910
2088 5,661,216 9,064,058
2087 5,708,023 9,089,133
2086 5,754,535 9,113,522
2085 5,800,712 9,136,545
2084 5,846,470 9,158,382
2083 5,890,746 9,178,656
2082 5,933,965 9,197,809
2081 5,976,533 9,215,739
2080 6,018,220 9,231,840
2079 6,058,704 9,246,154
2078 6,097,568 9,258,426
2077 6,135,005 9,269,451
2076 6,171,552 9,278,508
2075 6,205,725 9,285,415
2074 6,238,209 9,291,490
2073 6,271,184 9,295,367
2072 6,300,399 9,297,079
2071 6,328,923 9,296,698
2070 6,356,884 9,294,691
2069 6,383,690 9,290,396
2068 6,409,808 9,283,672
2067 6,434,255 9,275,227
2066 6,457,592 9,264,219
2065 6,480,747 9,251,518
2064 6,502,689 9,236,612
2063 6,523,174 9,219,426
2062 6,541,955 9,199,856
2061 6,559,213 9,178,404
2060 6,576,220 9,154,342
2059 6,591,451 9,127,668
2058 6,605,091 9,098,625
2057 6,619,257 9,067,965
2056 6,632,447 9,035,277
2055 6,644,372 9,000,212
2054 6,655,028 8,962,862
2053 6,662,891 8,923,471
2052 6,669,204 8,881,555
2051 6,675,431 8,836,892
2050 6,678,745 8,789,897
2049 6,682,265 8,741,263
2048 6,683,689 8,689,971
2047 6,683,495 8,636,574
2046 6,682,835 8,581,536
2045 6,680,720 8,524,256
2044 6,678,277 8,464,984
2043 6,672,970 8,404,060
2042 6,666,915 8,341,211
2041 6,659,099 8,276,512
2040 6,649,797 8,209,876
2039 6,639,891 8,141,726
2038 6,627,081 8,071,337
2037 6,614,212 7,999,109
2036 6,599,632 7,925,391
2035 6,583,864 7,849,978
2034 6,567,581 7,772,780
2033 6,548,738 7,693,975
2032 6,529,775 7,613,757
2031 6,509,868 7,531,669
2030 6,489,300 7,448,359
2029 6,466,193 7,363,385
2028 6,442,242 7,276,613
2027 6,417,110 7,188,324
2026 6,391,761 7,098,677
2025 6,365,503 7,007,502
2024 6,338,193 6,916,140
2023 6,309,624 6,823,613
2022 6,280,319 6,730,654
2021 6,255,782 6,644,741
2020 6,234,673 6,565,267
2019 6,222,318 6,483,657
2018 6,219,807 6,400,080
2017 6,213,533 6,316,231
2016 6,200,800 6,232,666
2015 6,183,676 6,149,417
2014 6,162,955 6,066,492
2013 6,138,839 5,983,845
2012 6,113,975 5,901,287
2011 6,090,127 5,819,051
2010 6,068,249 5,737,450
2009 6,048,279 5,656,601
2008 6,029,297 5,576,593
2007 6,009,824 5,497,243
2006 6,002,319 5,418,855
2005 6,005,578 5,342,105
2004 6,004,671 5,272,912
2003 5,998,599 5,210,963
2002 5,986,631 5,149,909
2001 5,968,060 5,087,825
2000 5,943,366 5,022,633
1999 5,913,900 4,954,018
1998 5,880,781 4,883,655
1997 5,844,578 4,809,573
1996 5,805,286 4,729,974
1995 5,762,131 4,642,931
1994 5,714,129 4,549,316
1993 5,659,957 4,453,732
1992 5,585,609 4,357,026
1991 5,495,077 4,259,637
1990 5,399,726 4,162,559
1989 5,298,979 4,066,476
1988 5,195,833 3,972,320
1987 5,092,441 3,882,164
1986 4,992,769 3,794,157
1985 4,894,706 3,706,479
1984 4,798,003 3,619,104
1983 4,707,367 3,530,282
1982 4,622,477 3,438,745
1981 4,570,599 3,345,674
1980 4,540,382 3,252,403
1979 4,480,388 3,164,525
1978 4,394,114 3,080,314
1977 4,301,256 2,992,534
1976 4,210,310 2,903,851
1975 4,120,449 2,816,943
1974 4,029,671 2,732,075
1973 3,938,068 2,649,278
1972 3,846,830 2,573,578
1971 3,757,523 2,499,825
1970 3,668,796 2,423,065
1969 3,576,485 2,348,398
1968 3,480,773 2,275,836
1967 3,385,184 2,205,567
1966 3,290,961 2,137,820
1965 3,199,466 2,072,681
1964 3,111,883 2,010,176
1963 3,028,679 1,950,159
1962 2,949,204 1,892,320
1961 2,870,016 1,836,451
1960 2,791,459 1,782,370

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of El Salvador increased by 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, El Salvador gained 203,981 people (a 3.29% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 912,059 people (a 14.6% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 102nd most populous country in 2006 and is 111th in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th 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 Nicaragua will increase by 23% to 8,789,897 people and rank change from 107th to 109th.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people compared to the peak of 9.3M people in 2072 for Nicaragua.

