El Salvador External Debt
Total external debt stocks DT.DOD.DECT.CD
El Salvador's external debt was $26.2B in 2025, ranked 44th globally. This represents a 5.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
El Salvador's external debt stood at $26.2B in 2025, a rise of +$1.2B from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $26.2B by 2025. El Salvador ranked 44th globally.
El Salvador’s external debt has expanded dramatically over the 56‑year series, rising from a modest US$205,547,537.20 in 1970 to a record US$26,209,703,072.32 in 2025, placing the country 44th globally. This surge reflects a long‑term accumulation of borrowing, with the 2025 figure representing the all‑time peak and surpassing the debt levels of peers such as Georgia (US$26,623,341,584.98) and Cambodia (US$23,500,879,070.79). The early low‑debt environment of the 1970s contrasts sharply with the current high‑debt posture, suggesting that fiscal financing has increasingly relied on external sources. While the debt trajectory has been upward‑sloping, future movements will depend on the government’s ability to attract private capital, improve trade balances, and implement structural reforms that could stabilise or reduce the debt burden.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $29.3B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $27.8B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $26.2B | - | - |
| 2025 | $26.2B | +$1.2B | #44 |
| 2024 | $25.0B | +$2.1B | #76 |
| 2023 | $22.9B | +$1.7B | #77 |
| 2022 | $21.2B | +$846.3M | #74 |
| 2021 | $20.3B | +$1.9B | #74 |
| 2020 | $18.5B | +$1.1B | #74 |
| 2019 | $17.4B | +$682.0M | #73 |
| 2018 | $16.7B | −$505.7M | #74 |
| 2017 | $17.2B | +$609.4M | #79 |
| 2016 | $16.6B | +$978.7M | #79 |
| 2015 | $15.6B | +$430.3M | #79 |
| 2014 | $15.2B | +$1.0B | #78 |
| 2013 | $14.1B | +$583.7M | #80 |
| 2012 | $13.5B | +$819.0M | #79 |
| 2011 | $12.7B | +$1.2B | #78 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
El Salvador matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1989. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw external debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
El Salvador's external debt was $26.2B in 2025. Ranked 44th globally. This represents a 5.0% increase from the previous year.
El Salvador's external debt peaked at $26.2B in 2025.
The lowest external debt in El Salvador was $205.5M in 1970.
El Salvador ranks 44th globally in external debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
El Salvador's external debt is projected to reach $26.2B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
El Salvador's external debt was approximately 26.21 billion ($26.2B) in 2025.
The external debt of El Salvador in 2025 was $26.2B. This ranks 44th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_el-salvador_external-debt,
title = {El Salvador External Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/el-salvador/external-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}