Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,338,193 in 2024 vs 4,515,577 people in Panama in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,399,793 people compared to 4,642,198 in Panama.

Population statistics:

  • El Salvador's population is 1.38 times bigger than Panama's.
  • El Salvador is ranked the 111th most populous country in the world, while Panama is the 128th.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.08% for El Salvador vs 0.06% for Panama.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs +1.52% in Panama.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.62% growth), while Panama has grown from 3.38M to 4.64M (37.5% growth).

El Salvador vs Panama: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Panama
2100 5,106,358 5,947,731
2099 5,150,403 5,958,919
2098 5,195,110 5,969,676
2097 5,240,164 5,979,860
2096 5,286,555 5,989,615
2095 5,333,357 5,998,960
2094 5,380,368 6,007,655
2093 5,427,291 6,015,893
2092 5,474,174 6,023,482
2091 5,521,257 6,030,584
2090 5,568,339 6,037,116
2089 5,615,550 6,043,194
2088 5,662,256 6,048,506
2087 5,709,072 6,053,252
2086 5,755,593 6,057,347
2085 5,801,778 6,060,940
2084 5,847,545 6,063,735
2083 5,891,829 6,065,863
2082 5,935,056 6,067,171
2081 5,977,631 6,067,635
2080 6,019,326 6,067,317
2079 6,059,817 6,066,164
2078 6,098,689 6,064,127
2077 6,136,133 6,061,297
2076 6,172,686 6,057,645
2075 6,206,865 6,053,134
2074 6,239,356 6,047,620
2073 6,272,337 6,041,318
2072 6,301,557 6,034,065
2071 6,330,086 6,026,051
2070 6,358,052 6,017,288
2069 6,384,863 6,007,621
2068 6,410,986 5,997,109
2067 6,435,437 5,985,932
2066 6,458,779 5,973,853
2065 6,481,938 5,961,039
2064 6,503,884 5,947,320
2063 6,524,373 5,932,822
2062 6,543,157 5,917,367
2061 6,560,419 5,900,972
2060 6,577,429 5,883,654
2059 6,592,662 5,865,433
2058 6,606,305 5,846,037
2057 6,620,473 5,825,696
2056 6,633,666 5,804,369
2055 6,645,594 5,781,900
2054 6,656,251 5,758,339
2053 6,664,115 5,733,538
2052 6,670,429 5,707,562
2051 6,676,658 5,680,231
2050 6,679,973 5,651,617
2049 6,683,494 5,621,841
2048 6,684,918 5,590,701
2047 6,684,723 5,558,382
2046 6,684,063 5,524,843
2045 6,681,948 5,490,228
2044 6,679,505 5,454,371
2043 6,674,197 5,417,316
2042 6,668,140 5,379,169
2041 6,660,323 5,339,872
2040 6,651,019 5,299,492
2039 6,641,112 5,257,983
2038 6,628,299 5,215,284
2037 6,615,428 5,171,497
2036 6,600,845 5,126,814
2035 6,585,074 5,081,210
2034 6,568,788 5,034,708
2033 6,549,941 4,987,247
2032 6,530,975 4,938,646
2031 6,511,064 4,889,260
2030 6,490,493 4,838,970
2029 6,467,381 4,787,654
2028 6,443,426 4,735,214
2027 6,418,289 4,681,847
2026 6,392,935 4,627,497
2025 6,366,672 4,572,106
2024 6,338,193 4,515,577
2023 6,309,624 4,458,759
2022 6,280,319 4,400,773
2021 6,255,782 4,345,405
2020 6,234,673 4,293,261
2019 6,222,318 4,234,700
2018 6,219,807 4,167,860
2017 6,213,533 4,098,707
2016 6,200,800 4,029,086
2015 6,183,676 3,960,035
2014 6,162,955 3,892,101
2013 6,138,839 3,825,329
2012 6,113,975 3,759,256
2011 6,090,127 3,693,505
2010 6,068,249 3,628,535
2009 6,048,279 3,564,381
2008 6,029,297 3,500,648
2007 6,009,824 3,437,490
2006 6,002,319 3,375,024
2005 6,005,578 3,313,026
2004 6,004,671 3,251,155
2003 5,998,599 3,189,807
2002 5,986,631 3,129,344
2001 5,968,060 3,069,537
2000 5,943,366 3,010,369
1999 5,913,900 2,951,822
1998 5,880,781 2,893,914
1997 5,844,578 2,836,695
1996 5,805,286 2,780,227
1995 5,762,131 2,724,557
1994 5,714,129 2,669,546
1993 5,659,957 2,615,099
1992 5,585,609 2,561,336
1991 5,495,077 2,508,265
1990 5,399,726 2,455,583
1989 5,298,979 2,403,820
1988 5,195,833 2,352,848
1987 5,092,441 2,301,970
1986 4,992,769 2,251,325
1985 4,894,706 2,200,915
1984 4,798,003 2,150,782
1983 4,707,367 2,101,106
1982 4,622,477 2,052,271
1981 4,570,599 2,004,418
1980 4,540,382 1,957,534
1979 4,480,388 1,911,552
1978 4,394,114 1,866,311
1977 4,301,256 1,821,543
1976 4,210,310 1,776,935
1975 4,120,449 1,732,389
1974 4,029,671 1,687,926
1973 3,938,068 1,643,690
1972 3,846,830 1,599,723
1971 3,757,523 1,556,081
1970 3,668,796 1,513,070
1969 3,576,485 1,470,886
1968 3,480,773 1,429,447
1967 3,385,184 1,388,628
1966 3,290,961 1,348,388
1965 3,199,466 1,308,835
1964 3,111,883 1,270,065
1963 3,028,679 1,232,124
1962 2,949,204 1,195,301
1961 2,870,016 1,159,870
1960 2,791,459 1,126,005

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/panama | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of El Salvador increased by 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth), while Panama gained 654,062 people (a 19.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, El Salvador gained 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth), while Panama's population increased by 613,112 people (a 15.2% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 111th in 2026. Panama was ranked 128th in 2006 and still ranked 128th 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 Panama will increase by 21.7% to 5,651,617 people and rank change from 128th to 124th.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people compared to the peak of 6.07M people in 2081 for Panama.

Population growth rate by year

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
El Salvador Panama
2100 -0.86% -0.19%
2099 -0.86% -0.18%
2098 -0.86% -0.17%
2097 -0.88% -0.16%
2096 -0.88% -0.16%
2095 -0.87% -0.14%
2094 -0.86% -0.14%
2093 -0.86% -0.13%
2092 -0.85% -0.12%
2091 -0.85% -0.11%
2090 -0.84% -0.1%
2089 -0.82% -0.09%
2088 -0.82% -0.08%
2087 -0.81% -0.07%
2086 -0.8% -0.06%
2085 -0.78% -0.05%
2084 -0.75% -0.04%
2083 -0.73% -0.02%
2082 -0.71% -0.008%
2081 -0.69% 0.005%
2080 -0.67% 0.02%
2079 -0.64% 0.03%
2078 -0.61% 0.05%
2077 -0.59% 0.06%
2076 -0.55% 0.07%
2075 -0.52% 0.09%
2074 -0.53% 0.1%
2073 -0.46% 0.12%
2072 -0.45% 0.13%
2071 -0.44% 0.15%
2070 -0.42% 0.16%
2069 -0.41% 0.18%
2068 -0.38% 0.19%
2067 -0.36% 0.2%
2066 -0.36% 0.21%
2065 -0.34% 0.23%
2064 -0.31% 0.24%
2063 -0.29% 0.26%
2062 -0.26% 0.28%
2061 -0.26% 0.29%
2060 -0.23% 0.31%
2059 -0.21% 0.33%
2058 -0.21% 0.35%
2057 -0.2% 0.37%
2056 -0.18% 0.39%
2055 -0.16% 0.41%
2054 -0.12% 0.43%
2053 -0.09% 0.46%
2052 -0.09% 0.48%
2051 -0.05% 0.51%
2050 -0.05% 0.53%
2049 -0.02% 0.56%
2048 0.003% 0.58%
2047 0.01% 0.61%
2046 0.03% 0.63%
2045 0.04% 0.66%
2044 0.08% 0.68%
2043 0.09% 0.71%
2042 0.12% 0.74%
2041 0.14% 0.76%
2040 0.15% 0.79%
2039 0.19% 0.82%
2038 0.19% 0.85%
2037 0.22% 0.87%
2036 0.24% 0.9%
2035 0.25% 0.92%
2034 0.29% 0.95%
2033 0.29% 0.98%
2032 0.31% 1.01%
2031 0.32% 1.04%
2030 0.36% 1.07%
2029 0.37% 1.11%
2028 0.39% 1.14%
2027 0.4% 1.17%
2026 0.41% 1.21%
2025 0.45% 1.25%
2024 0.45% 1.27%
2023 0.47% 1.32%
2022 0.39% 1.27%
2021 0.34% 1.21%
2020 0.2% 1.38%
2019 0.04% 1.6%
2018 0.1% 1.69%
2017 0.21% 1.73%
2016 0.28% 1.74%
2015 0.34% 1.75%
2014 0.39% 1.75%
2013 0.41% 1.76%
2012 0.39% 1.78%
2011 0.36% 1.79%
2010 0.33% 1.8%
2009 0.31% 1.82%
2008 0.32% 1.84%
2007 0.13% 1.85%
2006 -0.05% 1.87%
2005 0.02% 1.9%
2004 0.1% 1.92%
2003 0.2% 1.93%
2002 0.31% 1.95%
2001 0.42% 1.97%
2000 0.5% 1.98%
1999 0.56% 2%
1998 0.62% 2.02%
1997 0.68% 2.03%
1996 0.75% 2.04%
1995 0.84% 2.06%
1994 0.96% 2.08%
1993 1.33% 2.1%
1992 1.65% 2.12%
1991 1.77% 2.15%
1990 1.9% 2.15%
1989 1.99% 2.17%
1988 2.03% 2.21%
1987 2% 2.25%
1986 2% 2.29%
1985 2.02% 2.33%
1984 1.93% 2.36%
1983 1.84% 2.38%
1982 1.14% 2.39%
1981 0.67% 2.4%
1980 1.34% 2.41%
1979 1.96% 2.42%
1978 2.16% 2.46%
1977 2.16% 2.51%
1976 2.18% 2.57%
1975 2.25% 2.63%
1974 2.33% 2.69%
1973 2.37% 2.75%
1972 2.38% 2.8%
1971 2.42% 2.84%
1970 2.58% 2.87%
1969 2.75% 2.9%
1968 2.82% 2.94%
1967 2.86% 2.98%
1966 2.86% 3.02%
1965 2.81% 3.05%
1964 2.75% 3.08%
1963 2.69% 3.08%
1962 2.76% 3.05%
1961 2.81% 3.01%

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/panama | CC BY

In 2024, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.45%, while Panama's population grew by 1.27%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Panama
Current population
6399793
4642198
Population rank 111/197 128/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.06%
One net population change
18.4 minutes
9.25 minutes
One birth every
5.29 minutes
7.35 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
24.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +78 +156
Annual growth/decline +28,569 +56,818
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.27%
Population growth rate rank 140/197 83/197
One migration net change every
22 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -23,934 +6,151
Net migration rank 155/196 49/196
Foreign-born residents 43,342 477,749
Foreign-born residents rank 155/195 81/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 164/195 63/195