Population growth rate by year

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
El Salvador Nicaragua
2100 -0.86% -0.42%
2099 -0.86% -0.41%
2098 -0.86% -0.39%
2097 -0.88% -0.38%
2096 -0.88% -0.37%
2095 -0.87% -0.36%
2094 -0.86% -0.35%
2093 -0.86% -0.34%
2092 -0.85% -0.33%
2091 -0.85% -0.31%
2090 -0.84% -0.31%
2089 -0.82% -0.29%
2088 -0.82% -0.28%
2087 -0.81% -0.27%
2086 -0.8% -0.25%
2085 -0.78% -0.24%
2084 -0.75% -0.22%
2083 -0.73% -0.21%
2082 -0.71% -0.19%
2081 -0.69% -0.17%
2080 -0.67% -0.15%
2079 -0.64% -0.13%
2078 -0.61% -0.12%
2077 -0.59% -0.1%
2076 -0.55% -0.07%
2075 -0.52% -0.07%
2074 -0.53% -0.04%
2073 -0.46% -0.02%
2072 -0.45% 0.004%
2071 -0.44% 0.02%
2070 -0.42% 0.05%
2069 -0.41% 0.07%
2068 -0.38% 0.09%
2067 -0.36% 0.12%
2066 -0.36% 0.14%
2065 -0.34% 0.16%
2064 -0.31% 0.19%
2063 -0.29% 0.21%
2062 -0.26% 0.23%
2061 -0.26% 0.26%
2060 -0.23% 0.29%
2059 -0.21% 0.32%
2058 -0.21% 0.34%
2057 -0.2% 0.36%
2056 -0.18% 0.39%
2055 -0.16% 0.42%
2054 -0.12% 0.44%
2053 -0.09% 0.47%
2052 -0.09% 0.51%
2051 -0.05% 0.53%
2050 -0.05% 0.56%
2049 -0.02% 0.59%
2048 0.003% 0.62%
2047 0.01% 0.64%
2046 0.03% 0.67%
2045 0.04% 0.7%
2044 0.08% 0.72%
2043 0.09% 0.75%
2042 0.12% 0.78%
2041 0.14% 0.81%
2040 0.15% 0.84%
2039 0.19% 0.87%
2038 0.19% 0.9%
2037 0.22% 0.93%
2036 0.24% 0.96%
2035 0.25% 0.99%
2034 0.29% 1.02%
2033 0.29% 1.05%
2032 0.31% 1.09%
2031 0.32% 1.12%
2030 0.36% 1.15%
2029 0.37% 1.19%
2028 0.39% 1.23%
2027 0.4% 1.26%
2026 0.41% 1.3%
2025 0.43% 1.32%
2024 0.45% 1.36%
2023 0.47% 1.38%
2022 0.39% 1.29%
2021 0.34% 1.21%
2020 0.2% 1.26%
2019 0.04% 1.31%
2018 0.1% 1.33%
2017 0.21% 1.34%
2016 0.28% 1.35%
2015 0.34% 1.37%
2014 0.39% 1.38%
2013 0.41% 1.4%
2012 0.39% 1.41%
2011 0.36% 1.42%
2010 0.33% 1.43%
2009 0.31% 1.43%
2008 0.32% 1.44%
2007 0.13% 1.45%
2006 -0.05% 1.44%
2005 0.02% 1.31%
2004 0.1% 1.19%
2003 0.2% 1.19%
2002 0.31% 1.22%
2001 0.42% 1.3%
2000 0.5% 1.39%
1999 0.56% 1.44%
1998 0.62% 1.54%
1997 0.68% 1.68%
1996 0.75% 1.87%
1995 0.84% 2.06%
1994 0.96% 2.15%
1993 1.33% 2.22%
1992 1.65% 2.29%
1991 1.77% 2.33%
1990 1.9% 2.36%
1989 1.99% 2.37%
1988 2.03% 2.32%
1987 2% 2.32%
1986 2% 2.37%
1985 2.02% 2.41%
1984 1.93% 2.52%
1983 1.84% 2.66%
1982 1.14% 2.78%
1981 0.67% 2.87%
1980 1.34% 2.78%
1979 1.96% 2.73%
1978 2.16% 2.93%
1977 2.16% 3.05%
1976 2.18% 3.09%
1975 2.25% 3.11%
1974 2.33% 3.13%
1973 2.37% 2.94%
1972 2.38% 2.95%
1971 2.42% 3.17%
1970 2.58% 3.18%
1969 2.75% 3.19%
1968 2.82% 3.19%
1967 2.86% 3.17%
1966 2.86% 3.14%
1965 2.81% 3.11%
1964 2.75% 3.08%
1963 2.69% 3.06%
1962 2.76% 3.04%
1961 2.81% 3.03%

