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Sheet 51 of 195 · AmericasSLV · 13.9°N 89.3°W

El Salvador

Republic of El Salvador · República de El Salvador

Capital
San Salvador
Population
6.37 million 2025
Area
21,041 km²
Neighbours
2
Locator map of El SalvadorEL SALVADORSan SalvadorHONDURASGUATEMALANICARAGUAMEXICONorthPacific OceanCaribbean Sea0100 km
El Salvador hatched, San Salvador marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 13.8°N 88.9°W; the scale bar is true at the centre.

El Salvador lies in Central America and shares land borders with Guatemala and Honduras. Its area of 21,041 km² puts it 148th in the world and 25th of 35 in the Americas.

About 6.37 million people lived in El Salvador in 2025, according to the World Bank; only 83 countries have fewer. That works out at 303 people per km². The urban share of the population was 75.5% in 2025.

In 2025, GDP per capita stood at US$5,767 in current US dollars: 114th of 191 worldwide, 30th of 35 in the Americas. Newborns in 2024 had a life expectancy of 72.3 years.

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Northern and Western hemispheres. From 13.2°N to 14.4°N, it spans about 141 km north to south. The point on the opposite side of the Earth from San Salvador lies in the Indian Ocean, about 680 km from the nearest land, Indian Ocean Territories.

How it compares Americas: 35 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAmericas
Population6,365,5032025, World Bank111th of 19419th of 35
Area21,041 km²world-countries148th of 19525th of 35
GDPUS$36.7 billion2025, World Bank, current US$107th of 19120th of 35
GDP per capitaUS$5,7672025, World Bank, current US$114th of 19130th of 35
Population density303 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries28th of 1944th of 35
Life expectancy72.3 years2024, World Bank113th of 19428th of 35
Urban population75.5%2025, World Bank57th of 19414th of 35
Forest area33.0% of land2024, World Bank96th of 19428th of 35
Population growth+0.43% a year2025, World Bank137th of 19422nd of 35
Internet users66.5%2024, World Bank127th of 18831st of 35
Fertility rate1.77 births per woman2024, World Bank113th of 19416th of 35
Land neighbours2world-countries; among the 195112th of 19514th of 35
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaIsrael, Slovenia and Belize

Closest in populationBulgaria, Republic of the Congo and Serbia

Neighbours 2 countries by land, nearest capital first

  • Guatemala175 km
    San Salvador to Guatemala City, capital to capital
  • Honduras219 km
    San Salvador to Tegucigalpa, capital to capital

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Northern and Western
Capital
San Salvador
13.71°N 89.21°W
Northernmost latitude
14.43°N
Southernmost latitude
13.17°N
Westernmost longitude
90.11°W
Easternmost longitude
87.72°W
North to south
about 141 km
Antipode of San Salvador
13.71°S 90.80°E
in the Indian Ocean, about 680 km from the nearest land (Indian Ocean Territories)