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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,365,503 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,404,781 people compared to 65,829,368 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 +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.71% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% 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 5,105,420 94,734,082
2099 5,149,457 94,523,360
2098 5,194,156 94,316,049
2097 5,239,201 94,125,043
2096 5,285,584 93,927,246
2095 5,332,377 93,719,451
2094 5,379,380 93,494,697
2093 5,426,293 93,267,274
2092 5,473,168 93,041,793
2091 5,520,243 92,793,249
2090 5,567,316 92,561,159
2089 5,614,518 92,322,396
2088 5,661,216 92,080,212
2087 5,708,023 91,833,409
2086 5,754,535 91,581,639
2085 5,800,712 91,352,906
2084 5,846,470 91,106,961
2083 5,890,746 90,845,161
2082 5,933,965 90,583,188
2081 5,976,533 90,313,417
2080 6,018,220 90,039,857
2079 6,058,704 89,770,116
2078 6,097,568 89,494,440
2077 6,135,005 89,217,520
2076 6,171,552 88,954,522
2075 6,205,725 88,681,719
2074 6,238,209 88,397,221
2073 6,271,184 88,118,589
2072 6,300,399 87,835,051
2071 6,328,923 87,509,098
2070 6,356,884 87,178,463
2069 6,383,690 86,870,660
2068 6,409,808 86,558,000
2067 6,434,255 86,237,764
2066 6,457,592 85,904,801
2065 6,480,747 85,573,984
2064 6,502,689 85,214,686
2063 6,523,174 84,845,370
2062 6,541,955 84,473,236
2061 6,559,213 84,103,016
2060 6,576,220 83,719,266
2059 6,591,451 83,325,330
2058 6,605,091 82,918,226
2057 6,619,257 82,508,742
2056 6,632,447 82,098,320
2055 6,644,372 81,669,191
2054 6,655,028 81,227,019
2053 6,662,891 80,789,939
2052 6,669,204 80,338,877
2051 6,675,431 79,858,310
2050 6,678,745 79,383,784
2049 6,682,265 78,897,472
2048 6,683,689 78,409,829
2047 6,683,495 77,894,547
2046 6,682,835 77,369,819
2045 6,680,720 76,852,544
2044 6,678,277 76,330,046
2043 6,672,970 75,800,788
2042 6,666,915 75,264,885
2041 6,659,099 74,721,871
2040 6,649,797 74,179,185
2039 6,639,891 73,636,894
2038 6,627,081 73,079,976
2037 6,614,212 72,506,991
2036 6,599,632 71,930,701
2035 6,583,864 71,337,219
2034 6,567,581 70,737,692
2033 6,548,738 70,128,299
2032 6,529,775 69,502,726
2031 6,509,868 68,865,544
2030 6,489,300 68,221,143
2029 6,466,193 67,549,189
2028 6,442,242 66,860,631
2027 6,417,110 66,166,759
2026 6,391,761 65,473,024
2025 6,365,503 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 203,981 people (a 3.29% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 102nd 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 4.28% to 6,678,745 people with a rank change from 111th to 116th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 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 94.7M 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 0.43% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.43%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

El Salvador South Africa
Current population
6404781
65829368
Population rank 111/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.79%
One net population change
19.3 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
5.32 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
11.1 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +75 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +27,310 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +0.43% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 137/197 91/197
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 51,510 -23,102 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 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
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, 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/south-africa | 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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