Share of population living in rural areas in El Salvador
El Salvador: Share of population living in rural areas was 23.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in El Salvador, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
El Salvador recorded 23.9% for share of population living in rural areas in 2020.
The figure is up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in El Salvador peaked at 47.2% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 22.9%, in 2000.
That places El Salvador 134th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 47.2% | — |
| 1955 | 44.3% | -6.1% |
| 1960 | 41.3% | -6.9% |
| 1965 | 38.0% | -7.9% |
| 1970 | 34.7% | -8.6% |
| 1975 | 32.1% | -7.7% |
| 1980 | 30.2% | -5.7% |
| 1985 | 28.0% | -7.2% |
| 1990 | 24.4% | -13.1% |
| 1995 | 23.0% | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 22.9% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 23.1% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 23.2% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 23.6% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 23.9% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 45.8% | 44.3% | 47.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 39.6% | 38.0% | 41.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 33.4% | 32.1% | 34.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 29.1% | 28.0% | 30.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 23.7% | 23.0% | 24.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 23.0% | 22.9% | 23.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.4% | 23.2% | 23.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 23.9% | 23.9% | 23.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
- 131 Cyprus 24.3% compare
- 132 Iceland 24.1% compare
- 133 Switzerland 24.0% compare
- 135 Canada 23.8% compare
- 136 New Zealand 23.7% compare
- 137 Turkmenistan 23.5% compare
More population data for El Salvador
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.5 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.8534 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.9% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 204,177 people (2100)
- Population density 244.85 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.9% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.3467 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in El Salvador?
- Share of population living in rural areas in El Salvador was 23.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 47.2% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.9% in 2000.
- How does El Salvador rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- El Salvador ranks 134th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.