El Salvador Trade Balance
External balance on goods and services NE.RSB.GNFS.CD
El Salvador's trade balance was $-7.7B in 2025, ranked 152nd globally. This represents a 13.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1965–2025.
Overview
El Salvador's trade balance stood at $-7.7B in 2025, a decline of +$927.9M from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $-7.7B by 2025. El Salvador ranked 152nd globally.
El Salvador’s trade balance has deteriorated sharply, reaching a deficit of –7,696,111,000.00 in 2025, the most negative figure recorded over a 61‑year span and placing the country 152nd globally. This stands in stark contrast to the modest surplus of 32,760,000.00 recorded in the peak year of 1980, indicating a long‑term shift from a narrow positive balance to a deepening deficit. The 2025 trough follows a trajectory that mirrors other small, open economies such as Kenya, whose 2025 deficit of –7,692,623,537.56 sits at a comparable rank, suggesting regional vulnerabilities to external demand shocks and commodity price volatility. Persistent current‑account pressures have been compounded by limited export diversification and a reliance on imported inputs, which together have amplified the gap between export earnings and import expenditures. If structural reforms enhance export competitiveness and reduce import dependence, the downward trend could be mitigated, potentially stabilising the trade balance in the medium term.
Data & projection
| Year | Trade Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $-8.5B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $-8.1B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $-7.7B | - | - |
| 2025 | $-7.7B | −$927.9M | #152 |
| 2024 | $-6.8B | −$362.9M | #26 |
| 2023 | $-6.4B | +$1.2B | #32 |
| 2022 | $-7.6B | −$543.7M | #32 |
| 2021 | $-7.1B | −$2.7B | #22 |
| 2020 | $-4.3B | −$1.8M | #32 |
| 2019 | $-4.3B | +$286.6M | #33 |
| 2018 | $-4.6B | −$564.7M | #31 |
| 2017 | $-4.1B | −$211.0M | #27 |
| 2016 | $-3.8B | +$275.4M | #33 |
| 2015 | $-4.1B | +$170.2M | #35 |
| 2014 | $-4.3B | +$326.0M | #31 |
| 2013 | $-4.6B | −$232.9M | #32 |
| 2012 | $-4.4B | −$62.4M | #32 |
| 2011 | $-4.3B | −$699.2M | #33 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
El Salvador matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1989. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw trade balance improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
El Salvador's trade balance was $-7.7B in 2025. Ranked 152nd globally. This represents a 13.7% decrease from the previous year.
El Salvador's trade balance peaked at $32.8M in 1980.
The lowest trade balance in El Salvador was $-7.7B in 2025.
El Salvador ranks 152nd globally in trade balance as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is NE.RSB.GNFS.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
El Salvador's trade balance is projected to reach $-7.7B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The trade balance of El Salvador in 2025 was $-7.7B. This ranks 152nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_el-salvador_trade-balance,
title = {El Salvador Trade Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/el-salvador/trade-balance/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}