Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in El Salvador
El Salvador: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 0.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in El Salvador, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2024, population growth in El Salvador stood at 0.5%.
The figure is down 3.0% on the previous year and up 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in El Salvador peaked at 2.5% in 1970 and was at its lowest, -0.1%, in 2006.
That places El Salvador 149th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.5% | — |
| 1971 | 2.4% | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 2.3% | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 2.3% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 2.3% | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 2.2% | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 2.2% | -3.2% |
| 1977 | 2.1% | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 2.1% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 1.9% | -9.0% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | -31.6% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | -50.1% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | +70.2% |
| 1983 | 1.8% | +61.2% |
| 1984 | 1.9% | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 2.0% | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 2.0% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 2.0% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 2.0% | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 2.0% | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 1.9% | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | -7.1% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 1.3% | -19.1% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | -28.0% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | -12.2% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | -10.8% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | -9.6% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -8.5% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | -11.5% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -16.6% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | -25.1% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -35.7% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -49.3% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | -85.1% |
| 2006 | -0.1% | -459.5% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -330.2% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | +158.9% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | +9.2% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -14.4% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | -17.6% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | -25.8% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -50.8% |
| 2019 | 0.0% | -60.0% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | +391.5% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | +70.4% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | +15.8% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | +18.9% |
| 2024 | 0.5% | -3.0% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 0.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5%, 93% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 0.5% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.5%, 94% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in El Salvador changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | -459.5% | 0.0% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | +391.5% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| 2007 | +330.2% | -0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2008 | +158.9% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| 2005 | -85.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 1982 | +70.2% | 0.7% | 1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.3% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.7% | 0.7% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.1% | 0.6% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | -0.1% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More population data for El Salvador
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.8534 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2367 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.8534 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.5 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 6,637 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.3467 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.855 (2100)
- Population density 244.85 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 204,177 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in El Salvador?
- Population growth in El Salvador was 0.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 1970.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.1% in 2006.
- How does El Salvador rank for population growth?
- El Salvador ranks 149th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release