Downtown San Salvador.
In 2025, El Salvador’s challenges and concerns revolve around economic issues such as the high cost of living, limited job opportunities, and low wages.
The second most pressing concern for Salvadorans this year is limited access to quality education and healthcare, followed by escalating environmental problems and the violation or restriction of citizens’ rights.
A January 2025 Iudop-UCA survey indicated that 75.8% of Salvadorans view the economy as the country’s primary concern, emphasizing that economic issues are the country’s main challenges.
The Economy: El Salvador’s Principal Concern in 2025
The economy will undoubtedly remain El Salvador’s principal challenge in 2025. This year, Salvadorans are struggling with the high cost of living, limited job opportunities, and low wages.
These economic challenges are not new, but they have become more visible now that crime and violence in the country have dropped to their lowest levels in over 50 years.
High Cost of Living
The rising cost of living is a primary challenge for Salvadoran households this year. Many Salvadoran families are struggling to pay for their basic needs—everything is more expensive today.
Escalating prices of essentials such as food, housing, electricity, water, cooking gas, and other household items are straining the family’s budgets.
An example of El Salvador’s rising cost of living is the essential food basket, which has increased by 21.9% since the start of the Bukele administration in 2019.
The basic food basket rose from $202.37 in June 2019 to $246.64 by January 2025, an increase of $44.27.
A 21.9%, or $44.27 per month increase in essential food items in almost six years may seem low for wealthy countries; however, it represents a significant burden for many Salvadoran families.
Consider the following: Today, a Salvadoran family spends $246.64 on the basic food basket, which equals 67.6% of the country’s highest minimum wage of $365.
SEE ALSO: Cost of Living in El Salvador: How expensive is it to live in El Salvador?
Limited Job Oportunities
El Salvador continues to face significant challenges of unemployment and underemployment, which affect family’s economies.
Unemployment in El Salvador is challenging because there aren’t enough good jobs for people with college degrees or unique skills. Many of these qualified individuals end up stuck doing low-paying work that doesn’t match their talents.
Underemployment is also a big problem. With so few job opportunities, many people end up in informal or temporary work that doesn’t offer benefits or job security.
Most jobs in the country are in the informal or service sector, and they usually pay the minimum wage. These wages are barely enough to get by, let alone fix more significant economic problems.
With so few opportunities, many Salvadorans are left struggling, which only makes poverty and inequality worse.
Low Wages
Low wages remain a critical driver of poverty in El Salvador and is one of the primary economic challenges Salvadorans face—the rising living costs continue to outpace income growth.
The minimum wage has not increased in recent years, which is a problem as the cost of living has increased. Workers don’t make enough to cover basics like food, rent, healthcare, or transportation.
The gap between what people earn and what they need keeps growing, making life harder—especially for low-income families and those working in the informal sector.
Because of low wages, many households depend on remittances or side jobs to survive and meet their monthly obligations.
Low wages keep people in poverty, make it harder for anyone to move up, and slow down the country’s overall economic progress—low wages are a top concern for most Salvadorans.
Quality of Education and Healthcare
Getting quality education and healthcare is still a significant challenge in El Salvador, which is holding back the country’s social and economic progress.
Public services, such as education and healthcare, are available nationwide; however, the quality and availability vary between urban and rural areas.
For example, many schools don’t have enough classrooms, learning materials, or trained teachers, which holds students back—especially in low-income communities.
Private schools offer better options for getting a better education. Still, most families can’t afford them.
Like education, the Salvadoran healthcare system has problems and struggles with packed clinics, insufficient medical supplies, and limited access to specialized care—especially for people living in rural areas.
Private healthcare is available, but most Salvadorans can’t afford to pay for it, leaving them with only one option—the public healthcare system.
Without significant investment and reform in both sectors, Salvadorans will continue to face challenges in getting quality services that are fundamental for a better life.
Environmental Issues
El Salvador is dealing with increasing environmental problems that threaten public health and the country’s future.
Among the most pressing environmental issues are poor access to clean drinking water, widespread waste management problems, and the ecological risks posed by mining activities.
Many communities face challenges with contaminated water sources, and due to insufficient infrastructure, many go weeks without access to safe drinking water.
Trash is a big problem in El Salvador—it piles up in streets, rivers, and open spaces, polluting the environment and making clean drinking water even more challenging to find.
Mining is now also a concern for Salvadorans as legislators changed the law and lifted the country’s mining ban.
If not adequately supervised, mining could harm water sources, the environment, and communities near these mines—as it has in the past.
To sum up, Salvadorans are deeply concerned about the lack of clean water, trash piling up everywhere, and the dangers of mining. These issues threaten their health and the country’s future.
Violation or Restriction of Citizens’ Rights
Many Salvadorans express concern over violations of citizens’ rights, especially in marginalized communities by security authorities.
Local and international human rights organizations have reported and highlighted cases of arbitrary detentions, where innocent people face imprisonment without due process.
These reports revolved around the controversial—but effective State of Exception security measure.
Numerous individuals fear the erosion of civil liberties as police and military operations intensify across neighborhoods. They say authorities often act without clear evidence, raising alarms about unchecked power and a shrinking space for justice.
As these concerns over violating or restricting citizens’ rights grow, numerous Salvadorans call for a balance between security measures and fundamental freedoms to protect the nation’s democratic values.
El Salvador’s Challenges and Concerns
This year, El Salvador is dealing with tough challenges that affect daily life. People are worried about the economy, the lack of access to quality education and healthcare, and the worsening environmental problems.
On top of that, concerns about human rights violations and restricted freedoms add to the country’s challenges and concerns.
As these problems grow, people are calling for real solutions and stronger leadership to protect their rights, improve essential services, and build a more just and sustainable future for all Salvadorans.
