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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,338,193 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,399,793 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 7.63 times bigger than El Salvador's.
  • El Salvador is ranked the 111th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.67% of the world: 0.08% for El Salvador vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.62% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

El Salvador vs Spain: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Spain
2100 5,106,358 33,862,981
2099 5,150,403 34,039,965
2098 5,195,110 34,215,187
2097 5,240,164 34,387,116
2096 5,286,555 34,552,002
2095 5,333,357 34,719,411
2094 5,380,368 34,882,039
2093 5,427,291 35,044,043
2092 5,474,174 35,204,657
2091 5,521,257 35,366,895
2090 5,568,339 35,535,838
2089 5,615,550 35,707,942
2088 5,662,256 35,877,681
2087 5,709,072 36,043,209
2086 5,755,593 36,210,710
2085 5,801,778 36,386,207
2084 5,847,545 36,564,622
2083 5,891,829 36,749,680
2082 5,935,056 36,936,644
2081 5,977,631 37,133,976
2080 6,019,326 37,337,517
2079 6,059,817 37,551,557
2078 6,098,689 37,771,135
2077 6,136,133 38,002,963
2076 6,172,686 38,249,247
2075 6,206,865 38,506,040
2074 6,239,356 38,777,715
2073 6,272,337 39,056,249
2072 6,301,557 39,348,447
2071 6,330,086 39,642,346
2070 6,358,052 39,949,413
2069 6,384,863 40,256,590
2068 6,410,986 40,575,543
2067 6,435,437 40,893,798
2066 6,458,779 41,218,263
2065 6,481,938 41,543,254
2064 6,503,884 41,878,338
2063 6,524,373 42,208,320
2062 6,543,157 42,542,893
2061 6,560,419 42,874,096
2060 6,577,429 43,191,452
2059 6,592,662 43,506,737
2058 6,606,305 43,809,907
2057 6,620,473 44,112,668
2056 6,633,666 44,415,689
2055 6,645,594 44,691,749
2054 6,656,251 44,958,971
2053 6,664,115 45,223,225
2052 6,670,429 45,470,541
2051 6,676,658 45,695,307
2050 6,679,973 45,911,520
2049 6,683,494 46,127,777
2048 6,684,918 46,322,244
2047 6,684,723 46,510,152
2046 6,684,063 46,687,914
2045 6,681,948 46,858,778
2044 6,679,505 47,016,278
2043 6,674,197 47,158,325
2042 6,668,140 47,301,091
2041 6,660,323 47,434,593
2040 6,651,019 47,563,236
2039 6,641,112 47,685,343
2038 6,628,299 47,798,797
2037 6,615,428 47,910,899
2036 6,600,845 48,020,350
2035 6,585,074 48,124,430
2034 6,568,788 48,220,051
2033 6,549,941 48,311,842
2032 6,530,975 48,402,470
2031 6,511,064 48,495,278
2030 6,490,493 48,579,920
2029 6,467,381 48,648,699
2028 6,443,426 48,707,969
2027 6,418,289 48,758,200
2026 6,392,935 48,806,901
2025 6,366,672 48,838,057
2024 6,338,193 48,848,840
2023 6,309,624 48,352,528
2022 6,280,319 47,786,102
2021 6,255,782 47,443,821
2020 6,234,673 47,359,424
2019 6,222,318 47,118,501
2018 6,219,807 46,782,011
2017 6,213,533 46,571,232
2016 6,200,800 46,458,139
2015 6,183,676 46,422,303
2014 6,162,955 46,460,733
2013 6,138,839 46,604,197
2012 6,113,975 46,773,055
2011 6,090,127 46,742,697
2010 6,068,249 46,576,897
2009 6,048,279 46,362,946
2008 6,029,297 45,954,106
2007 6,009,824 45,226,803
2006 6,002,319 44,397,319
2005 6,005,578 43,653,155
2004 6,004,671 42,921,895
2003 5,998,599 42,187,645
2002 5,986,631 41,431,558
2001 5,968,060 40,850,412
2000 5,943,366 40,567,864
1999 5,913,900 40,386,875
1998 5,880,781 40,223,509
1997 5,844,578 40,057,389
1996 5,805,286 39,889,852
1995 5,762,131 39,724,050
1994 5,714,129 39,549,108
1993 5,659,957 39,361,262
1992 5,585,609 39,157,685
1991 5,495,077 38,966,376
1990 5,399,726 38,867,322
