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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,338,193 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,399,793 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 8.07 times bigger than El Salvador's.
  • El Salvador is ranked the 111th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.08% for El Salvador vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.62% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

El Salvador vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador South Korea
2100 5,106,358 22,012,503
2099 5,150,403 22,335,528
2098 5,195,110 22,668,719
2097 5,240,164 23,009,661
2096 5,286,555 23,360,151
2095 5,333,357 23,722,747
2094 5,380,368 24,093,391
2093 5,427,291 24,473,038
2092 5,474,174 24,860,975
2091 5,521,257 25,255,379
2090 5,568,339 25,655,577
2089 5,615,550 26,060,945
2088 5,662,256 26,470,073
2087 5,709,072 26,884,813
2086 5,755,593 27,301,913
2085 5,801,778 27,723,736
2084 5,847,545 28,147,480
2083 5,891,829 28,578,182
2082 5,935,056 29,012,953
2081 5,977,631 29,456,022
2080 6,019,326 29,901,880
2079 6,059,817 30,352,062
2078 6,098,689 30,809,176
2077 6,136,133 31,273,700
2076 6,172,686 31,744,480
2075 6,206,865 32,221,226
2074 6,239,356 32,706,020
2073 6,272,337 33,196,556
2072 6,301,557 33,696,490
2071 6,330,086 34,203,935
2070 6,358,052 34,719,324
2069 6,384,863 35,241,850
2068 6,410,986 35,762,799
2067 6,435,437 36,292,307
2066 6,458,779 36,826,655
2065 6,481,938 37,368,086
2064 6,503,884 37,916,439
2063 6,524,373 38,469,051
2062 6,543,157 39,028,473
2061 6,560,419 39,584,621
2060 6,577,429 40,149,830
2059 6,592,662 40,712,514
2058 6,606,305 41,277,134
2057 6,620,473 41,833,887
2056 6,633,666 42,377,427
2055 6,645,594 42,909,302
2054 6,656,251 43,427,254
2053 6,664,115 43,938,741
2052 6,670,429 44,441,106
2051 6,676,658 44,923,604
2050 6,679,973 45,385,311
2049 6,683,494 45,832,153
2048 6,684,918 46,258,529
2047 6,684,723 46,668,898
2046 6,684,063 47,056,404
2045 6,681,948 47,433,205
2044 6,679,505 47,797,411
2043 6,674,197 48,144,730
2042 6,668,140 48,478,991
2041 6,660,323 48,806,273
2040 6,651,019 49,115,658
2039 6,641,112 49,412,830
2038 6,628,299 49,694,340
2037 6,615,428 49,957,504
2036 6,600,845 50,200,702
2035 6,585,074 50,426,000
2034 6,568,788 50,632,962
2033 6,549,941 50,821,090
2032 6,530,975 50,987,020
2031 6,511,064 51,134,940
2030 6,490,493 51,267,908
2029 6,467,381 51,385,868
2028 6,443,426 51,486,791
2027 6,418,289 51,576,746
2026 6,392,935 51,649,918
2025 6,366,672 51,710,062
2024 6,338,193 51,751,065
2023 6,309,624 51,712,619
2022 6,280,319 51,672,569
2021 6,255,782 51,769,539
2020 6,234,673 51,836,239
2019 6,222,318 51,764,822
2018 6,219,807 51,585,058
2017 6,213,533 51,361,911
2016 6,200,800 51,217,803
2015 6,183,676 51,014,947
2014 6,162,955 50,746,659
2013 6,138,839 50,428,893
2012 6,113,975 50,199,853
2011 6,090,127 49,936,638
2010 6,068,249 49,554,112
2009 6,048,279 49,307,835
2008 6,029,297 49,054,708
2007 6,009,824 48,683,638
2006 6,002,319 48,438,292
2005 6,005,578 48,184,561
2004 6,004,671 48,082,519
2003 5,998,599 47,892,330
2002 5,986,631 47,644,736
2001 5,968,060 47,370,164
2000 5,943,366 47,008,111
1999 5,913,900 46,616,677
1998 5,880,781 46,286,503
1997 5,844,578 45,953,580
1996 5,805,286 45,524,681
1995 5,762,131 45,092,991
1994 5,714,129 44,641,540
1993 5,659,957 44,194,628
1992 5,585,609 43,747,962
1991 5,495,077 43,295,704
1990 5,399,726 42,869,283
1989 5,298,979 42,449,038
