El Salvador Population
El Salvador’s most recent census reveals a country that is predominantly young, urban, and female-majority.
According to the 2024 census released by the Salvadoran Central Reserve Bank (BCR), the country’s population stands at 6,029,976. Women make up the majority, with 3,181,443 females (52.76%) compared to 2,848,533 males (47.24%).
| 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,029,976 | 100% |
| Female | 3,181,443 | 52.76% |
| Male | 2,848,533 | 47.24% |
SEE ALSO: The Struggles of Living in Rural Areas of El Salvador.
El Salvador Population by Department
Nearly half of all Salvadorans reside in just three departments: San Salvador, La Libertad, and Santa Ana, which together are home to 2,882,188 people—approximately 47.8% of the national population.
On the opposite end, the least populated departments—Cabañas, San Vicente, and Morazán—collectively house only 474,690 residents (7.87%).
It is important to note that the population figures exclude 107,055 individuals currently incarcerated, which represents approximately 1.78% of the total population.
| 2024 | Population Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| San Salvador | 1,563,371 | 26.40% |
| La Libertad | 765,879 | 12.93% |
| Santa Ana | 552,938 | 9.34% |
| Sonsonate | 470,455 | 7.94% |
| San Miguel | 447,634 | 7.56% |
| Ahuachapan | 348,880 | 5.89% |
| La Paz | 325,494 | 5.50% |
| Usulutan | 318,374 | 5.38% |
| Cuscatlan | 244,901 | 4.13% |
| La Union | 224,375 | 3.79% |
| Chalatenango | 185,930 | 3.14% |
| Morazan | 169,784 | 2.87% |
| San Vicente | 161,857 | 2.73% |
| Cabañas | 143,049 | 2.42% |
| **Other | 107,055 | 1.78% |
| Total | 6,029,976 | 100% |
**Persons deprived of liberty (In Jail)
Visit our “Departments and Municipalities” page to get a breakdown of the estimated population of all 44 Salvadoran municipalities.
Salvadoran Population by Age Groups
El Salvador has a young population, which could be an advantage for future economic growth.
The largest demographic group is those aged 25 to 29, comprising 540,515 individuals (8.96%); it is followed by the 20 to 24 age group, totaling 511,086 people (8.48%).
Altogether, Salvadorans aged 15 to 29 number 1,501,216, making up 24.9% of the population. This segment holds significant promise for the country’s productive and labor force potential.
Also, children between 5 and 14 years old total 925,574 (15.35%), underscoring the importance of continued investment in education infrastructure and services.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 190,284 | 182,949 | 373,233 | 6.19% |
| 5- 9 | 230,204 | 221,622 | 451,826 | 7.49% |
| 10-14 | 242,611 | 231,137 | 473,748 | 7.86% |
| 15-19 | 224,736 | 224,879 | 449,615 | 7.46% |
| 20-24 | 250,051 | 261,035 | 511,086 | 8.48% |
| 25-29 | 258,535 | 281,980 | 540,515 | 8.96% |
| 30-34 | 231,189 | 253,175 | 484,364 | 8.03% |
| 35-39 | 197,824 | 221,420 | 419,244 | 6.95% |
| 40-44 | 183,820 | 215,591 | 399,411 | 6.62% |
| 45-49 | 174,197 | 213,450 | 387,647 | 6.43% |
| 50-54 | 155,246 | 193,331 | 348,577 | 5.78% |
| 55-59 | 128,168 | 168,109 | 296,277 | 4.91% |
| 60-64 | 110,386 | 147,025 | 257,411 | 4.27% |
| 65-69 | 86,549 | 114,226 | 200,775 | 3.33% |
| 70-74 | 70,715 | 90,357 | 161,072 | 2.67% |
| 75-79 | 50,342 | 66,398 | 116,740 | 1.94% |
| 80-84 | 33,319 | 46,487 | 79,806 | 1.32% |
| 85-89 | 18,979 | 28,927 | 47,906 | 0.79% |
| 90-94 | 8,273 | 13,640 | 21,913 | 0.36% |
| 95+ | 3,105 | 5,705 | 8,810 | 0.15% |
| Total | 2,848,533 | 3,181,443 | 6,029,976 |
SEE ALSO: El Salvador Healthcare System. Healthcare in El Salvador.
Female and Male Population by Age Groups
The data also reveal age-based trends by gender. Among women, the largest groups are those aged 25 to 29 (281,980, or 8.86%), followed by those aged 20 to 24 (261,036, or 8.20%), and those aged 30 to 34 (253,175, or 7.96%).
| Age group | Female | % |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 182,949 | 5.75% |
| 5- 9 | 221,622 | 6.97% |
| 10-14 | 231,137 | 7.27% |
| 15-19 | 224,879 | 7.07% |
| 20-24 | 261,035 | 8.20% |
| 25-29 | 281,980 | 8.86% |
| 30-34 | 253,175 | 7.96% |
| 35-39 | 221,420 | 6.96% |
| 40-44 | 215,591 | 6.78% |
| 45-49 | 213,450 | 6.71% |
| 50-54 | 193,331 | 6.08% |
| 55-59 | 168,109 | 5.28% |
| 60-64 | 147,025 | 4.62% |
| 65-69 | 114,226 | 3.59% |
| 70-74 | 90,357 | 2.84% |
| 75-79 | 66,398 | 2.09% |
| 80-84 | 46,487 | 1.46% |
| 85-89 | 28,927 | 0.91% |
| 90-94 | 13,640 | 0.43% |
| 95+ | 5,705 | 0.18% |
| Total | 3,181,443 |
Among men, 258,535 (9.08%) are between 25 and 29, with the 20 to 24 cohort close behind at 250,051 (8.78%). Interestingly, the third-largest male age group is 10 to 14 years old, totaling 242,611 (8.52%).
| Age group | Male | % |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 190,284 | 6.68% |
| 5- 9 | 230,204 | 8.08% |
| 10-14 | 242,611 | 8.52% |
| 15-19 | 224,736 | 7.89% |
| 20-24 | 250,051 | 8.78% |
| 25-29 | 258,535 | 9.08% |
| 30-34 | 231,189 | 8.12% |
| 35-39 | 197,824 | 6.94% |
| 40-44 | 183,820 | 6.45% |
| 45-49 | 174,197 | 6.12% |
| 50-54 | 155,246 | 5.45% |
| 55-59 | 128,168 | 4.50% |
| 60-64 | 110,386 | 3.88% |
| 65-69 | 86,549 | 3.04% |
| 70-74 | 70,715 | 2.48% |
| 75-79 | 50,342 | 1.77% |
| 80-84 | 33,319 | 1.17% |
| 85-89 | 18,979 | 0.67% |
| 90-94 | 8,273 | 0.29% |
| 95+ | 3,105 | 0.11% |
| Total | 2,848,533 |
These findings from the 2024 census offer a valuable roadmap for policymakers, educators, and economic planners.
With a youthful population and high urban concentration, El Salvador’s next chapter will depend on how it leverages its human capital and responds to regional population disparities.
