El Salvador vs Guatemala

El Salvador and Guatemala compared on 151 measures that both have. Each pair of values is for the same period, the latest one with data for both countries, so the year can differ from one row to the next.

Where El Salvador and Guatemala differ most

  • Researchers per million people, 2023: El Salvador 55 per million people, Guatemala 1 per million people (38.4 times as high)
  • Physicians, 2018: El Salvador 2.96 per 1,000 people, Guatemala 0.36 per 1,000 people (8.2 times as high)
  • Protected areas, 2025: El Salvador 2.1%, Guatemala 10.2% (4.9 times as high)
  • Fertiliser use, 2024: El Salvador 63.6 kg per hectare, Guatemala 204.9 kg per hectare (3.2 times as high)
  • Agrifood emissions per person, 2024: El Salvador 0.73 t CO2e per person, Guatemala 2.17 t CO2e per person (3.0 times as high)

Measures where one value is the largest multiple of the other, among measures with positive values. Totals such as population, index values and growth rates are left out, because their size says little about the difference.

Population and ageing

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Population estimates and projections
people
6,309,624 people 18,124,838 people −65.2% 2023 UN Population Division
Median age estimates and projections
years
27.0 years 22.6 years +19.1% 2023 UN Population Division
Fertility rate estimates and projections
live births per woman
1.78 births per woman 2.31 births per woman −23.2% 2023 UN Population Division
Population growth estimates and projections
% per year
0.46% 1.55% −1.09 percentage points 2023 UN Population Division
Population
people
6,365,503 people 18,687,881 people −65.9% 2025 World Bank
Population growth
annual % change
0.43% 1.52% −1.09 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Population aged 65 and over
% of total population
8.3% 5.0% +3.3 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Population aged 0 to 14
% of total population
24.4% 31.0% −6.6 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Fertility rate
births per woman
1.77 births per woman 2.29 births per woman −22.7% 2024 World Bank
Crude birth rate
births per 1,000 people
15.6 per 1,000 people 20.6 per 1,000 people −5.0 per 1,000 people 2024 World Bank
Crude death rate
deaths per 1,000 people
7.5 per 1,000 people 4.9 per 1,000 people +2.6 per 1,000 people 2024 World Bank
Urban population share
% of total population
75.5% 56.3% +19.2 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Adolescent birth rate
births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19
53.5 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 67.9 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 −14.4 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 2024 World Bank
Age dependency ratio
dependants per 100 people aged 15 to 64
48.6 per 100 working-age people 56.2 per 100 working-age people −7.6 per 100 working-age people 2025 World Bank
Population density
people per square kilometre of land
305.9 people per km² 171.8 people per km² +78.1% 2024 World Bank
Urban population growth
annual % change
1.04% 2.13% −1.09 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Migration and citizenship

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Net migration estimates and projections
per 1,000 people
-3.7 per 1,000 people -0.5 per 1,000 people −3.2 per 1,000 people 2023 UN Population Division
Net migration
people
-23,934 people -7,959 people −200.7% 2025 World Bank
International migrant stock
% of population
0.7% 0.5% +0.2 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Personal remittances received
% of GDP
27.5% 20.8% +6.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Employment and occupations

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
ILO estimate of the unemployment rate
% of the labour force aged 15 and over
3.3% 2.6% +0.7 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
ILO estimate of youth unemployment
% of the labour force aged 15 to 24
7.8% 4.8% +3.0 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Labour force participation
% of working-age population aged 15 and over
62.1% 59.6% +2.5 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Women's labour force participation
% of women aged 15 and over
49.1% 38.3% +10.7 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Employment-to-population ratio
% of population aged 15 and over
60.1% 58.1% +2.0 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Employment in agriculture
% of total employment
13.9% 29.1% −15.2 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Employment in industry
% of total employment
23.1% 22.7% +0.4 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Employment in services
% of total employment
63.0% 48.2% +14.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Economy and productivity

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
GDP in US dollars
current US dollars
US$36.7 billion US$123.3 billion −70.2% 2025 World Bank
GDP per capita in US dollars
current US dollars per person
US$5,767 per person US$6,598 per person −12.6% 2025 World Bank
GDP per capita, PPP
constant 2021 international dollars per person
Int$12,050 per person Int$12,987 per person −7.2% 2025 World Bank
GNI per capita, Atlas method
current US dollars per person
US$5,410 per person US$6,360 per person −14.9% 2025 World Bank
Real GDP growth
annual % change
3.9% 4.3% −0.4 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Services share of GDP
% of GDP
58.9% 62.1% −3.3 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Investment share of GDP
% of GDP
26.3% 16.8% +9.6 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Savings share of GDP
% of GDP
22.8% 21.5% +1.3 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Household consumption per person
constant 2015 US dollars per person
US$3,693 per person US$4,205 per person −12.2% 2025 World Bank

