Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador

El Salvador: Refugees by country of asylum was 120 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
120 people
Change on year
up 13.2%
World rank
145th
of 183 countries
All-time high
20,730 people
in 1989
All-time low
0 people
in 1979
Years of data
43
1972–2024

Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador, 1972–2024

05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k1972199820241972: 100 people1979: 0 people1980: 390 people1985: 210 people1986: 310 people1987: 300 people1988: 20.4k people1989: 20.7k people1990: 20.3k people1991: 20.1k people1992: 19.9k people1993: 161 people1994: 153 people1995: 153 people1996: 148 people1997: 106 people1998: 30 people1999: 21 people2000: 57 people2001: 69 people2002: 74 people2003: 246 people2004: 235 people2005: 51 people2006: 39 people2007: 39 people2008: 34 people2009: 32 people2010: 39 people2011: 39 people2012: 43 people2013: 42 people2014: 33 people2015: 46 people2016: 41 people2017: 40 people2018: 44 people2019: 48 people2020: 48 people2021: 98 people2022: 104 people2023: 106 people2024: 120 people

Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.

Analysis

El Salvador recorded 120 people for refugees by country of asylum in 2024.

The figure is up 13.2% on the previous year and up 263.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador peaked at 20,730 people in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1979.

El Salvador ranks 145th 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.

Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador, year by year

Annual values for Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador, 1972 to 2024.
Year people Change
1972 100 people
1979 0 people -100.0%
1980 390 people
1985 210 people -46.2%
1986 310 people +47.6%
1987 300 people -3.2%
1988 20,350 people +6683.3%
1989 20,730 people +1.9%
1990 20,300 people -2.1%
1991 20,099 people -1.0%
1992 19,903 people -1.0%
1993 161 people -99.2%
1994 153 people -5.0%
1995 153 people +0.0%
1996 148 people -3.3%
1997 106 people -28.4%
1998 30 people -71.7%
1999 21 people -30.0%
2000 57 people +171.4%
2001 69 people +21.1%
2002 74 people +7.2%
2003 246 people +232.4%
2004 235 people -4.5%
2005 51 people -78.3%
2006 39 people -23.5%
2007 39 people +0.0%
2008 34 people -12.8%
2009 32 people -5.9%
2010 39 people +21.9%
2011 39 people +0.0%
2012 43 people +10.3%
2013 42 people -2.3%
2014 33 people -21.4%
2015 46 people +39.4%
2016 41 people -10.9%
2017 40 people -2.4%
2018 44 people +10.0%
2019 48 people +9.1%
2020 48 people +0.0%
2021 98 people +104.2%
2022 104 people +6.1%
2023 106 people +1.9%
2024 120 people +13.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 50 people 0 people 100 people 2
1980s 7,048 people 210 people 20,730 people 6
1990s 6,107 people 21 people 20,300 people 10
2000s 87.6 people 32 people 246 people 10
2010s 41.5 people 33 people 48 people 10
2020s 95.2 people 48 people 120 people 5

Countries ranked near El Salvador

  1. 142 Qatar 197 people compare
  2. 143 Gabon 179 people compare
  3. 144 Cuba 130 people compare
  4. 146 Eritrea 119 people compare
  5. 147 Madagascar 83 people compare
  6. 148 Lao People's Democratic Republic 80 people compare

See the full ranking of 183 places →

More population data for El Salvador

All data for El Salvador →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador?
Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador was 120 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in El Salvador?
The highest recorded value was 20,730 people in 1989.
What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in El Salvador?
The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1979.
How does El Salvador rank for refugees by country of asylum?
El Salvador ranks 145th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in El Salvador?
Over the last ten years it is up 263.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this El Salvador data come from?
The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador. Statizoid, drawing on UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/refugee-population-by-country-or-territory-of-asylum-2/el-salvador/

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About this data

Indicator
Refugees by country of asylum
Unit
people
Source
UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
183 places, 7,465 data points, 1951–2024
Last refreshed

People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.