Updated
Overview
Guatemala has 2.9 times the population of El Salvador: 18.69 million people against 6.37 million (2025).
Guatemala's economy is 3.4 times the size of El Salvador's, at $123.31B versus $36.71B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Guatemala | El Salvador | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $123.31B | $36.71B | 2025 | $113.20B / $35.37B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $6,598 | $5,767 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.3% | 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.5% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 2.9% / 0.9% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.6% | 3.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 43 | 41 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $465 | Higher: $507 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $431 | $365 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.46 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 18.69 million | 6.37 million | 2025 | 18.26 million / 6.33 million |
| Population growth | 1.5% | 0.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 23.4 yrs | 27.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.26 | 1.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 72.7 yrs | 72.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 76% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 60% | Higher: 66% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 108,889 km² | 21,041 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 171.6/km² | 302.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 20 Mt | Lower: 8.97 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.1 t | 1.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $415.19M | $425.20M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 1.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 43,000 | 42,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (4.3% for Guatemala, 3.9% for El Salvador).
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Guatemala and 0.3% in El Salvador.
Average monthly earnings favour El Salvador: $507 against $465 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Guatemala is the younger society: median age 23.4 versus 27.9 years.
El Salvador is considerably more urbanized: 76% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Geography
By land area, Guatemala is 5.2 times the size of El Salvador: 108,889 km² versus 21,041 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $415.19M (Guatemala) and $425.20M (El Salvador).
Relative to its economy, El Salvador carries the heavier military burden: 1.2% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Guatemala fields the larger armed forces: 43,000 personnel against 42,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Guatemala bigger than El Salvador?
- Guatemala is larger by land area. Guatemala covers 108,889 km² while El Salvador covers 21,041 km², so Guatemala is 5.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Guatemala or El Salvador?
- Guatemala has the larger population: 18.69 million versus 6.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Guatemala richer than El Salvador?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Guatemala is richer: $6,598 against $5,767. Total GDP tells the same story: $123.31B for Guatemala versus $36.71B for El Salvador.
- Who spends more on their military, Guatemala or El Salvador?
- El Salvador spends more: $425.20M versus $415.19M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).