El Salvador population
Current population of El Salvador
6,395,720
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 56
- Deaths today
- 27
- Change today (UTC)
- +15
- World rank
- 113th of 218
- 0.08% of world population
- Population
- 6,365,503
- 2025 estimate
- Annual growth
- +0.43%
- 2025
- Density
- 305 /km²
- 2023
- Land area
- 20,720 km²
- Urban population
- 76%
- 2025
- Median age
- 27.9 yrs
- 2025 (UN WPP)
- Fertility rate
- 1.77
- births per woman, 2024
- Life expectancy
- 72.3 yrs
- 2024
- Net migration
- −23,934
- 2025
- Capital
- San Salvador
- Region
- Latin America & Caribbean
Population of El Salvador: overview
El Salvador has a population of 6,365,503 according to the latest official estimates (2025), the 113th largest in the world. El Salvador is part of the Latin America & Caribbean region and its capital is San Salvador.
Growth has slowed to 0.43% per year. In absolute terms that meant roughly 27,310 additional people over the past year. That growth comes despite net emigration of about 23,934 people in 2025.
Population density is relatively high at about 305 people per km², spread across 20,720 km² of land. Most residents — 76% — live in urban areas.
The median age is 27.9 years. Fertility is well below replacement, at 1.77 children per woman. Life expectancy at birth is 72.3 years (2024).
UN projections suggest a roughly stable population through mid-century, at 6.66 million in 2050. The 2030 projection is 6,486,206.
El Salvador population, 1960–2025 and projections
| Year | Population | Growth rate | Annual change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,365,503 | +0.43% | +27,310 |
| 2024 | 6,338,193 | +0.45% | +28,569 |
| 2023 | 6,309,624 | +0.47% | +29,305 |
| 2022 | 6,280,319 | +0.39% | +24,537 |
| 2021 | 6,255,782 | +0.34% | +21,109 |
| 2020 | 6,234,673 | +0.20% | +12,355 |
| 2019 | 6,222,318 | +0.04% | +2,511 |
| 2018 | 6,219,807 | +0.10% | +6,274 |
| 2017 | 6,213,533 | +0.21% | +12,733 |
| 2016 | 6,200,800 | +0.28% | +17,124 |
| 2015 | 6,183,676 | +0.34% | +20,721 |
| 2014 | 6,162,955 | +0.39% | +24,116 |
| 2010 | 6,068,249 | +0.33% | +19,970 |
| 2005 | 6,005,578 | +0.02% | +907 |
| 2000 | 5,943,366 | +0.50% | +29,466 |
| 1995 | 5,762,131 | +0.84% | +48,002 |
| 1990 | 5,399,726 | +1.88% | +100,747 |
| 1985 | 4,894,706 | +2.00% | +96,703 |
| 1980 | 4,540,382 | +1.33% | +59,994 |
| 1975 | 4,120,449 | +2.23% | +90,778 |
| 1970 | 3,668,796 | +2.55% | +92,311 |
| 1965 | 3,199,466 | +2.78% | +87,583 |
| 1960 | 2,791,459 | – | – |
Recent years annually, earlier years at five-year steps. Annual change compares against the immediately preceding year.
El Salvador population forecast
United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.
| Year | Projected population | vs today |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 6,486,206 | +1.9% |
| 2050 | 6,663,346 | +4.7% |
El Salvador population pyramid (2025)
Age and sex structure from UN World Population Prospects 2024: 24.4% of El Salvador's population is under 15, 67.3% is of working age (15–64), and 8.3% is 65 or older. Hover any bar for the group's size.
El Salvador population FAQ
What is the population of El Salvador in 2026?
El Salvador's population is estimated at about 6.4 million in 2026, extrapolated from the latest official figure of 6,365,503 (2025). El Salvador ranks 113th in the world by population.
Is the population of El Salvador growing or shrinking?
El Salvador's population is growing at about 0.43% per year, an increase of roughly 27,310 people over the past year.
How densely populated is El Salvador?
El Salvador has about 305 people per square kilometre across a land area of 20,720 km².
What share of the world's population lives in El Salvador?
El Salvador is home to about 0.08% of the world's population.
What is El Salvador's projected population in 2050?
United Nations medium-variant projections put El Salvador's population at 6,663,346 in 2050, passing through 6,486,206 in 2030.
What is the median age in El Salvador?
The median age in El Salvador is 27.9 years (2025 estimate) — half the population is younger and half older than that.
Sources: World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0); median age and projections from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Live figures are estimates extrapolated from the latest official data — see methodology.