Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in El Salvador
El Salvador: Total population living in extreme poverty by world region was 292,567 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
292,567 people
Change on year
down 10.5%
World rank
56th
of 120 countries
All-time high
1.59 million people
in 1991
All-time low
185,676 people
in 2019
Years of data
29
1989–2023
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region 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, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in El Salvador stood at 292,567 people.
That represents a change of down 10.5% on the previous year and down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in El Salvador peaked at 1.59 million people in 1991 and was at its lowest, 185,676 people, in 2019.
El Salvador ranks 56th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 1.31 million people | — |
| 1991 | 1.59 million people | +21.2% |
| 1995 | 1.11 million people | -30.0% |
| 1996 | 1.23 million people | +10.8% |
| 1998 | 1.55 million people | +25.6% |
| 1999 | 1.33 million people | -14.4% |
| 2000 | 1.10 million people | -17.4% |
| 2001 | 1.16 million people | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 1.17 million people | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 1.26 million people | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 979,672 people | -22.0% |
| 2005 | 986,816 people | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 757,426 people | -23.2% |
| 2007 | 552,341 people | -27.1% |
| 2008 | 761,371 people | +37.8% |
| 2009 | 747,358 people | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 689,385 people | -7.8% |
| 2011 | 614,693 people | -10.8% |
| 2012 | 522,397 people | -15.0% |
| 2013 | 438,398 people | -16.1% |
| 2014 | 428,531 people | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 327,824 people | -23.5% |
| 2016 | 358,087 people | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 282,778 people | -21.0% |
| 2018 | 252,966 people | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 185,676 people | -26.6% |
| 2021 | 320,978 people | +72.9% |
| 2022 | 327,003 people | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 292,567 people | -10.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.31 million people | 1.31 million people | 1.31 million people | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.36 million people | 1.11 million people | 1.59 million people | 5 |
| 2000s | 946,472 people | 552,341 people | 1.26 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 410,074 people | 185,676 people | 689,385 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 313,516 people | 292,567 people | 327,003 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
- 53 Mauritania 464,788 people compare
- 54 Nicaragua 398,591 people compare
- 55 Spain 393,304 people compare
- 57 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 267,936 people compare
- 58 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 254,499 people compare
- 59 Australia 230,843 people compare
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 total population living in extreme poverty by world region in El Salvador?
- Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in El Salvador was 292,567 people in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 1.59 million people in 1991.
- What is the lowest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 185,676 people in 2019.
- How does El Salvador rank for total population living in extreme poverty by world region?
- El Salvador ranks 56th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total population living in extreme poverty by world region rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Total population living in extreme poverty by world region. 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 below $3 per day.