Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in El Salvador
El Salvador: Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita was 76.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in El Salvador, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in El Salvador stood at 76.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in El Salvador peaked at 77.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 52.8%, in 1950.
That places El Salvador 103rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 52.8% | — |
| 1955 | 55.7% | +5.5% |
| 1960 | 58.7% | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 62.0% | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 65.3% | +5.3% |
| 1975 | 67.9% | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 69.8% | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 72.0% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 75.6% | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 77.0% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 77.1% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 76.9% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 76.8% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 76.4% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 76.1% | -0.5% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 76.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.7%, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 76.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 76.4%, 100% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 54.2% | 52.8% | 55.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 60.4% | 58.7% | 62.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 66.6% | 65.3% | 67.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 70.9% | 69.8% | 72.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 76.3% | 75.6% | 77.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 77.0% | 76.9% | 77.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 76.6% | 76.4% | 76.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 76.1% | 76.1% | 76.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
- 100 Turkmenistan 76.5% compare
- 101 New Zealand 76.3% compare
- 102 Canada 76.2% compare
- 104 Switzerland 76.0% compare
- 105 Iceland 75.9% compare
- 106 Cyprus 75.7% compare
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)
- World population growth -0.9% (2100)
- Population density 244.85 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 204,177 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in El Salvador?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in El Salvador was 76.1% 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 cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 77.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.8% in 1950.
- How does El Salvador rank for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita?
- El Salvador ranks 103rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.