El Salvador
San Salvador · Americas · Central America
Population
6.0M
World Bank, 2025
Area
21,041 km²
GDP
$35.4B
World Bank, 2025
GDP Per Capita
$5,579.66
World Bank, 2025
Life Expectancy
72.1 yrs
World Bank, 2025
Capital
San Salvador
El Salvador is a country located in Central America, with its capital in San Salvador. As of 2025, it has a population of 6.0M and covers an area of 21,041 km². The economy of El Salvador has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $35.4B (World Bank, 2025), translating to a per-capita income of $5,579.66 with annual economic growth of 2.6%. Life expectancy in El Salvador stands at 72.1 years (World Bank, 2025), above the global average of 72 years. The official language is Spanish, and the currency is the United States dollar ($). El Salvador shares land borders with 2 countries.
Population Growth
El Salvador, 1994 to 2023
GDP Trend (USD)
Last 15 years
How to Call El Salvador
The international calling code for El Salvador is +503. When calling from abroad, first dial your country's exit code (for example, 00 in Europe), then 503, then the local number.
Country Code
+503
Exit Code
00
Trunk Prefix
None
Format
+503 XXXX XXXX
Mobile Prefixes
6, 7
Example: To call a number in El Salvador from abroad, dial +503 5555 5555
How Large Is El Salvador's Economy?
El Salvador's GDP of $35.4B makes it a upper-middle-income economy by World Bank classification. GDP per capita of $5,580 is 59% below the regional average of 13,500 (World Bank, 2025). The economy has grown 54% over the past decade, from $22.0B in 2013 to $33.9B in 2023. The most recent annual growth rate of 2.6% is below the global median of 3.1% (World Bank, 2025). The unemployment rate of 3.3% is 52% below the regional average of 6.9 (World Bank, 2025). Inflation of 0.9% is within the 2-3% range considered stable by most central banks. El Salvador's official currency is the United States dollar ($). As a UN member, El Salvador participates in multilateral trade frameworks.
GDP
$35.4B
World Bank, 2025
GDP Per Capita
$5,579.66
World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth
2.6%
Unemployment
3.3%
Inflation
0.9%
Currencies
USD
GDP Trend (USD)
Last 15 years
What Are El Salvador's Demographics?
With 6.0M people, El Salvador is a nation of 6.0M people. At 287 people per km², the country is densely populated. Population has grown at 0.3% annually over the past decade (World Bank, 2025). Life expectancy stands at 72.1 years, at the global average of 72 years. Infant mortality of 9.2 per 1,000 live births is 23% below the regional average of 12 (World Bank, 2025). The country's official language is Spanish. Over the past decade, El Salvador's population grew from 5.7M to 6.3M, adding 595K people.
Population
6.0M
World Bank, 2025
Life Expectancy
72.1 yrs
World Bank, 2025
Infant Mortality
9.2 per 1k
Literacy Rate
—
Languages
Spanish
CO₂ Per Capita
—
Population Growth
El Salvador, 1994 to 2023
Where Is El Salvador Located?
El Salvador covers 21,041 km² (8,000 sq miles) and shares land borders with 2 countries. The country sits within the Americas region, Central America subregion, spanning North America. Its small land area and landlocked position shape its connectivity with neighbours. San Salvador serves as the seat of government and administrative capital of El Salvador. The country spans 1 time zone. Recognized internationally by ISO codes SV and SLV, El Salvador is an independent sovereign state and a full UN member. Its 1 currency (USD) reflects its participation in multilateral trade and monetary frameworks.
Area
21,041 km²
Region
Americas
Subregion
Central America
Capital
San Salvador
Timezones
UTC-06:00
Continents
North America
Border Countries
Data sourced from World Bank Open Data. Last updated: April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about El Salvador
What is the population of El Salvador?
El Salvador has a population of 6.0M as of 2025, according to World Bank data. Life expectancy is 72.1 years.
What is the capital of El Salvador?
The capital of El Salvador is San Salvador. It serves as the country's administrative and political center.
What is the GDP of El Salvador?
El Salvador's GDP is $35.4B as of 2025 (World Bank). GDP per capita is $5,579.66. The economy grew at 2.6% in 2025.
What is the life expectancy in El Salvador?
The average life expectancy in El Salvador is 72.1 years (World Bank, 2025), above the global average. The infant mortality rate is 9.2 per 1,000 live births.
What region is El Salvador in?
El Salvador is located in Americas, specifically in Central America. It is part of the continent of North America.
What is the size of El Salvador?
El Salvador covers an area of 21,041 km² (8,124 square miles). The population density is approximately 286.6 people per km².
What currency does El Salvador use?
El Salvador uses the United States dollar ($) with currency code USD.
What language is spoken in El Salvador?
The official language of El Salvador is Spanish.
Is El Salvador a member of the United Nations?
Yes, El Salvador is a member of the United Nations.
What is El Salvador's GDP?
El Salvador's GDP is $35.4B (World Bank, 2025). This places it among Americas's economies by total output.
What is El Salvador's GDP per capita?
El Salvador's GDP per capita is $5,580, which is 59% below the regional average of 13,500 (World Bank, 2025).
What is El Salvador's inflation rate?
El Salvador's inflation rate is 0.9%, within the 2-3% range considered stable by most central banks (World Bank, 2025).
What is the population density of El Salvador?
El Salvador has a population density of 287 people per km², making it densely populated.
What is the life expectancy in El Salvador?
Life expectancy in El Salvador is 72.1 years, at the global average of 72 years (World Bank, 2025).
What is the total area of El Salvador?
El Salvador has a total land area of 21,041 km² (8,000 sq miles). This measurement covers the country's total sovereign territory as recorded by international geographic databases.
How many countries does El Salvador border?
El Salvador shares land borders with 2 countries (identified by the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes: GTM, HND). These borders define the country's overland connections to the wider region.
What is the calling code for El Salvador?
The international calling code for El Salvador is +503. To call El Salvador from abroad, dial your country's exit code (00), then 503, followed by the local number.
How do I call El Salvador from the US?
To call El Salvador from the United States, dial 011 + 503 + the local phone number. For example: 011-503-5555 5555.
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