Updated
Overview
Honduras has about 75% more people than El Salvador: 11.01 million against 6.37 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $39.60B for Honduras and $36.71B for El Salvador.
Per person, El Salvador is the wealthier of the two: $5,767 against $3,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Honduras | El Salvador | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $39.60B | $36.71B | 2025 | $37.09B / $35.37B |
| GDP per capita | $3,598 | Higher: $5,767 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.8% | Higher: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 4.6% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 4.6% / 0.9% |
| Unemployment | 4.9% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 41 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $433 | Higher: $507 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $464 | $365 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.19 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 11.01 million | 6.37 million | 2025 | 9.53 million / 6.33 million |
| Population growth | 1.7% | 0.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.2 yrs | 27.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.45 | 1.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 73.0 yrs | 72.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 59% | 76% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 59% | Higher: 66% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 112,492 km² | 21,041 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 97.8/km² | 302.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 13 Mt | Lower: 8.97 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.2 t | 1.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $581.27M | $425.20M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 23,000 | 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 (3.8% for Honduras, 3.9% for El Salvador).
Honduras runs the hotter price environment: 4.6% inflation versus 0.3%.
Average monthly earnings favour El Salvador: $507 against $433 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Honduras is the younger society: median age 24.2 versus 27.9 years.
El Salvador is considerably more urbanized: 76% of people live in cities, against 59%.
Geography
By land area, Honduras is 5.3 times the size of El Salvador: 112,492 km² versus 21,041 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
El Salvador is far more densely settled: 303 people per km² against 98.
Military
Honduras spends about 35% more on defence than El Salvador: $581.27M versus $425.20M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
El Salvador fields the larger armed forces: 42,000 personnel against 23,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Honduras bigger than El Salvador?
- Honduras is larger by land area. Honduras covers 112,492 km² while El Salvador covers 21,041 km², so Honduras is 5.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Honduras or El Salvador?
- Honduras has the larger population: 11.01 million versus 6.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Honduras richer than El Salvador?
- Measured by GDP per capita, El Salvador is richer: $5,767 against $3,598. Total GDP tells a different story: $39.60B for Honduras versus $36.71B for El Salvador.
- Who spends more on their military, