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Population in El Salvador compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,338,193 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,399,793 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 10.3 times bigger than El Salvador's.
  • El Salvador is ranked the 111th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.08% for El Salvador vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.62% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

El Salvador vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador South Africa
2100 5,106,358 94,767,727
2099 5,150,403 94,556,931
2098 5,195,110 94,349,546
2097 5,240,164 94,158,472
2096 5,286,555 93,960,605
2095 5,333,357 93,752,736
2094 5,380,368 93,527,902
2093 5,427,291 93,300,398
2092 5,474,174 93,074,837
2091 5,521,257 92,826,204
2090 5,568,339 92,594,033
2089 5,615,550 92,355,184
2088 5,662,256 92,112,914
2087 5,709,072 91,866,024
2086 5,755,593 91,614,165
2085 5,801,778 91,385,350
2084 5,847,545 91,139,318
2083 5,891,829 90,877,425
2082 5,935,056 90,615,359
2081 5,977,631 90,345,492
2080 6,019,326 90,071,835
2079 6,059,817 89,801,998
2078 6,098,689 89,526,224
2077 6,136,133 89,249,206
2076 6,172,686 88,986,114
2075 6,206,865 88,713,215
2074 6,239,356 88,428,616
2073 6,272,337 88,149,885
2072 6,301,557 87,866,246
2071 6,330,086 87,540,177
2070 6,358,052 87,209,425
2069 6,384,863 86,901,512
2068 6,410,986 86,588,742
2067 6,435,437 86,268,392
2066 6,458,779 85,935,310
2065 6,481,938 85,604,376
2064 6,503,884 85,244,950
2063 6,524,373 84,875,503
2062 6,543,157 84,503,237
2061 6,560,419 84,132,885
2060 6,577,429 83,748,999
2059 6,592,662 83,354,923
2058 6,606,305 82,947,675
2057 6,620,473 82,538,045
2056 6,633,666 82,127,477
2055 6,645,594 81,698,196
2054 6,656,251 81,255,867
2053 6,664,115 80,818,632
2052 6,670,429 80,367,409
2051 6,676,658 79,886,672
2050 6,679,973 79,411,977
2049 6,683,494 78,925,493
2048 6,684,918 78,437,677
2047 6,684,723 77,922,211
2046 6,684,063 77,397,298
2045 6,681,948 76,879,838
2044 6,679,505 76,357,155
2043 6,674,197 75,827,709
2042 6,668,140 75,291,615
2041 6,660,323 74,748,408
2040 6,651,019 74,205,530
2039 6,641,112 73,663,047
2038 6,628,299 73,105,930
2037 6,615,428 72,532,742
2036 6,600,845 71,956,247
2035 6,585,074 71,362,555
2034 6,568,788 70,762,815
2033 6,549,941 70,153,205
2032 6,530,975 69,527,410
2031 6,511,064 68,890,002
2030 6,490,493 68,245,372
2029 6,467,381 67,573,179
2028 6,443,426 66,884,377
2027 6,418,289 66,190,258
2026 6,392,935 65,496,277
2025 6,366,672 64,770,314
2024 6,338,193 64,007,187
2023 6,309,624 63,212,384
2022 6,280,319 62,378,410
2021 6,255,782 61,502,603
2020 6,234,673 60,562,381
2019 6,222,318 59,587,885
2018 6,219,807 58,613,001
2017 6,213,533 57,635,162
2016 6,200,800 57,259,551
2015 6,183,676 56,723,537
2014 6,162,955 55,594,838
2013 6,138,839 54,678,791
2012 6,113,975 53,782,567
2011 6,090,127 52,995,205
2010 6,068,249 52,344,051
2009 6,048,279 51,728,516
2008 6,029,297 51,114,599
2007 6,009,824 50,528,584
2006 6,002,319 49,998,277
2005 6,005,578 49,490,033
2004 6,004,671 48,991,421
2003 5,998,599 48,500,348
2002 5,986,631 48,019,415
2001 5,968,060 47,566,800
2000 5,943,366 47,159,719
1999 5,913,900 46,730,335
1998 5,880,781 46,223,880
1997 5,844,578 45,666,838
1996 5,805,286 45,123,018
1995 5,762,131 44,541,554
1994 5,714,129 44,004,139
1993 5,659,957 43,297,156
1992 5,585,609 42,443,509
1991 5,495,077 41,687,898
1990 5,399,726 40,746,268
1989 5,298,979 39,628,575
1988 5,195,833 38,480,649
1987 5,092,441 37,326,190
1986 4,992,769 36,180,515
1985 4,894,706 35,042,093
1984 4,798,003 33,892,788
1983 4,707,367 32,739,304
1982 4,622,477 31,615,339
1981 4,570,599 30,541,044
1980 4,540,382 29,518,857
1979 4,480,388 28,634,162
1978 4,394,114 27,869,507
1977 4,301,256 27,118,952
1976 4,210,310 26,395,450
1975 4,120,449 25,690,940
1974 4,029,671 24,989,108
1973 3,938,068 24,294,263
1972 3,846,830 23,609,456
1971 3,757,523 22,942,143
1970 3,668,796 22,279,984
1969 3,576,485 21,614,676
1968 3,480,773 20,957,287
1967 3,385,184 20,314,066
1966 3,290,961 19,690,087
1965 3,199,466 19,089,380
1964 3,111,883 18,511,361
1963 3,028,679 17,954,564
1962 2,949,204 17,418,522
1961 2,870,016 16,908,035
1960 2,791,459 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of El Salvador increased by 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, El Salvador gained 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 111th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
El Salvador South Africa
2100 -0.86% 0.22%
2099 -0.86% 0.22%
2098 -0.86% 0.2%
2097 -0.88% 0.21%
2096 -0.88% 0.22%
2095 -0.87% 0.24%
2094 -0.86% 0.24%
2093 -0.86% 0.24%
2092 -0.85% 0.27%
2091 -0.85% 0.25%
2090 -0.84% 0.26%
2089 -0.82% 0.26%
2088 -0.82% 0.27%
2087 -0.81% 0.27%
2086 -0.8% 0.25%
2085 -0.78% 0.27%
2084 -0.75% 0.29%
2083 -0.73% 0.29%
2082 -0.71% 0.3%
2081 -0.69% 0.3%
2080 -0.67% 0.3%
2079 -0.64% 0.31%
2078 -0.61% 0.31%
2077 -0.59% 0.3%
2076 -0.55% 0.31%
2075 -0.52% 0.32%
2074 -0.53% 0.32%
2073 -0.46% 0.32%
2072 -0.45% 0.37%
2071 -0.44% 0.38%
2070 -0.42% 0.35%
2069 -0.41% 0.36%
2068 -0.38% 0.37%
2067 -0.36% 0.39%
2066 -0.36% 0.39%
2065 -0.34% 0.42%
2064 -0.31% 0.44%
2063 -0.29% 0.44%
2062 -0.26% 0.44%
2061 -0.26% 0.46%
2060 -0.23% 0.47%
2059 -0.21% 0.49%
2058 -0.21% 0.5%
2057 -0.2% 0.5%
2056 -0.18% 0.53%
2055 -0.16% 0.54%
2054 -0.12% 0.54%
2053 -0.09% 0.56%
2052 -0.09% 0.6%
2051 -0.05% 0.6%
2050 -0.05% 0.62%
2049 -0.02% 0.62%
2048 0.003% 0.66%
2047 0.01% 0.68%
2046 0.03% 0.67%
2045 0.04% 0.68%
2044 0.08% 0.7%
2043 0.09% 0.71%
2042 0.12% 0.73%
2041 0.14% 0.73%
2040 0.15% 0.74%
2039 0.19% 0.76%
2038 0.19% 0.79%
2037 0.22% 0.8%
2036 0.24% 0.83%
2035 0.25% 0.85%
2034 0.29% 0.87%
2033 0.29% 0.9%
2032 0.31% 0.93%
2031 0.32% 0.94%
2030 0.36% 0.99%
2029 0.37% 1.03%
2028 0.39% 1.05%
2027 0.4% 1.06%
2026 0.41% 1.12%
2025 0.45% 1.19%
2024 0.45% 1.26%
2023 0.47% 1.34%
2022 0.39% 1.42%
2021 0.34% 1.55%
2020 0.2% 1.64%
2019 0.04% 1.66%
2018 0.1% 1.7%
2017 0.21% 0.66%
2016 0.28% 0.94%
2015 0.34% 2.03%
2014 0.39% 1.68%
2013 0.41% 1.67%
2012 0.39% 1.49%
2011 0.36% 1.24%
2010 0.33% 1.19%
2009 0.31% 1.2%
2008 0.32% 1.16%
2007 0.13% 1.06%
2006 -0.05% 1.03%
2005 0.02% 1.02%
2004 0.1% 1.01%
2003 0.2% 1%
2002 0.31% 0.95%
2001 0.42% 0.86%
2000 0.5% 0.92%
1999 0.56% 1.1%
1998 0.62% 1.22%
1997 0.68% 1.21%
1996 0.75% 1.31%
1995 0.84% 1.22%
1994 0.96% 1.63%
1993 1.33% 2.01%
1992 1.65% 1.81%
1991 1.77% 2.31%
1990 1.9% 2.82%
1989 1.99% 2.98%
1988 2.03% 3.09%
1987 2% 3.17%
1986 2% 3.25%
1985 2.02% 3.39%
1984 1.93% 3.52%
1983 1.84% 3.56%
1982 1.14% 3.52%
1981 0.67% 3.46%
1980 1.34% 3.09%
1979 1.96% 2.74%
1978 2.16% 2.77%
1977 2.16% 2.74%
1976 2.18% 2.74%
1975 2.25% 2.81%
1974 2.33% 2.86%
1973 2.37% 2.9%
1972 2.38% 2.91%
1971 2.42% 2.97%
1970 2.58% 3.08%
1969 2.75% 3.14%
1968 2.82% 3.17%
1967 2.86% 3.17%
1966 2.86% 3.15%
1965 2.81% 3.12%
1964 2.75% 3.1%
1963 2.69% 3.08%
1962 2.76% 3.02%
