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Aid, poverty & equality · Latin America & Caribbean · Upper-middle income
El Salvador: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 4.6% (2023), 58th of 151 in the world and 5th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $4.20/day is 8.6% (2023), 64th of 151 in the world and 5th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $8.30/day is 29.9% (2023), 71st of 151 in the world and 6th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean.
Extreme poverty
El SalvadorLatin America & CaribbeanUpper-middle incomeWorld
Poverty, $4.20/day
El SalvadorLatin America & CaribbeanUpper-middle incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: El Salvador in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Latin America & Caribbean; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 4.6%2023 | 58/151 | 5/22 | 18.4% | 11.4% | 5.1%2021 | −2.5 ppsince 2013 | 4.3% | 2.1% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 8.6%2023 | 64/151 | 5/22 | 27.7% | 22.1% | 9.8%2021 | −7.6 ppsince 2013 | 8.0% | 5.4% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 29.9%2023 | 71/151 | 6/22 | 56.0% | 54.8% | 33.5%2021 | −19.2 ppsince 2013 | 24.7% | 26.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 27.2%2023 | 51/145 | 9/23 | · | · | 26.2% | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 39.82023 | 40/151 | 19/22 | 51.5 | 43.5 | 39.02021 | −8.3%since 2013 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 29.7%2023 | 50/151 | 19/22 | 39.0% | 33.2% | 29.0%2021 | −4.5 ppsince 2013 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 5.6%2023 | 119/151 | 8/22 | 3.2% | 5.1% | 5.6%2021 | +0.1 ppsince 2013 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 5.3%2024 | 77/167 | 11/28 | 7.0%2001 | 9.0% | 6.2% | −3.6 ppsince 2014 | 5.1% | 4.0% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 41.7%2024 | 42/155 | 4/28 | · | · | 46.5% | — | 25.2% | 12.6% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 43.4%2024 | 120/145 | 18/21 | · | 13.8%2011 | 35.8%2021 | +6.7 ppsince 2014 | 73.5% | 84.0% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 31.7%2025 | 65/190 | 14/32 | 9.5% | 19.0% | 33.3% | −0.5 ppsince 2015 | 36.6% | 27.0% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $499m2023 | 67/145 | 10/32 | $192m | $301m | $344m | +195%since 2013 | $10.8bn | $57.4bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 1.6%2023 | 81/139 | 9/30 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.5% | +0.8 ppsince 2013 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $79.12023 | 59/145 | 10/32 | $32.4 | $49.6 | $55.2 | +187%since 2013 | $16.4 | $18.8 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−2.5 pp4.6% in 2023
- Poverty, $4.20/day−7.6 pp8.6% in 2023
- Poverty, $8.30/day−19.2 pp29.9% in 2023
- Gini index−8.3%39.8 in 2023
Worse than ten years ago
- Women in parliament−0.5 pp31.7% in 2025
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
El Salvador and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with El Salvador. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | El Salvador | Guatemala | Honduras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 4.6%2023 | 9.7%2023 | 15.7%2024 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 8.6%2023 | 17.6%2023 | 23.5%2024 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 29.9%2023 | 47.3%2023 | 49.8%2024 |
| National poverty rate | 27.2%2023 | 56.0%2023 | 60.1%2025 |
| Gini index | 39.82023 | 45.22023 | 45.72024 |
| Top 10% income share | 29.7%2023 | 34.1%2023 | 32.3%2024 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 5.6%2023 | 4.6%2023 | 3.7%2024 |
| Undernourishment | 5.3%2024 | 12.7%2024 | 14.3%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 41.7%2024 | 49.0%2024 | 39.3%2024 |