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El Salvador Population Overview (2026 Projection)
El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America, bordered by Guatemala to the northwest, Honduras to the northeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. It is the smallest country in Central America by land area, yet one of the most densely populated in the region.
According to the Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador, the country’s population in 2024 was 6,029,976. Women make up 52.8% of the population, while men account for 47.2%. In terms of ethnic identity, 1.2% of the population self-identifies as Indigenous, and 0.4% as Afro-descendant. Urbanization is high, with 26.4% of the population living in San Salvador, the country’s most densely populated metropolitan area.
Based on the United Nations World Population Prospects, El Salvador’s population is projected to reach approximately 6,454,736 (6.4 million) in 2026. Population growth has been slow and relatively stable, influenced by declining fertility rates, outward migration, and an increasingly urban population.
👉 Projected Population of El Salvador (2026): ~6.4 million
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El Salvador Population – Quick Facts
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Republic of El Salvador |
| Region | Central America |
| Estimated Population (2026) | 6,396,289 |
| Population Rank (Central America) | 4th |
| Land Area | 20,721 sq. km (8,000 sq. mi) |
| Area Rank (Central America) | 7th (Smallest) |
| Population Density | ~313 people per sq. km |
| Urban Population | ~74% |
| Fertility Rate | 2.05 births per woman |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 12 per 1,000 live births |
| Median Age | 27.6 years |
| Life Expectancy | 74.06 years |
| Capital & Largest City | San Salvador |
Source: UN World Population Prospects (Latest Estimates)
Religion in El Salvador
Christianity remains the dominant religion in El Salvador, though its composition has shifted in recent years. According to Latinobarómetro 2024, approximately 83.5% of Salvadorans identify as Christian, with Roman Catholicism once again forming a clear majority, followed by Evangelical and other Protestant denominations.
In 2024, 43.9% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic, while around 40% identify as Evangelical or Protestant, including non-denominational Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists, Adventists, and other Protestant churches. Religious non-affiliation is significant, with 16.3% reporting no religion, while atheists, agnostics, and other beliefs together account for a small but growing share. Non-Christian religions remain below 1%, including Jewish and Afro-American spiritual traditions.
Religion Percentage in El Salvador
| Religion / Affiliation | Percent |
|---|---|
| Christianity (Total) | ~83.5% |
| Catholic | 43.9% |
| Evangelical (no specific) | 38.2% |
| Evangelical Baptist | 0.1% |
| Evangelical Methodist | 1.3% |
| Evangelical Pentecostal | – |
| Adventist | – |
| Protestant (other) | – |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | – |
| Mormon | – |
| Unaffiliated / No Religion | 16.3% |
| Believer, not church-affiliated | – |
| Atheist | – |
| Agnostic | – |
| Jewish | – |
| Afro-American religions | – |
| Other religions | – |
| Don’t know | 0.1% |
| No answer | 0.1% |
Source: Latinobarómetro 2023 – El Salvador
Key Religious Trends
Catholicism has regained majority status in El Salvador
Evangelical and Protestant churches remain highly influential
Religious non-affiliation is highest among younger Salvadorans
Non-Christian religions remain statistically minor
Race and Ethnicity in El Salvador
El Salvador is a multi-ethnic and culturally diverse country, shaped by Indigenous heritage, European colonization, African ancestry, and later migration. Ethnic identity in El Salvador varies depending on whether it is measured by historical estimates or self-identification surveys. The most recent and comparable data comes from Latinobarómetro 2024, which reflects how Salvadorans identify their own ethnicity or race.
According to Latinobarómetro 2024, mestizos remain the largest ethnic group, though at a lower share than older estimates, accounting for 42.2% of the population. White Salvadorans represent 23.3%, while Indigenous peoples account for 10.5%. Afro-descendants (Black and Mulatto combined) make up a significant share at 11.3%, primarily concentrated along the coastal and urban regions. Smaller groups include Asians (0.4%) and other mixed or unspecified identities. Around 9.7% of respondents either did not know or did not answer, reflecting the fluid nature of ethnic identity in El Salvador.
Small but historically significant communities of Jews, Palestinian Christians, and Arab Muslims (mainly Palestinians) also exist, particularly in urban and commercial centers, though they represent a very small share of the total population.
Ethnic & Racial Composition of El Salvador
| Ethnic Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Mestizo | 42.2% |
| White | 23.3% |
| Indigenous | 10.5% |
| Black | 6.8% |
| Mulatto | 4.5% |
| Asian | 0.4% |
| Other race | 2.4% |
| Don’t know | 8.5% |
| Does not answer | 1.2% |
Source: Latinobarómetro 2024 – El Salvador (Self-identified ethnicity)
Largest Cities in El Salvador by Population
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Salvador | 540,989 |
| 2 | Santa Ana | 245,421 |
| 3 | Soyapango | 241,403 |
| 4 | San Miguel | 218,410 |
| 5 | Santa Tecla | 164,171 |
| 6 | Mejicanos | 140,751 |
| 7 | Apopa | 131,286 |
| 8 | Delgado | 120,200 |
| 9 | Ahuachapán | 110,511 |
| 10 | Ilopango | 103,862 |
| 11 | Colón | 96,989 |
| 12 | Tonacatepeque | 90,896 |
| 13 | Opico | 74,280 |
| 14 | Chalchuapa | 74,038 |
| 15 | Usulután | 73,064 |
| 16 | San Martín | 72,758 |
| 17 | Sonsonate | 71,541 |
| 18 | Izalco | 70,959 |
| 19 | Cuscatancingo | 66,400 |
| 20 | Metapán | 65,826 |
Sources
- United Nations World Population Prospects (medium variant)
- Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador
- Latinobarómetro 2023
- PEW Research Center
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