El Salvador Government Debt to GDP
General government gross debt as % of GDP GGXWDG_NGDP
El Salvador's government debt to gdp was 87.62% in 2025, ranked 31st globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from 2024. Data from IMF WEO, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
El Salvador's government debt to gdp stood at 87.62% in 2025, a rise of +0.11% from 2024. The IMF projects 87.62% by 2025. El Salvador ranked 31st globally.
El Salvador’s government debt-to‑GDP ratio has risen steadily over the 35‑year span from 43.33 in 1991 to a peak of 95.36 in 2020, before easing to 87.62 in 2025, placing the country 31st globally. The post‑civil‑war consolidation of the 1990s kept debt low, reaching an all‑time trough of 25.65 in 1998, but fiscal expansions and external financing during the 2010s pushed the ratio upward, culminating in the COVID‑19‑induced surge of 2020. By 2025 the ratio remains near the high‑end of the sample, comparable to peers such as Mauritius (88.13) and Egypt (86.97). The modest decline from the 2020 peak suggests that recent consolidation measures are taking effect, yet the debt burden remains elevated; future trajectories will depend on the government’s ability to sustain fiscal discipline while supporting growth‑oriented spending.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Debt to GDP | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 79.49% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 81.41% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 82.86% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 84.64% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 86.91% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 87.62% | - | - |
| 2025 | 87.62% | +0.11% | #31 |
| 2024 | 87.51% | +2.43% | #155 |
| 2023 | 85.09% | +1.43% | #156 |
| 2022 | 83.66% | −4.30% | #151 |
| 2021 | 87.96% | −7.41% | #155 |
| 2020 | 95.37% | +17.46% | #154 |
| 2019 | 77.91% | +0.95% | #150 |
| 2018 | 76.96% | −0.17% | #154 |
| 2017 | 77.14% | +1.92% | #154 |
| 2016 | 75.21% | +1.75% | #147 |
| 2015 | 73.46% | +1.67% | #151 |
| 2014 | 71.79% | +2.14% | #153 |
| 2013 | 69.66% | −0.34% | #152 |
| 2012 | 69.99% | +4.40% | #158 |
| 2011 | 65.60% | −1.20% | #152 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
El Salvador matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1989. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw government debt to gdp improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
El Salvador's government debt to gdp was 87.62% in 2025. Ranked 31st globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.
El Salvador's government debt to gdp peaked at 95.37% in 2020.
The lowest government debt to gdp in El Salvador was 25.65% in 1998.
El Salvador ranks 31st globally in government debt to gdp as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GGXWDG_NGDP. Data sourced from IMF WEO.
El Salvador's government debt to gdp is projected to reach 87.62% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The government debt to gdp of El Salvador in 2025 was 87.62%. This ranks 31st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_el-salvador_government-debt-to-gdp,
title = {El Salvador Government Debt to GDP},
url = {https://historysaid.com/el-salvador/government-debt-to-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}