El Salvador Population
Latin America & Caribbean · 111th most populous · Upper middle income
Population right now (estimate)
6,399,076
The population of El Salvador is about 6,399,076 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 6.4 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.08% of the world's people.
El Salvador is ranked 111th of 217 by population. Growth has nearly stopped: the population changes by only 0.40% a year. Projections show it peaking around 2047 at about 6.7 million, then declining. That is 2.3 times its 1960 population of 2.8 million. Population density is 308 people per square kilometre. 76% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
6.4 million
Yearly change
+0.40%
World rank
111th
Share of world
0.08%
Density
308/km²
Land area
20,720 km²
Life expectancy
72.3 yrs
Births per woman
1.77
GDP per capita
$5,767
GDP
$36.7B
Population of El Salvador, 1960–2050
El Salvador population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,791,459 | — | 135 |
| 1970 | 3,668,796 | +2.58% | 177 |
| 1980 | 4,540,382 | +1.34% | 219 |
| 1990 | 5,399,726 | +1.90% | 261 |
| 2000 | 5,943,366 | +0.50% | 287 |
| 2010 | 6,068,249 | +0.33% | 293 |
| 2020 | 6,234,673 | +0.20% | 301 |
| 2024 | 6,338,193 | +0.45% | 306 |
| 2026proj. | 6,391,253 | +0.40% | 308 |
| 2030proj. | 6,486,207 | +0.34% | 313 |
| 2040proj. | 6,640,752 | +0.14% | 320 |
| 2050proj. | 6,663,346 | −0.05% | 322 |
El Salvador vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 27.8 times as many people as El Salvador. Bangladesh is 4.4 times more densely populated.
El Salvador population: questions and answers
What is the population of El Salvador in 2026?
About 6,391,253 (6.4 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is El Salvador's population growing?
Yes, by about 0.40% a year (2026).
What is the population density of El Salvador?
About 308 people per km², with a land area of 20,720 km².
What will the population of El Salvador be in 2050?
About 6.7 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of El Salvador?
San Salvador.
What is the life expectancy in El Salvador?
72.3 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.