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Trade & investment · Latin America & Caribbean · Upper-middle income
El Salvador: trade and investment
Exports is 32.0% (2025), 104th of 184 in the world and 16th of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean. Imports is 56.1% (2025), 61st of 184 in the world and 6th of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean. Trade openness is 88.2% (2025), 83rd of 184 in the world and 10th of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 32.0%2025 | 104/184 | 16/27 | 26.8% | 26.9% | 24.5% | +2.6 ppsince 2015 | 26.1% | 25.9% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 56.1%2025 | 61/184 | 6/27 | 41.9% | 46.6% | 41.9% | +9.0 ppsince 2015 | 26.4% | 23.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 88.2%2025 | 83/184 | 10/27 | 68.7% | 73.5% | 66.5% | +11.6 ppsince 2015 | 49.1% | 48.9% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -3.5%2025 | 115/185 | 24/35 | -3.7% | -2.9% | 1.1% | −0.3 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $6.4bn2025 | 120/206 | 20/39 | $2.9bn | $4.5bn | $4.8bn | +17%since 2015 | $1.7tn | $7.7tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 5.6%2024 | 92/170 | 19/32 | · | 7.3% | 6.4% | ±0.0 ppsince 2014 | 13.1% | 23.2% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 4.8%2025 | 78/172 | 14/32 | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3.2% | +2.8 ppsince 2015 | 8.8% | 5.2% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 23.7%2025 | 62/172 | 24/32 | 19.2% | 21.2% | 20.4% | +4.1 ppsince 2015 | 23.6% | 9.0% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 2.2%2022 | 126/184 | 29/35 | 6.8% | 4.8% | 1.9% | −0.1 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 2.1%2025 | 98/197 | 25/38 | 1.5% | -0.6% | 1.6% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 2.8% | 1.1% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 27.5%2025 | 6/178 | 2/35 | 15.0% | 18.8% | 23.8% | +9.3 ppsince 2015 | 2.4% | 1.0% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 707,0002020 | 110/196 | 22/41 | 867,000 | 1.6m | 707,000 | −56%since 2010 | 202m | 573m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $755m2020 | 82/177 | 18/36 | $437m | $646m | $755m | +17%since 2010 | $105bn | — | $1.9tn |
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 32.0%2025 | 15.6%2025 | 35.0%2025 |
| Imports | 56.1%2025 | 31.0%2025 | 56.5%2025 |
| Trade openness | 88.2%2025 | 46.5%2025 | 91.5%2025 |
| Current account | -3.5%2025 | 4.7%2025 | 2.5%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $6.4bn2025 | $15.6bn2025 | $12.0bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 5.6%2024 | 5.4%2024 | 3.9%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 4.8%2025 | 2.5%2025 | 0.0%2024 |
| Food exports | 23.7%2025 | 46.8%2025 | 53.5%2024 |
| Average tariff | 2.2%2022 | 2.4%2022 | 2.1%2022 |