El Salvador Population Density
People per sq. km of land area EN.POP.DNST
El Salvador's population density was 306.4 in 2025, ranked 40th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1961–2025.
Overview
El Salvador's population density stood at 306.4 in 2025, a rise of +1.9 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 306.4 by 2025. El Salvador ranked 40th globally.
El Salvador’s population density has risen steadily over the 64‑year series, climbing from 137.65 persons per square kilometre in 1961 to an all‑time peak of 306.40 in 2025, placing the nation at rank 40 globally. The near‑doubling of density reflects sustained natural increase combined with limited geographic expansion, as the country’s land area has remained unchanged. Compared with nearby jurisdictions, El Salvador’s density is slightly lower than Guam’s 312.67 and Tuvalu’s 314.05, yet higher than the U.S. Virgin Islands’ 297.37, underscoring a regional pattern of high occupancy in small‑area territories. The upward trajectory mirrors broader Latin American trends of urbanisation, with the majority of growth concentrated in the capital and surrounding metropolitan zones. If fertility rates continue to decline and migration balances remain stable, the pace of density increase may moderate; however, any surge in rural‑to‑urban migration or constraints on housing supply could sustain the upward pressure on population density.
Data & projection
| Year | Population Density | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 307.5 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 306.4 | - | - |
| 2025 | 306.4 | +1.9 | #40 |
| 2023 | 304.5 | +1.4 | #175 |
| 2022 | 303.1 | +1.2 | #176 |
| 2021 | 301.9 | +1.0 | #175 |
| 2020 | 300.9 | +0.6 | #176 |
| 2019 | 300.3 | +0.1 | #177 |
| 2018 | 300.2 | +0.3 | #176 |
| 2017 | 299.9 | +0.6 | #176 |
| 2016 | 299.3 | +0.8 | #176 |
| 2015 | 298.4 | +1.0 | #177 |
| 2014 | 297.4 | +1.2 | #177 |
| 2013 | 296.3 | +1.2 | #177 |
| 2012 | 295.1 | +1.2 | #177 |
| 2011 | 293.9 | +1.1 | #175 |
| 2010 | 292.9 | +1.0 | #175 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
El Salvador matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1989. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw population density improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
El Salvador's population density was 306.4 in 2025. Ranked 40th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from the previous year.
El Salvador's population density peaked at 306.4 in 2025.
The lowest population density in El Salvador was 137.7 in 1961.
El Salvador ranks 40th globally in population density as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is EN.POP.DNST. Data sourced from World Bank.
El Salvador's population density is projected to reach 306.4 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The population density of El Salvador in 2025 was 306.4. This ranks 40th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_el-salvador_population-density,
title = {El Salvador Population Density},
url = {https://historysaid.com/el-salvador/population-density/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}