1989 5,298,979 38,827,764
1988 5,195,833 38,766,939
1987 5,092,441 38,684,815
1986 4,992,769 38,584,624
1985 4,894,706 38,469,512
1984 4,798,003 38,330,364
1983 4,707,367 38,171,525
1982 4,622,477 37,986,012
1981 4,570,599 37,758,631
1980 4,540,382 37,491,165
1979 4,480,388 37,191,330
1978 4,394,114 36,864,898
1977 4,301,256 36,511,638
1976 4,210,310 36,137,812
1975 4,120,449 35,757,900
1974 4,029,671 35,373,335
1973 3,938,068 34,988,947
1972 3,846,830 34,604,469
1971 3,757,523 34,224,490
1970 3,668,796 33,814,531
1969 3,576,485 33,441,054
1968 3,480,773 33,113,134
1967 3,385,184 32,682,947
1966 3,290,961 32,283,194
1965 3,199,466 31,954,292
1964 3,111,883 31,609,195
1963 3,028,679 31,296,651
1962 2,949,204 31,023,366
1961 2,870,016 30,739,250
1960 2,791,459 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of El Salvador increased by 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, El Salvador gained 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 111th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
El Salvador Spain
2100 -0.86% -0.52%
2099 -0.86% -0.51%
2098 -0.86% -0.5%
2097 -0.88% -0.48%
2096 -0.88% -0.48%
2095 -0.87% -0.47%
2094 -0.86% -0.46%
2093 -0.86% -0.46%
2092 -0.85% -0.46%
2091 -0.85% -0.48%
2090 -0.84% -0.48%
2089 -0.82% -0.47%
2088 -0.82% -0.46%
2087 -0.81% -0.46%
2086 -0.8% -0.48%
2085 -0.78% -0.49%
2084 -0.75% -0.5%
2083 -0.73% -0.51%
2082 -0.71% -0.53%
2081 -0.69% -0.55%
2080 -0.67% -0.57%
2079 -0.64% -0.58%
2078 -0.61% -0.61%
2077 -0.59% -0.64%
2076 -0.55% -0.67%
2075 -0.52% -0.7%
2074 -0.53% -0.71%
2073 -0.46% -0.74%
2072 -0.45% -0.74%
2071 -0.44% -0.77%
2070 -0.42% -0.76%
2069 -0.41% -0.79%
2068 -0.38% -0.78%
2067 -0.36% -0.79%
2066 -0.36% -0.78%
2065 -0.34% -0.8%
2064 -0.31% -0.78%
2063 -0.29% -0.79%
2062 -0.26% -0.77%
2061 -0.26% -0.73%
2060 -0.23% -0.72%
2059 -0.21% -0.69%
2058 -0.21% -0.69%
2057 -0.2% -0.68%
2056 -0.18% -0.62%
2055 -0.16% -0.59%
2054 -0.12% -0.58%
2053 -0.09% -0.54%
2052 -0.09% -0.49%
2051 -0.05% -0.47%
2050 -0.05% -0.47%
2049 -0.02% -0.42%
2048 0.003% -0.4%
2047 0.01% -0.38%
2046 0.03% -0.36%
2045 0.04% -0.33%
2044 0.08% -0.3%
2043 0.09% -0.3%
2042 0.12% -0.28%
2041 0.14% -0.27%
2040 0.15% -0.26%
2039 0.19% -0.24%
2038 0.19% -0.23%
2037 0.22% -0.23%
2036 0.24% -0.22%
2035 0.25% -0.2%
2034 0.29% -0.19%
2033 0.29% -0.19%
2032 0.31% -0.19%
2031 0.32% -0.17%
2030 0.36% -0.14%
2029 0.37% -0.12%
2028 0.39% -0.1%
2027 0.4% -0.1%
2026 0.41% -0.06%
2025 0.45% -0.02%
2024 0.45% 1.03%
2023 0.47% 1.19%
2022 0.39% 0.72%
2021 0.34% 0.18%
2020 0.2% 0.51%
2019 0.04% 0.72%
2018 0.1% 0.45%
2017 0.21% 0.24%
2016 0.28% 0.08%
2015 0.34% -0.08%
2014 0.39% -0.31%
2013 0.41% -0.36%
2012 0.39% 0.06%
2011 0.36% 0.36%
2010 0.33% 0.46%
2009 0.31% 0.89%
2008 0.32% 1.61%
2007 0.13% 1.87%
2006 -0.05% 1.7%
2005 0.02% 1.7%
2004 0.1% 1.74%
2003 0.2% 1.82%
2002 0.31% 1.42%
2001 0.42% 0.7%
2000 0.5% 0.45%
1999 0.56% 0.41%
1998 0.62% 0.41%
1997 0.68% 0.42%
1996 0.75% 0.42%
1995 0.84% 0.44%
1994 0.96% 0.48%
1993 1.33% 0.52%
1992 1.65% 0.49%
1991 1.77% 0.25%
1990 1.9% 0.1%
1989 1.99% 0.16%
1988 2.03% 0.21%
1987 2% 0.26%
1986 2% 0.3%
1985 2.02% 0.36%
1984 1.93% 0.42%
1983 1.84% 0.49%
1982 1.14% 0.6%
1981 0.67% 0.71%
1980 1.34% 0.81%
1979 1.96% 0.89%
1978 2.16% 0.97%
1977 2.16% 1.03%
1976 2.18% 1.06%
1975 2.25% 1.09%
1974 2.33% 1.1%
1973 2.37% 1.11%
1972 2.38% 1.11%
1971 2.42% 1.21%
1970 2.58% 1.12%
1969 2.75% 0.99%
1968 2.82% 1.32%
1967 2.86% 1.24%
1966 2.86% 1.03%
