El Salvador Population Pyramid (2026)
El Salvador has a population of 6,391,253 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 111th-largest population in the world and 0.08% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 24.0% of the population and people aged 65 and over 8.5%, with 90.5 males for every 100 females.
El Salvador Demographics
El Salvador has 6.4 million people in 2026, up 74.2% from 3.7 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 48,822 (UN projection for 2026).
Median age 28.4 — the 85th-lowest of 194 countries.
65+ share 8.5% — the 94th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Z — 28.9% (1,848,148)
All generations in El Salvador →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how El Salvador's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
El Salvador has 90.5 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 319,201 (5.0% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:3,036,026
- Percentage:47.5%
Female Statistics
- Population:3,355,227
- Percentage:52.5%
- Ratio Format:1:1.105
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of El Salvador indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 96,922 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101,029 | 16.1 | 1.80 | estimate |
| 2022 | 99,985 | 15.9 | 1.79 | estimate |
| 2023 | 99,428 | 15.8 | 1.78 | estimate |
| 2024 | 98,858 | 15.6 | 1.77 | projection |
| 2025 | 97,874 | 15.4 | 1.75 | projection |
| 2026 | 96,922 | 15.2 | 1.74 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (96,922 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
El Salvador's median age is 28.4 years
Half the population is younger than 28.4 years, half is older — indicating a young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 483,311 | 7.6% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 498,037 | 7.8% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 549,808 | 8.6% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 556,262 | 8.7% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 560,136 | 8.8% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 626,410 | 9.8% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 574,752 | 9.0% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 450,175 | 7.0% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 364,551 | 5.7% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 355,406 | 5.6% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 317,028 | 5.0% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 280,190 | 4.4% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 233,161 | 3.6% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 186,093 | 2.9% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 144,769 | 2.3% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 105,727 | 1.7% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 64,465 | 1.0% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 30,516 | 0.5% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 8,869 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 1,496 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 94 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 4 (low birth and death rates): fertility is below the replacement level of 2.1 (1.74 children per woman), and births still exceed deaths (15.2 vs 7.5 per 1,000). Read more about Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
El Salvador Total Fertility Rate: 1.74 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.80 | 16.1 | |
| 2022 | 1.79 | 15.9 | ↓0.01 |
| 2023 | 1.78 | 15.8 | ↓0.01 |
| 2024 | 1.77 | 15.6 | ↓0.01 |
| 2025 | 1.75 | 15.4 | ↓0.02 |
| 2026 | 1.74 | 15.2 | ↓0.01 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.71
El Salvador's total fertility rate is 1.74 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. El Salvador ranks 114 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −72.4% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, El Salvador's population has increased by 192.7%.
The median age has increased from 17.2 in 1950 to 28.4 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding El Salvador's Demographics
El Salvador has a stationary population pyramid — similar-sized bands from the youngest cohorts through the working ages.
Children under 15 make up 24.0% of the population and people aged 65 and over 8.5%.
The largest five-year age band is 25–29, at 9.8% of the population, compared with 7.6% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: El Salvador's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The working-age share is still rising, from 64.8% in 2016 to 67.6% in 2026 (dependency ratio 48.0).
Fertility Transition Stage
El Salvador is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.74 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
El Salvador's median age changed by +4.2 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 6,391,253 |
| Male Population | 3,036,026(47.5%) |
| Female Population | 3,355,227(52.5%) |
| Median Age | 28.4 years |
| Sex Ratio | 90.5 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 1,531,156(24.0%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 4,318,068(67.6%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 542,029(8.5%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 48.0 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 35.5 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 12.6 |
| Pyramid Type | Stationary |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in El Salvador
How long the average person in El Salvador is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
El Salvador is projected to grow to 6.7 million people by 2050 (+4.3% from 2026).
The median age rises from 28.4 in 2026 to 38.9 by 2050.
El Salvador's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 23.8%, growing from 3.7 million in 1970 to 4.5 million by 1980
The median age increased by 0.9 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 2.6 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion declined by 0.6 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 3.7M to 4.5M
- • Growth rate of 23.8% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 15.5 to 16.4 years (+0.9y)
- • 65+ share changed by −0.6 points; under-15 share by −2.6 points
Frequently Asked Questions About El Salvador
How does El Salvador rank globally by population?
El Salvador ranks 111th in the world by population with 6.39 million people as of 2026, representing 0.08% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does El Salvador's age structure reveal about its development?
El Salvador's age structure — 24.0% under 15, 67.6% working-age (15–64) and 8.5% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 4 of the demographic transition, with a stationary population pyramid. The median age is 28.4 years.
What is the dependency ratio in El Salvador?
El Salvador has 48.0 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is El Salvador experiencing a demographic dividend?
El Salvador is in its demographic-dividend window. The working-age share is still rising, from 64.8% in 2016 to 67.6% in 2026 (dependency ratio 48.0). The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in El Salvador's population?
El Salvador has more females than males, with 90.5 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). El Salvador Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/el-salvador
View UN World Population Prospects Data →