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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,338,193 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,399,793 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Nicaragua's population is 1.11 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 +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.62% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

El Salvador vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Nicaragua
2100 5,106,358 8,688,116
2099 5,150,403 8,724,538
2098 5,195,110 8,760,232
2097 5,240,164 8,794,755
2096 5,286,555 8,828,433
2095 5,333,357 8,861,157
2094 5,380,368 8,892,755
2093 5,427,291 8,924,287
2092 5,474,174 8,954,488
2091 5,521,257 8,984,026
2090 5,568,339 9,012,075
2089 5,615,550 9,039,709
2088 5,662,256 9,065,862
2087 5,709,072 9,090,942
2086 5,755,593 9,115,336
2085 5,801,778 9,138,363
2084 5,847,545 9,160,205
2083 5,891,829 9,180,483
2082 5,935,056 9,199,639
2081 5,977,631 9,217,574
2080 6,019,326 9,233,677
2079 6,059,817 9,247,995
2078 6,098,689 9,260,269
2077 6,136,133 9,271,296
2076 6,172,686 9,280,355
2075 6,206,865 9,287,263
2074 6,239,356 9,293,340
2073 6,272,337 9,297,217
2072 6,301,557 9,298,930
2071 6,330,086 9,298,548
2070 6,358,052 9,296,541
2069 6,384,863 9,292,245
2068 6,410,986 9,285,519
2067 6,435,437 9,277,073
2066 6,458,779 9,266,063
2065 6,481,938 9,253,359
2064 6,503,884 9,238,451
2063 6,524,373 9,221,261
2062 6,543,157 9,201,687
2061 6,560,419 9,180,231
2060 6,577,429 9,156,164
2059 6,592,662 9,129,485
2058 6,606,305 9,100,437
2057 6,620,473 9,069,770
2056 6,633,666 9,037,076
2055 6,645,594 9,002,004
2054 6,656,251 8,964,646
2053 6,664,115 8,925,248
2052 6,670,429 8,883,323
2051 6,676,658 8,838,651
2050 6,679,973 8,791,647
2049 6,683,494 8,743,003
2048 6,684,918 8,691,701
2047 6,684,723 8,638,293
2046 6,684,063 8,583,244
2045 6,681,948 8,525,953
2044 6,679,505 8,466,669
2043 6,674,197 8,405,733
2042 6,668,140 8,342,871
2041 6,660,323 8,278,159
2040 6,651,019 8,211,510
2039 6,641,112 8,143,346
2038 6,628,299 8,072,943
2037 6,615,428 8,000,701
2036 6,600,845 7,926,969
2035 6,585,074 7,851,540
2034 6,568,788 7,774,327
2033 6,549,941 7,695,506
2032 6,530,975 7,615,273
2031 6,511,064 7,533,169
2030 6,490,493 7,449,842
2029 6,467,381 7,364,850
2028 6,443,426 7,278,061
2027 6,418,289 7,189,755
2026 6,392,935 7,100,090
2025 6,366,672 7,008,896
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 103rd 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 4.38% to 6,679,973 people with a rank change from 111th to 116th. The population of Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

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 0.45% 1.34%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.45%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Nicaragua
Current population
6399793
7124343
Population rank 111/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.09%
One net population change
18.4 minutes
5.68 minutes
One birth every
5.29 minutes
3.98 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +78 +253
Annual growth/decline +28,569 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 140/197 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 - -23,102 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 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 (1960–2024, 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/nicaragua | 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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