1961 2.81% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.45%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

El Salvador South Africa
Current population
6399793
65683993
Population rank 111/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.79%
One net population change
18.4 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
5.29 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
11.1 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +78 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +28,569 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 140/197 85/197
One migration net change every
22 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -23,934 +146,370
Net migration rank 155/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 43,342 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 155/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 164/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

El Salvador
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
El Salvador South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,934 - 146,370
2024 - -23,102 - 166,972
2023 51,985 -23,253 602,793 228,222
2022 53,138 -23,255 603,636 233,284
2021 46,530 -27,343 456,411 458,246
2020 48,244 -25,213 595,873 369,901
2019 56,816 -55,144 652,130 331,124
2018 57,509 -54,163 648,319 318,260
2017 59,824 -50,608 645,975 343,146
2016 63,751 -47,491 641,365 -879,235
2015 69,263 -51,278 668,771 641,150
2014 72,581 -49,126 674,754 272,697
2013 73,869 -49,087 652,427 232,230
2012 75,495 -50,546 643,723 264,091
2011 76,182 -53,433 601,708 65,166
2010 75,695 -54,688 566,834 68,563
2009 74,908 -55,966 554,115 41,528
2008 75,107 -56,086 595,332 36,869
2007 76,776 -56,857 503,567 36,339
2006 80,887 -85,789 487,584 33,159
2005 84,883 -86,501 464,464 31,286
2004 90,905 -87,466 442,540 58,924
2003 97,849 -89,146 415,018 65,604
2002 106,137 -90,908 430,926 50,313
2001 114,313 -92,389 484,801 -60,793
2000 122,315 -94,861 526,963 -136,794
1999 128,947 -97,475 594,643 -126,011
1998 134,065 -99,293 627,027 -82,722
1997 134,448 -96,820 667,969 -98,181
1996 136,929 -95,977 710,868 -193,007
1995 138,268 -92,912 743,488 -98,403
1994 137,974 -87,318 698,609 -268,849
1993 138,432 -80,736 789,220 194,977
1992 139,221 -48,232 794,415 -71,342
1991 140,691 -50,622 827,296 -39,131
1990 140,311 -39,689 835,421 259,718
1989 139,093 -38,211 884,629 255,605
1988 136,230 -30,806 909,221 246,382
1987 133,667 -32,308 922,330 231,009
1986 130,177 -32,181 903,644 234,378
1985 127,248 -29,111 893,889 244,940
1984 125,036 -29,767 869,011 290,789
1983 121,700 -35,694 837,013 310,172
1982 120,938 -37,159 807,550 293,195
1981 117,346 -97,365 767,833 279,985
1980 111,771 -71,318 738,415 258,127
1979 123,838 -44,302 716,541 56,323
1978 124,468 -31,463 694,341 62,121
1977 121,446 -28,742 680,929 63,739
1976 120,511 -31,317 675,011 27,333
1975 116,737 -26,198 667,862 38,809
1974 113,846 -22,844 658,438 38,518
1973 111,546 -19,347 651,596 41,125
1972 107,604 -17,317 638,754 38,163
1971 104,714 -16,389 624,761 32,961
1970 100,499 -11,367 605,102 61,514
1969 99,848 -4,355 590,794 73,225
1968 98,851 -2,919 571,841 78,932
1967 98,424 -3,192 553,741 81,932
1966 97,156 -3,945 534,862 77,417
1965 95,341 -5,560 506,632 82,514
1964 93,328 -7,937 490,606 76,298
1963 90,794 -9,774 473,821 72,844
1962 88,237 -10,307 455,634 69,771
1961 84,614 -4,159 437,851 57,728
1960 81,544 -4,885 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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