1988 5,195,833 42,031,247
1987 5,092,441 41,621,690
1986 4,992,769 41,213,674
1985 4,894,706 40,805,744
1984 4,798,003 40,405,956
1983 4,707,367 39,910,403
1982 4,622,477 39,326,352
1981 4,570,599 38,723,248
1980 4,540,382 38,123,775
1979 4,480,388 37,534,236
1978 4,394,114 36,969,185
1977 4,301,256 36,411,795
1976 4,210,310 35,848,523
1975 4,120,449 35,280,725
1974 4,029,671 34,692,266
1973 3,938,068 34,103,149
1972 3,846,830 33,505,406
1971 3,757,523 32,882,704
1970 3,668,796 32,240,827
1969 3,576,485 31,544,266
1968 3,480,773 30,838,302
1967 3,385,184 30,130,983
1966 3,290,961 29,435,571
1965 3,199,466 28,704,674
1964 3,111,883 27,984,155
1963 3,028,679 27,261,747
1962 2,949,204 26,513,030
1961 2,870,016 25,765,673
1960 2,791,459 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of El Salvador increased by 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, El Salvador gained 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 111th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
El Salvador South Korea
2100 -0.86% -1.45%
2099 -0.86% -1.47%
2098 -0.86% -1.48%
2097 -0.88% -1.5%
2096 -0.88% -1.53%
2095 -0.87% -1.54%
2094 -0.86% -1.55%
2093 -0.86% -1.56%
2092 -0.85% -1.56%
2091 -0.85% -1.56%
2090 -0.84% -1.56%
2089 -0.82% -1.55%
2088 -0.82% -1.54%
2087 -0.81% -1.53%
2086 -0.8% -1.52%
2085 -0.78% -1.51%
2084 -0.75% -1.51%
2083 -0.73% -1.5%
2082 -0.71% -1.5%
2081 -0.69% -1.49%
2080 -0.67% -1.48%
2079 -0.64% -1.48%
2078 -0.61% -1.49%
2077 -0.59% -1.48%
2076 -0.55% -1.48%
2075 -0.52% -1.48%
2074 -0.53% -1.48%
2073 -0.46% -1.48%
2072 -0.45% -1.48%
2071 -0.44% -1.48%
2070 -0.42% -1.48%
2069 -0.41% -1.46%
2068 -0.38% -1.46%
2067 -0.36% -1.45%
2066 -0.36% -1.45%
2065 -0.34% -1.45%
2064 -0.31% -1.44%
2063 -0.29% -1.43%
2062 -0.26% -1.4%
2061 -0.26% -1.41%
2060 -0.23% -1.38%
2059 -0.21% -1.37%
2058 -0.21% -1.33%
2057 -0.2% -1.28%
2056 -0.18% -1.24%
2055 -0.16% -1.19%
2054 -0.12% -1.16%
2053 -0.09% -1.13%
2052 -0.09% -1.07%
2051 -0.05% -1.02%
2050 -0.05% -0.97%
2049 -0.02% -0.92%
2048 0.003% -0.88%
2047 0.01% -0.82%
2046 0.03% -0.79%
2045 0.04% -0.76%
2044 0.08% -0.72%
2043 0.09% -0.69%
2042 0.12% -0.67%
2041 0.14% -0.63%
2040 0.15% -0.6%
2039 0.19% -0.57%
2038 0.19% -0.53%
2037 0.22% -0.48%
2036 0.24% -0.45%
2035 0.25% -0.41%
2034 0.29% -0.37%
2033 0.29% -0.33%
2032 0.31% -0.29%
2031 0.32% -0.26%
2030 0.36% -0.23%
2029 0.37% -0.2%
2028 0.39% -0.17%
2027 0.4% -0.14%
2026 0.41% -0.12%
2025 0.45% -0.08%
2024 0.45% 0.07%
2023 0.47% 0.08%
2022 0.39% -0.19%
2021 0.34% -0.13%
2020 0.2% 0.14%
2019 0.04% 0.35%
2018 0.1% 0.43%
2017 0.21% 0.28%
2016 0.28% 0.4%
2015 0.34% 0.53%
2014 0.39% 0.63%
2013 0.41% 0.46%
2012 0.39% 0.53%
2011 0.36% 0.77%
2010 0.33% 0.5%
2009 0.31% 0.52%
2008 0.32% 0.76%
2007 0.13% 0.51%
2006 -0.05% 0.53%
2005 0.02% 0.21%
2004 0.1% 0.4%
2003 0.2% 0.52%
2002 0.31% 0.58%
2001 0.42% 0.77%
2000 0.5% 0.84%
1999 0.56% 0.71%
1998 0.62% 0.72%
1997 0.68% 0.94%
1996 0.75% 0.96%
1995 0.84% 1.01%
1994 0.96% 1.01%
1993 1.33% 1.02%
1992 1.65% 1.04%
1991 1.77% 0.99%
1990 1.9% 0.99%
1989 1.99% 0.99%
1988 2.03% 0.98%
1987 2% 0.99%
1986 2% 1%
1985 2.02% 0.99%
1984 1.93% 1.24%
1983 1.84% 1.49%
1982 1.14% 1.56%
1981 0.67% 1.57%
1980 1.34% 1.57%
1979 1.96% 1.53%
1978 2.16% 1.53%
1977 2.16% 1.57%
1976 2.18% 1.61%
1975 2.25% 1.7%
1974 2.33% 1.73%
1973 2.37% 1.78%
1972 2.38% 1.89%
1971 2.42% 1.99%
1970 2.58% 2.21%
1969 2.75% 2.29%
1968 2.82% 2.35%
1967 2.86% 2.36%
1966 2.86% 2.55%
1965 2.81% 2.57%
1964 2.75% 2.65%
1963 2.69% 2.82%
1962 2.76% 2.9%
