Refugee population by country or territory of origin in El Salvador
El Salvador: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 68,182 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in El Salvador, 1980–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
El Salvador recorded 68,182 for refugee population by country or territory of origin in 2025.
The figure is down 5.0% on the previous year and up 361.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in El Salvador peaked at 304,810 in 1981 and was at its lowest, 4,283, in 2005.
That places El Salvador 32nd out of 205 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 91,630 | — |
| 1981 | 304,810 | +232.7% |
| 1982 | 242,400 | -20.5% |
| 1983 | 244,600 | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 243,000 | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 180,605 | -25.7% |
| 1986 | 171,785 | -4.9% |
| 1987 | 167,605 | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 166,393 | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 39,582 | -76.2% |
| 1990 | 30,019 | -24.2% |
| 1991 | 33,048 | +10.1% |
| 1992 | 30,854 | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 26,125 | -15.3% |
| 1994 | 30,736 | +17.6% |
| 1995 | 23,534 | -23.4% |
| 1996 | 19,639 | -16.6% |
| 1997 | 17,124 | -12.8% |
| 1998 | 12,591 | -26.5% |
| 1999 | 12,408 | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 7,753 | -37.5% |
| 2001 | 7,147 | -7.8% |
| 2002 | 6,630 | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 5,658 | -14.7% |
| 2004 | 4,497 | -20.5% |
| 2005 | 4,283 | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 6,390 | +49.2% |
| 2007 | 6,026 | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 5,154 | -14.5% |
| 2009 | 5,053 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 4,978 | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 6,725 | +35.1% |
| 2012 | 8,173 | +21.5% |
| 2013 | 9,634 | +17.9% |
| 2014 | 10,968 | +13.8% |
| 2015 | 14,778 | +34.7% |
| 2016 | 19,617 | +32.7% |
| 2017 | 25,876 | +31.9% |
| 2018 | 32,562 | +25.8% |
| 2019 | 41,816 | +28.4% |
| 2020 | 45,640 | +9.1% |
| 2021 | 52,041 | +14.0% |
| 2022 | 58,621 | +12.6% |
| 2023 | 68,633 | +17.1% |
| 2024 | 71,765 | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 68,182 | -5.0% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 68,182 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,477, 27.5× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 68,182 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 559, 122.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +232.7% | 91,630 | 304,810 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 185,241 | 39,582 | 304,810 | 10 |
| 1990s | 23,608 | 12,408 | 33,048 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,859 | 4,283 | 7,753 | 10 |
| 2010s | 17,513 | 4,978 | 41,816 | 10 |
| 2020s | 60,814 | 45,640 | 71,765 | 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 origin in El Salvador?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in El Salvador was 68,182 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 304,810 in 1981.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,283 in 2005.
- How does El Salvador rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- El Salvador ranks 32nd out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 361.4%. 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 origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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