GeoRealityMatch
Aerial view of El Salvador Monument in San Salvador during sunset with cityscape and mountains.Breathtaking aerial view of San Salvador Metropolitan Cathedral surrounded by cityscape during sunset.

El Salvador

North America · Central America

Medium safetyAffordable cost of livingMedium development

Incomes are low.

BackpackerAffordable cost of living.
Safety

120th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.264lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#120 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
7.9per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2022
Safety index
43.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$5,410national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
16.6New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
21.7years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 116% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 43% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$7.5K$15K$14,101 PPP$5,767Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $2,666 a person, $5,693 at PPP, inflation 4%2007, $2,831 a person, $5,948 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2008, $2,983 a person, $6,173 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2009, $2,910 a person, $6,061 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2010, $3,040 a person, $6,246 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2011, $3,331 a person, $6,594 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2012, $3,498 a person, $6,708 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2013, $3,582 a person, $7,093 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2014, $3,666 a person, $7,504 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2015, $3,790 a person, $7,934 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2016, $3,901 a person, $8,456 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2017, $4,020 a person, $8,965 at PPP, inflation 1%2018, $4,184 a person, $9,204 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2019, $4,320 a person, $9,757 at PPP2020, $3,997 a person, $9,393 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2021, $4,643 a person, $10,810 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2022, $5,075 a person, $11,874 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2023, $5,320 a person, $12,667 at PPP, inflation 4%2024, $5,503 a person, $13,258 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2025, $5,767 a person, $14,101 at PPP, inflation 0.3%$0$7.5K$15KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $2,666 a person, $5,693 at PPP, inflation 4%2007, $2,831 a person, $5,948 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2008, $2,983 a person, $6,173 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2009, $2,910 a person, $6,061 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2010, $3,040 a person, $6,246 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2011, $3,331 a person, $6,594 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2012, $3,498 a person, $6,708 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2013, $3,582 a person, $7,093 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2014, $3,666 a person, $7,504 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2015, $3,790 a person, $7,934 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2016, $3,901 a person, $8,456 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2017, $4,020 a person, $8,965 at PPP, inflation 1%2018, $4,184 a person, $9,204 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2019, $4,320 a person, $9,757 at PPP2020, $3,997 a person, $9,393 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2021, $4,643 a person, $10,810 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2022, $5,075 a person, $11,874 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2023, $5,320 a person, $12,667 at PPP, inflation 4%2024, $5,503 a person, $13,258 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2025, $5,767 a person, $14,101 at PPP, inflation 0.3%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
72.3years, at birthModerate
#115 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
79WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
24.9PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
3.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
107 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
523EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet107 MbpsVery fast
Mobile42 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Breathtaking aerial view of San Salvador Metropolitan Cathedral surrounded by cityscape during sunset.
How it changed

El Salvador's Human Development Index

0.678Medium human development

132nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 20th of 23 in North America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #130Bangladesh0.685
  2. #130India0.685
  3. #132El Salvador0.678
  4. #133Equatorial Guinea0.674
  5. #135Cape Verde0.668
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.523 in 1990 to 0.678 in 2023.

0.500.600.700.67819902000201020231990: 0.5231991: 0.5291992: 0.5381993: 0.5481994: 0.5581995: 0.5671996: 0.5761997: 0.5861998: 0.5941999: 0.5982000: 0.6072001: 0.6122002: 0.6212003: 0.6282004: 0.6362005: 0.6422006: 0.6472007: 0.6532008: 0.6532009: 0.6532010: 0.6602011: 0.6622012: 0.6662013: 0.6682014: 0.6682015: 0.6672016: 0.6662017: 0.6652018: 0.6702019: 0.6702020: 0.6602021: 0.6632022: 0.6742023: 0.6780.500.600.7019902000201020231990: 0.5231991: 0.5291992: 0.5381993: 0.5481994: 0.5581995: 0.5671996: 0.5761997: 0.5861998: 0.5941999: 0.5982000: 0.6072001: 0.6122002: 0.6212003: 0.6282004: 0.6362005: 0.6422006: 0.6472007: 0.6532008: 0.6532009: 0.6532010: 0.6602011: 0.6622012: 0.6662013: 0.6682014: 0.6682015: 0.6672016: 0.6662017: 0.6652018: 0.6702019: 0.6702020: 0.6602021: 0.6632022: 0.6742023: 0.678

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
72.3 years2024at birthUp 3 years from 69.3 years in 2005
Internet users
66%2024of people onlineUp 61 points from 6% in 2006
Urban population
76%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 14 points from 62% in 2006
Births per woman
1.772024births per womanDown 0.67 from 2.44 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
22%2021of energy usedDown 11 points from 33% in 2004
Access to electricity
99%2024of people with electricityUp 11 points from 88% in 2005
Infant mortality
92024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 11 from 20 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.3 t from 1.2 t in 2005
Forest area
28%2023of land under forestDown 4 points from 32% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Bitcoin legal tender and a dramatic security turnaround; small, and now safe by Central American standards. The case against is low incomes and polluted air.

About El Salvador

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, a Pacific-coast nation of volcanoes, crater lakes, surf beaches, and colonial towns that is slowly finding its place on the traveller's map. The landscape is compact and varied, and the people have a directness and warmth that many visitors find refreshing. It suits active travellers who enjoy surfing, hiking, and engaging with a country on its own terms rather than a polished itinerary.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSan Salvador
  • LanguagesSpanish
  • CurrencyUnited States dollar (USD)
  • Area20,720 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

GuatemalaHonduras

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Quick answers

What is El Salvador's Human Development Index?

El Salvador's Human Development Index is 0.678 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #132 of 193 by UNDP.

Is El Salvador safe?

El Salvador scores 2.26 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #120 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is El Salvador?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts El Salvador at 39.6 (New York = 100); that is #64 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in El Salvador?

Life expectancy at birth in El Salvador is 72.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #115 of 195 countries.