Distribution of population between different poverty lines in El Salvador
El Salvador: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 275,828 people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in El Salvador, 1989–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, distribution of population between different poverty lines in El Salvador stood at 275,828 people. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.0% on the previous year and up 69.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in El Salvador peaked at 275,828 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 87,168 people, in 1989.
That places El Salvador 77th out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 87,168 people | — |
| 1991 | 113,522 people | +30.2% |
| 1995 | 145,877 people | +28.5% |
| 1996 | 151,410 people | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 170,010 people | +12.3% |
| 1999 | 180,596 people | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 205,177 people | +13.6% |
| 2001 | 199,771 people | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 179,325 people | -10.2% |
| 2003 | 161,344 people | -10.0% |
| 2004 | 170,542 people | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 168,987 people | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 153,141 people | -9.4% |
| 2007 | 170,175 people | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 171,930 people | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 175,835 people | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 144,179 people | -18.0% |
| 2011 | 124,024 people | -14.0% |
| 2012 | 134,787 people | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 163,249 people | +21.1% |
| 2014 | 161,837 people | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 159,014 people | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 149,422 people | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 129,978 people | -13.0% |
| 2018 | 162,569 people | +25.1% |
| 2019 | 213,503 people | +31.3% |
| 2021 | 226,595 people | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 212,122 people | -6.4% |
| 2023 | 275,828 people | +30.0% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 275,828 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 626,662 people, 44% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 275,828 people is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.09 million people, 25% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 87,168 people | 87,168 people | 87,168 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 152,283 people | 113,522 people | 180,596 people | 5 |
| 2000s | 175,623 people | 153,141 people | 205,177 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 154,256 people | 124,024 people | 213,503 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 238,182 people | 212,122 people | 275,828 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More poverty & inequality data for El Salvador
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 7 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.77 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,819 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 20.61 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 20.6% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in El Salvador?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in El Salvador was 275,828 people in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 275,828 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 87,168 people in 1989.
- How does El Salvador rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- El Salvador ranks 77th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $40 per day.