El Salvador
North America · Central America
Bitcoin legal tender and a dramatic security turnaround; small, and now safe by Central American standards.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈El Salvador's Human Development Index
0.674
Medium human development#125 of 191 countries worldwide, #19 of 23 in North America.
Higher than 35% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Most densely populated country in Central America.
- First country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender — in 2021.
- Named after Jesus Christ — 'El Salvador' means 'The Saviour'.
Quick Facts
Capital
San Salvador
Language
Spanish
Currency
$ USD
Area
20,720 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
107Mbps
Mobile
42Mbps
GDP / Capita
$6K
PPP / Capita
$14K
Inflation
0.3%
Unemployment
3.3%
Innovation (GII)
22.2
GNI / Capita
$5K
Tax Revenue
21.8%
FDI Inflows
2.1%
Education Spend
3.3%
Cost of Living
39.6
Price Level Index
56th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.519 → 0.674 (+0.155)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is El Salvador's Human Development Index?
El Salvador's Human Development Index is 0.674 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #125 of 191 countries.
Is El Salvador safe?
El Salvador scores 2.26 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #120 of 160 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.