Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in El Salvador
El Salvador: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 182 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in El Salvador, 1972–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
El Salvador recorded 182 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
The figure is up 51.7% on the previous year and up 295.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in El Salvador peaked at 20,730 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1979.
El Salvador ranks 141st of 183 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 100 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1980 | 390 | — |
| 1985 | 210 | -46.2% |
| 1986 | 310 | +47.6% |
| 1987 | 300 | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 20,350 | +6683.3% |
| 1989 | 20,730 | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 20,300 | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 20,099 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 19,903 | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 161 | -99.2% |
| 1994 | 153 | -5.0% |
| 1995 | 153 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 148 | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 106 | -28.4% |
| 1998 | 30 | -71.7% |
| 1999 | 21 | -30.0% |
| 2000 | 57 | +171.4% |
| 2001 | 69 | +21.1% |
| 2002 | 74 | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 246 | +232.4% |
| 2004 | 235 | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 51 | -78.3% |
| 2006 | 39 | -23.5% |
| 2007 | 39 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 34 | -12.8% |
| 2009 | 32 | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 39 | +21.9% |
| 2011 | 39 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 43 | +10.3% |
| 2013 | 42 | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 33 | -21.4% |
| 2015 | 46 | +39.4% |
| 2016 | 41 | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 40 | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 44 | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 48 | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 48 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 98 | +104.2% |
| 2022 | 104 | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 106 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 120 | +13.2% |
| 2025 | 182 | +51.7% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 182 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 4% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 182 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 226, 81% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +6683.3% | 300 | 20,350 |
| 2003 | +232.4% | 74 | 246 |
| 2000 | +171.4% | 21 | 57 |
| 2021 | +104.2% | 48 | 98 |
| 1979 | -100.0% | 100 | 0 |
| 1993 | -99.2% | 19,903 | 161 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50 | 0 | 100 | 2 |
| 1980s | 7,048 | 210 | 20,730 | 6 |
| 1990s | 6,107 | 21 | 20,300 | 10 |
| 2000s | 87.6 | 32 | 246 | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.5 | 33 | 48 | 10 |
| 2020s | 109.67 | 48 | 182 | 6 |
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 refugee population by country or territory of asylum in El Salvador?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in El Salvador was 182 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 20,730 in 1989.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1979.
- How does El Salvador rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- El Salvador ranks 141st out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 295.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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