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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.45%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

El Salvador South Korea
Current population
6399793
51649918
Population rank 111/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.62%
One net population change
18.4 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
5.29 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +78 +105
Annual growth/decline +28,569 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 140/197 160/197
One migration net change every
22 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -23,934 +65,731
Net migration rank 155/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 43,342 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 155/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 164/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

El Salvador
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
El Salvador South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,934 - 65,731
2024 - -23,102 - 75,963
2023 51,985 -23,253 -77,569 87,800
2022 53,138 -23,255 -124,014 87,800
2021 46,530 -27,343 -56,947 -16,778
2020 48,244 -25,213 -31,101 112,631
2019 56,816 -55,144 10,353 128,622
2018 57,509 -54,163 30,951 118,220
2017 59,824 -50,608 71,907 104,029
2016 63,751 -47,491 122,923 91,568
2015 69,263 -51,278 163,248 276,427
2014 72,581 -49,126 167,464 308,037
2013 73,869 -49,087 166,415 301,926
2012 75,495 -50,546 215,859 281,866
2011 76,182 -53,433 214,728 269,958
2010 75,695 -54,688 213,083 52,042
2009 74,908 -55,966 197,231 5,308
2008 75,107 -56,086 215,841 -19,630
2007 76,776 -56,857 248,286 -42,293
2006 80,887 -85,789 203,441 -28,434
2005 84,883 -86,501 187,920 -47,821
2004 90,905 -87,466 225,988 -42,549
2003 97,849 -89,146 244,251 -31,994
2002 106,137 -90,908 247,752 -18,105
2001 114,313 -92,389 312,643 -28,006
2000 122,315 -94,861 390,167 -84,960
1999 128,947 -97,475 368,272 -107,448
1998 134,065 -99,293 393,436 -98,044
1997 134,448 -96,820 422,773 -109,130
1996 136,929 -95,977 446,142 -115,705
1995 138,268 -92,912 468,967 -208,491
1994 137,974 -87,318 473,200 -208,309
1993 138,432 -80,736 477,302 -222,802
1992 139,221 -48,232 494,352 -265,849
1991 140,691 -50,622 467,594 -270,754
1990 140,311 -39,689 411,546 79,294
1989 139,093 -38,211 403,266 186,120
1988 136,230 -30,806 399,297 192,534
1987 133,667 -32,308 378,758 198,057
1986 130,177 -32,181 395,651 189,782
1985 127,248 -29,111 416,219 97,949
1984 125,036 -29,767 436,384 101,394
1983 121,700 -35,694 514,844 102,167
1982 120,938 -37,159 605,626 48,638
1981 117,346 -97,365 631,189 18,442
1980 111,771 -71,318 583,294 -148,341
1979 123,838 -44,302 623,068 -139,566
1978 124,468 -31,463 499,084 -85,721
1977 121,446 -28,742 578,947 -90,737
1976 120,511 -31,317 530,558 -92,314
1975 116,737 -26,198 603,300 -52,332
1974 113,846 -22,844 673,030 27,005
1973 111,546 -19,347 699,115 35,779
1972 107,604 -17,317 740,469 25,382
1971 104,714 -16,389 789,185 -6,326
1970 100,499 -11,367 747,987 -27,999
1969 99,848 -4,355 694,227 -21,175
1968 98,851 -2,919 684,487 -16,868
1967 98,424 -3,192 692,169 -16,484
1966 97,156 -3,945 623,534 -16,688
1965 95,341 -5,560 641,090 -146,386
1964 93,328 -7,937 655,501 -102,284
1963 90,794 -9,774 685,824 -80,226
1962 88,237 -10,307 712,590 -94,606
1961 84,614 -4,159 730,173 -93,179
1960 81,544 -4,885 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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