Natural population change vs migration

El Salvador
Natural

Migration
Panama
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
El Salvador Panama
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,934 - 6,151
2024 - -23,102 - 6,706
2023 51,985 -23,253 50,197 7,262
2022 53,138 -23,255 50,556 7,967
2021 46,530 -27,343 46,747 5,473
2020 48,244 -25,213 46,599 5,473
2019 56,816 -55,144 54,420 10,623
2018 57,509 -54,163 57,508 11,130
2017 59,824 -50,608 58,607 11,059
2016 63,751 -47,491 59,454 10,109
2015 69,263 -51,278 59,896 8,648
2014 72,581 -49,126 60,227 7,105
2013 73,869 -49,087 60,295 5,926
2012 75,495 -50,546 60,471 5,447
2011 76,182 -53,433 60,411 5,167
2010 75,695 -54,688 59,418 4,953
2009 74,908 -55,966 59,168 4,765
2008 75,107 -56,086 58,961 4,568
2007 76,776 -56,857 58,454 4,330
2006 80,887 -85,789 58,067 4,087
2005 84,883 -86,501 58,014 3,843
2004 90,905 -87,466 58,281 3,596
2003 97,849 -89,146 57,458 3,352
2002 106,137 -90,908 57,011 3,099
2001 114,313 -92,389 56,654 2,856
2000 122,315 -94,861 56,236 2,602
1999 128,947 -97,475 55,911 2,341
1998 134,065 -99,293 55,482 2,084
1997 134,448 -96,820 55,060 1,820
1996 136,929 -95,977 54,512 1,533
1995 138,268 -92,912 54,069 1,221
1994 137,974 -87,318 53,845 899
1993 138,432 -80,736 53,591 560
1992 139,221 -48,232 53,186 182
1991 140,691 -50,622 53,079 -305
1990 140,311 -39,689 53,451 -854
1989 139,093 -38,211 52,295 -1,368
1988 136,230 -30,806 52,767 -1,750
1987 133,667 -32,308 52,690 -1,953
1986 130,177 -32,181 52,681 -2,136
1985 127,248 -29,111 52,573 -2,297
1984 125,036 -29,767 52,436 -2,435
1983 121,700 -35,694 51,880 -2,518
1982 120,938 -37,159 50,858 -2,554
1981 117,346 -97,365 50,018 -2,620
1980 111,771 -71,318 49,077 -2,701
1979 123,838 -44,302 48,362 -2,772
1978 124,468 -31,463 47,694 -2,811
1977 121,446 -28,742 47,438 -2,792
1976 120,511 -31,317 47,307 -2,727
1975 116,737 -26,198 47,149 -2,635
1974 113,846 -22,844 46,932 -2,531
1973 111,546 -19,347 46,540 -2,464
1972 107,604 -17,317 46,311 -2,448
1971 104,714 -16,389 45,867 -2,454
1970 100,499 -11,367 45,075 -2,476
1969 99,848 -4,355 44,278 -2,510
1968 98,851 -2,919 43,641 -2,528
1967 98,424 -3,192 43,054 -2,528
1966 97,156 -3,945 42,457 -2,500
1965 95,341 -5,560 41,604 -2,454
1964 93,328 -7,937 40,806 -2,418
1963 90,794 -9,774 39,872 -2,380
1962 88,237 -10,307 38,537 -2,377
1961 84,614 -4,159 37,100 -2,394
1960 81,544 -4,885 35,431 -2,409

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

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/panama | 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 Panama 86.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 544,211 people) and 13.5% is from migration (a gain of 84,849 people).

As of 2024, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 477,749 people or 10.6% in Panama.

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
Panama
City Population
Panama 410K
Colon 242K
Santiago de Veraguas 110K
Tocumen 103K
David 82.9K
La Chorrera 68.9K
Pacora 52.5K
Penonome 21.7K
Balboa 10K
Chitre 9.02K

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/panama | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.