1965 2.81% 1.09%
1964 2.75% 1%
1963 2.69% 0.88%
1962 2.76% 0.92%
1961 2.81% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.45%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Spain
Current population
6399793
48806901
Population rank 111/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.59%
One net population change
18.4 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
5.29 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +78 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +28,569 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 140/197 100/197
One migration net change every
22 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -23,934 +96,630
Net migration rank 155/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 43,342 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 155/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 164/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

El Salvador
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
El Salvador Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,934 - 96,630
2024 - -23,102 - 111,674
2023 51,985 -23,253 -111,211 119,099
2022 53,138 -23,255 -133,801 299,779
2021 46,530 -27,343 -113,865 144,385
2020 48,244 -25,213 -151,551 236,854
2019 56,816 -55,144 -56,542 464,783
2018 57,509 -54,163 -56,139 337,467
2017 59,824 -50,608 -32,600 201,135
2016 63,751 -47,491 0 106,474
2015 69,263 -51,278 -4,642 -1,979
2014 72,581 -49,126 32,522 -97,870
2013 73,869 -49,087 37,284 -250,741
2012 75,495 -50,546 51,450 -153,486
2011 76,182 -53,433 84,137 60,761
2010 75,695 -54,688 102,469 69,406
2009 74,908 -55,966 106,635 129,557
2008 75,107 -56,086 133,267 434,135
2007 76,776 -56,857 108,545 772,317
2006 80,887 -85,789 110,994 659,720
2005 84,883 -86,501 78,576 629,803
2004 90,905 -87,466 85,844 661,158
2003 97,849 -89,146 54,844 658,428
2002 106,137 -90,908 53,861 737,880
2001 114,313 -92,389 44,936 181,307
2000 122,315 -94,861 36,512 176,269
1999 128,947 -97,475 8,077 178,559
1998 134,065 -99,293 4,022 182,926
1997 134,448 -96,820 20,028 165,345
1996 136,929 -95,977 11,967 162,704
1995 138,268 -92,912 15,889 162,434
1994 137,974 -87,318 31,639 160,407
1993 138,432 -80,736 47,234 160,907
1992 139,221 -48,232 62,652 177,544
1991 140,691 -50,622 58,450 122,841
1990 140,311 -39,689 66,075 -30,684
1989 139,093 -38,211 81,538 -25,892
1988 136,230 -30,806 100,794 -17,663
1987 133,667 -32,308 116,054 -12,681
1986 130,177 -32,181 131,188 -13,540
1985 127,248 -29,111 146,184 -589
1984 125,036 -29,767 172,487 2,754
1983 121,700 -35,694 183,223 1,241
1982 120,938 -37,159 231,714 -7,384
1981 117,346 -97,365 237,879 2,563
1980 111,771 -71,318 281,184 20,166
1979 123,838 -44,302 312,407 -5,929
1978 124,468 -31,463 339,157 -2,504
1977 121,446 -28,742 361,465 -1,332
1976 120,511 -31,317 375,834 2,804
1975 116,737 -26,198 371,882 -218
1974 113,846 -22,844 396,182 105,838
1973 111,546 -19,347 374,381 8,624
1972 107,604 -17,317 391,030 7,935
1971 104,714 -16,389 369,625 7,363
1970 100,499 -11,367 378,723 -60,580
1969 99,848 -4,355 367,851 -49,956
1968 98,851 -2,919 387,423 -46,088
1967 98,424 -3,192 402,001 -42,344
1966 97,156 -3,945 397,084 -41,467
1965 95,341 -5,560 405,819 -42,476
1964 93,328 -7,937 429,885 -41,461
1963 90,794 -9,774 394,338 -44,446
1962 88,237 -10,307 384,690 -45,211
1961 84,614 -4,159 396,537 -46,517
1960 81,544 -4,885 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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