Prices and purchasing power

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Consumer price inflation
annual % change
0.3% 1.5% −1.2 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Consumer price index
index, 2010 = 100
129.3 (2010 = 100) 182.3 (2010 = 100) −53.0 points 2025 World Bank
Inflation measured by the GDP deflator
annual % change
1.3% 3.4% −2.1 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Exchange rate to the US dollar
local currency units per US dollar, annual average
1.000 per US$ 7.680 per US$ −87.0% 2025 World Bank

Housing and households

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Slum population
% of urban population
16.5% 37.6% −21.1 percentage points 2022 World Bank

Education and skills

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
% of youth aged 15 to 24
21.8% 24.1% −2.3 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
% of children 3 to 5 years above the final primary grade age
90.7% 85.2% +5.5 percentage points 2022 UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
% of young people 3 to 5 years above the final grade age
76.2% 57.2% +19.0 percentage points 2022 UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
% of young people 3 to 5 years above the final grade age
62.6% 25.6% +37.0 percentage points 2022 UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
% of children of primary school age
15.3% 8.4% +6.8 percentage points 2024 UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school adolescents
% of adolescents of lower secondary school age
21.9% 32.4% −10.5 percentage points 2024 UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school youth
% of youth of upper secondary school age
47.9% 65.6% −17.6 percentage points 2024 UNESCO UIS
Primary net enrolment
% of children of primary school age
84.7% 91.6% −6.8 percentage points 2024 UNESCO UIS
Youth literacy
% of people aged 15 to 24
98.2% 95.4% +2.9 percentage points 2024 UNESCO UIS
Education share of public spending
% of total government expenditure
15.9% 17.3% −1.4 percentage points 2025 UNESCO UIS
Education spending
% of GDP
3.3% 3.1% +0.2 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Primary school enrolment (gross)
% of the official primary school-age population
89.9% 101.5% −11.6 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Tertiary education enrolment (gross)
% of the population in the five years after secondary school age
32.4% 27.3% +5.1 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Adult literacy rate
% of people aged 15 and above
89.8% 82.1% +7.7 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Primary school completion rate
% of the relevant age group
82.6% 86.5% −3.9 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Secondary school enrolment (gross)
% of the official secondary school-age population
62.1% 49.6% +12.6 percentage points 2024 World Bank