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/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2025, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.43%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.32%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Nicaragua
Current population
6404781
7144725
Population rank 111/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.09%
One net population change
19.3 minutes
5.77 minutes
One birth every
5.32 minutes
3.97 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
16.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +75 +250
Annual growth/decline +27,310 +91,362
Annual growth/decline rate +0.43% +1.32%
Population growth rate rank 137/197 78/197
One migration net change every
22 minutes
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -23,934 -8,371
Net migration rank 155/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 43,342 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 155/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 164/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

El Salvador
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
El Salvador Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,934 - -8,371
2024 51,510 -23,102 100,318 -8,189
2023 51,985 -23,253 100,921 -7,996
2022 53,138 -23,255 100,987 -7,996
2021 46,530 -27,343 89,213 -10,383
2020 48,244 -25,213 90,515 -10,383
2019 56,816 -55,144 102,817 -19,730
2018 57,509 -54,163 104,814 -20,742
2017 59,824 -50,608 105,468 -21,849
2016 63,751 -47,491 106,585 -23,076
2015 69,263 -51,278 107,344 -24,353
2014 72,581 -49,126 108,420 -25,570
2013 73,869 -49,087 109,032 -26,587
2012 75,495 -50,546 110,065 -27,389
2011 76,182 -53,433 110,026 -28,221
2010 75,695 -54,688 110,475 -29,081
2009 74,908 -55,966 110,213 -29,913
2008 75,107 -56,086 110,395 -30,675
2007 76,776 -56,857 110,341 -31,357
2006 80,887 -85,789 110,073 -32,274
2005 84,883 -86,501 108,984 -33,280
2004 90,905 -87,466 106,904 -44,222
2003 97,849 -89,146 106,142 -44,931
2002 106,137 -90,908 105,805 -44,906
2001 114,313 -92,389 107,109 -43,837
2000 122,315 -94,861 109,192 -42,087
1999 128,947 -97,475 110,217 -40,095
1998 134,065 -99,293 108,862 -38,260
1997 134,448 -96,820 114,415 -36,851
1996 136,929 -95,977 116,849 -35,208
1995 138,268 -92,912 118,325 -25,889
1994 137,974 -87,318 119,565 -24,773
1993 138,432 -80,736 120,469 -24,091
1992 139,221 -48,232 121,204 -24,171
1991 140,691 -50,622 121,787 -24,028
1990 140,311 -39,689 120,677 -24,280
1989 139,093 -38,211 120,128 -24,364
1988 136,230 -30,806 117,299 -24,753
1987 133,667 -32,308 112,885 -25,127
1986 130,177 -32,181 113,054 -24,805
1985 127,248 -29,111 110,949 -23,840
1984 125,036 -29,767 110,133 -22,493
1983 121,700 -35,694 110,618 -20,620
1982 120,938 -37,159 112,468 -19,395
1981 117,346 -97,365 110,421 -17,353
1980 111,771 -71,318 108,604 -15,130
1979 123,838 -44,302 96,429 -14,152
1978 124,468 -31,463 98,419 -12,273
1977 121,446 -28,742 100,498 -11,082
1976 120,511 -31,317 98,100 -10,155
1975 116,737 -26,198 95,230 -9,349
1974 113,846 -22,844 92,505 -8,639
1973 111,546 -19,347 89,662 -7,947
1972 107,604 -17,317 76,906 -7,219
1971 104,714 -16,389 84,139 -6,328
1970 100,499 -11,367 81,127 -5,423
1969 99,848 -4,355 78,237 -4,592
1968 98,851 -2,919 75,458 -3,979
1967 98,424 -3,192 72,722 -3,666
1966 97,156 -3,945 69,883 -3,443
1965 95,341 -5,560 67,056 -3,231
1964 93,328 -7,937 64,227 -3,043
1963 90,794 -9,774 61,738 -2,881
1962 88,237 -10,307 59,547 -2,727
1961 84,614 -4,159 57,499 -2,579
1960 81,544 -4,885 55,664 -2,418

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 86.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,008,982 people) and 13.3% is from migration (a loss of 154,697 people).

As of 2024, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

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
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

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/nicaragua | 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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