El Salvador Urban Population
Urban population as % of total SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
El Salvador's urban population was 75.60% in 2025, ranked 71st globally. This represents a 0.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
El Salvador's urban population stood at 75.60% in 2025, a rise of +0.53% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 75.60% by 2025. El Salvador ranked 71st globally.
El Salvador’s urban population share has risen from 38.38 percent in 1960 to 75.60 percent in 2025, marking a sustained shift toward city living over 66 years and reaching its all‑time peak in the present year. The increase reflects rapid rural‑to‑urban migration, expansion of the capital’s metropolitan area, and the concentration of services and industry in urban centers, trends that mirror the experience of peers such as Algeria, whose 2025 urban share stands at 75.84 percent, and the Russian Federation at 75.20 percent. While the early decades saw modest urbanization, the acceleration accelerated after the 1990s, coinciding with economic reforms and infrastructure investments that made urban locales more attractive. The rise in urban proportion has implications for housing demand, service provision, and environmental pressures, prompting policy focus on sustainable city planning. If current demographic and economic dynamics persist, the urban share is likely to edge higher, though a slowdown could occur if rural development initiatives successfully retain population outside the cities.
Data & projection
| Year | Urban Population | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 76.59% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 76.09% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 75.60% | - | - |
| 2025 | 75.60% | +0.53% | #71 |
| 2024 | 75.07% | +0.46% | #145 |
| 2023 | 74.61% | +0.46% | #143 |
| 2022 | 74.15% | +0.46% | #143 |
| 2021 | 73.68% | +0.63% | #144 |
| 2020 | 73.06% | +0.64% | #141 |
| 2019 | 72.41% | +0.66% | #139 |
| 2018 | 71.76% | +0.67% | #139 |
| 2017 | 71.09% | +0.69% | #138 |
| 2016 | 70.40% | +0.70% | #137 |
| 2015 | 69.70% | +0.78% | #135 |
| 2014 | 68.92% | +0.83% | #133 |
| 2013 | 68.09% | +0.86% | #132 |
| 2012 | 67.22% | +0.89% | #129 |
| 2011 | 66.33% | +0.90% | #123 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
El Salvador matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1989. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw urban population improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
El Salvador's urban population was 75.60% in 2025. Ranked 71st globally. This represents a 0.7% increase from the previous year.
El Salvador's urban population peaked at 75.60% in 2025.
The lowest urban population in El Salvador was 38.38% in 1960.
El Salvador ranks 71st globally in urban population as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
El Salvador's urban population is projected to reach 75.60% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The urban population of El Salvador in 2025 was 75.60%. This ranks 71st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_el-salvador_urban-population,
title = {El Salvador Urban Population},
url = {https://historysaid.com/el-salvador/urban-population/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}