Health and healthcare

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Life expectancy estimates and projections
years
72.1 years 72.6 years −0.7% 2023 UN Population Division
Life expectancy at 65, estimates and projections
years
16.1 years 16.2 years −0.2% 2023 UN Population Division
Healthy life expectancy
years
62.7 years 60.5 years +3.6% 2023 WHO
UHC service coverage
index from 0 to 100
79 58 +21 points 2023 WHO
Alcohol consumption
litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15+
3.20 litres 3.11 litres +3.0% 2024 WHO
Adult obesity
% of adults aged 18+
32.2% 28.0% +4.2 percentage points 2024 WHO
Hypertension
% of adults aged 30 to 79
32.7% 32.2% +0.5 percentage points 2019 WHO
Suicide rate
deaths per 100,000 people
9.6 per 100,000 people 5.5 per 100,000 people +4.1 per 100,000 people 2023 WHO
Premature NCD mortality
% probability
15.7% 16.8% −1.1 percentage points 2023 WHO
Physical inactivity
% of adults aged 18+
38.9% 35.2% +3.7 percentage points 2022 WHO
DTP3 immunisation
% of one-year-olds
99% 77% +22.0 percentage points 2025 WHO
Anaemia in women
% of women aged 15 to 49
14.4% 10.5% +3.9 percentage points 2023 WHO
Poisoning deaths
deaths per 100,000 people
1.6 per 100,000 people 1.1 per 100,000 people +0.5 per 100,000 people 2023 WHO
Nurses and midwives
per 10,000 people
18.9 per 10,000 people 13.1 per 10,000 people +5.8 per 10,000 people 2018 WHO
Dentists
per 10,000 people
1.57 per 10,000 people 2.68 per 10,000 people −1.11 per 10,000 people 2023 WHO
Life expectancy at birth
years
72.3 years 72.7 years −0.6% 2024 World Bank
Life expectancy at birth, women
years
76.5 years 75.0 years +1.9% 2024 World Bank
Life expectancy at birth, men
years
67.8 years 70.4 years −3.8% 2024 World Bank
Health spending share of GDP
% of GDP
9.3% 6.8% +2.5 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Under-five mortality rate
deaths per 1,000 live births
10.0 per 1,000 live births 20.5 per 1,000 live births −10.5 per 1,000 live births 2024 World Bank
Infant mortality rate
deaths per 1,000 live births
8.8 per 1,000 live births 17.2 per 1,000 live births −8.4 per 1,000 live births 2024 World Bank
Maternal mortality ratio
maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
39 per 100,000 live births 94 per 100,000 live births −55 per 100,000 live births 2023 World Bank
Physicians
physicians per 1,000 people
2.96 per 1,000 people 0.36 per 1,000 people +2.60 per 1,000 people 2018 World Bank
Hospital beds
beds per 1,000 people
1.2 per 1,000 people 0.5 per 1,000 people +0.8 per 1,000 people 2023 World Bank
Measles immunisation
% of children aged 12 to 23 months
96% 90% +6.0 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Tobacco use
% of adults aged 15 and over
8.2% 11.2% −3.0 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Out-of-pocket health spending
% of current health expenditure
32.5% 57.2% −24.7 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Health spending per person
current US dollars per person
US$501 per person US$392 per person +27.7% 2023 World Bank
Diabetes prevalence
% of population aged 20 to 79
12.7% 13.2% −0.5 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Neonatal mortality rate
deaths per 1,000 live births
4.3 per 1,000 live births 9.5 per 1,000 live births −5.2 per 1,000 live births 2024 World Bank
Child stunting
% of children under 5
10.0% 46.0% −36.0 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Malaria incidence
new cases per 1,000 people at risk
0.0 per 1,000 at risk 0.2 per 1,000 at risk −0.2 per 1,000 at risk 2024 World Bank
Tuberculosis incidence
new cases per 100,000 people
116 per 100,000 people 28 per 100,000 people +88 per 100,000 people 2024 World Bank
HIV incidence
new infections per 1,000 uninfected people aged 15 to 49
0.26 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 49 0.13 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 49 +0.13 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 49 2024 World Bank

Internet and digital society

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Internet users
% of population
66.5% 60.2% +6.3 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Mobile subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 people
177 per 100 people 113 per 100 people +64 per 100 people 2024 World Bank
Fixed broadband subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 people
12.5 per 100 people 5.3 per 100 people +7.1 per 100 people 2024 World Bank

Business and industry

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Industry share of GDP
% of GDP
24.5% 21.8% +2.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank
New businesses registered
new limited liability companies
4,862 companies 11,909 companies −59.2% 2024 World Bank
Medium and high-tech manufacturing
% of manufacturing value added
19.1% 22.4% −3.3 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Manufacturing share of GDP
% of GDP
12.7% 13.2% −0.5 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Trade and investment

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Exports share of GDP
% of GDP
32.0% 15.6% +16.5 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Imports share of GDP
% of GDP
56.1% 31.0% +25.1 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Trade as a share of GDP
% of GDP
88.2% 46.5% +41.6 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Foreign direct investment inflows
% of GDP
2.1% 1.4% +0.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Current account balance
% of GDP
-3.5% 4.7% −8.3 percentage points 2025 World Bank
High-technology exports
% of manufactured exports
5.6% 5.4% +0.2 percentage points 2024 World Bank

Transport and mobility

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Road traffic deaths
deaths per 100,000 people
20.9 per 100,000 people 22.9 per 100,000 people −2.0 per 100,000 people 2019 World Bank
Air passengers carried
passengers
3,263,923 passengers 221,478 passengers +1,373.7% 2023 World Bank

Energy and electricity

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Access to electricity
% of population
98.7% 90.9% +7.8 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Clean cooking access
% of population
95.0% 51.0% +44.0 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Renewable energy share
% of total final energy consumption
21.9% 62.1% −40.2 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Fossil electricity share
% of total electricity production
31.1% 43.6% −12.5 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Net energy imports
% of energy use
62.1% 40.0% +22.1 percentage points 2024 World Bank

Climate and emissions

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Temperature change
°C difference from the 1951 to 1980 average
1.28 °Ce (Estimated value) 1.47 °Ce (Estimated value) −0.19 °C 2025 FAOSTAT
Agrifood emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
0.73 t CO2e per persone (Estimated value) 2.17 t CO2e per persone (Estimated value) −66.6% 2024 FAOSTAT
Total greenhouse gas emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
14.8 Mt CO2e 43.5 Mt CO2e −66.1% 2024 World Bank
Greenhouse gas emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
2.3 t CO2e per person 2.4 t CO2e per person −1.5% 2024 World Bank
CO2 emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 per person
1.51 t CO2 per person 1.11 t CO2 per person +36.1% 2024 World Bank
Methane emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
3.8 Mt CO2e 18.2 Mt CO2e −79.2% 2024 World Bank
Nitrous oxide emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
0.95 Mt CO2e 4.55 Mt CO2e −79.1% 2024 World Bank

Air quality and ecosystems

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
PM2.5 air pollution
micrograms per cubic metre
24.9 µg/m³ 24.1 µg/m³ +3.3% 2023 WHO
Forest area
% of land area
33.0% 33.1% −0.1 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Protected areas
% of total territorial area
2.1% 10.2% −8.1 percentage points 2025 World Bank
PM2.5 air pollution exposure
micrograms per cubic metre
29.6 µg/m³ 29.7 µg/m³ −0.3% 2023 World Bank
Terrestrial protected areas
% of land area
8.3% 20.1% −11.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Water, sanitation and waste

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Basic drinking water access
% of population
91.6% 93.2% −1.6 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Basic sanitation access
% of population
88.0% 71.2% +16.9 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Level of water stress
% of available freshwater resources
12.1% 5.7% +6.4 percentage points 2022 World Bank
Renewable internal freshwater per person
cubic metres per person
2,489 m³ per person 6,118 m³ per person −59.3% 2022 World Bank

Agriculture, food and fisheries

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Pesticide use
kg of active ingredients per hectare of cropland
3.79 kg/hae (Estimated value) 4.73 kg/hae (Estimated value) −19.9% 2024 FAOSTAT
Nitrogen fertiliser use
kg of nitrogen (N) per hectare of cropland
34.0 kg/hae (Estimated value) 73.1 kg/hae (Estimated value) −53.5% 2024 FAOSTAT
Agriculture share of GDP
% of GDP
4.4% 9.6% −5.1 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Cereal yield
kilograms per hectare
2,819 kg per hectare 2,238 kg per hectare +26.0% 2024 World Bank
Agricultural land
% of land area
57.3% 46.0% +11.2 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Capture fisheries production
metric tonnes
57,123 tonnes 14,208 tonnes +302.1% 2024 World Bank
Prevalence of undernourishment
% of population
5.3% 12.7% −7.4 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Food production index
index, 2014 to 2016 = 100
102.5 (2014-16 = 100) 104.2 (2014-16 = 100) −1.7% 2024 World Bank
Fertiliser use
kilograms per hectare of arable land
63.6 kg per hectare 204.9 kg per hectare −69.0% 2024 World Bank
Land area
square kilometres
20,720 km² 107,160 km² −80.7% 2024 World Bank

Poverty and social protection

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Gini index
Gini index, 0 to 100
39.8 (0 to 100) 45.2 (0 to 100) −5.4 points 2023 World Bank
Income share held by the richest 10%
% of total income or consumption
29.7% 34.1% −4.4 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Extreme poverty rate
% of population
4.6% 9.7% −5.1 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Poverty rate at national poverty lines
% of population
27.2% 56.0% −28.8 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Poverty rate at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP)
% of population
8.6% 17.6% −9.0 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Poverty rate at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP)
% of population
29.9% 47.3% −17.4 percentage points 2023 World Bank

Government finance and taxation

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Tax revenue
% of GDP
21.8% 11.6% +10.2 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Central government expense
% of GDP
27.9% 13.5% +14.4 percentage points 2023 World Bank

Science and innovation

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
R&D spending share of GDP
% of GDP
0.10% 0.01% +0.10 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Researchers per million people
researchers per million people
55 per million people 1 per million people +54 per million people 2023 World Bank
Scientific and technical journal articles
articles, fractional count
65 articles 109 articles −40.7% 2023 World Bank

Crime, justice and public safety

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Intentional homicides
victims per 100,000 people
7.9 per 100,000 people 22.0 per 100,000 people −14.1 per 100,000 people 2022 World Bank

Culture, society and wellbeing

MeasureEl SalvadorGuatemalaEl Salvador compared with GuatemalaPeriodSource
Women in national parliament
% of seats in the single or lower chamber
31.7% 20.0% +11.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank

The difference column shows El Salvador compared with Guatemala: in percentage points for percentages, in the same unit for rates per population and index values, and in percent for other measures.

Open a measure to see both countries on a chart. All statistics for El Salvador · All statistics for Guatemala · Other pairs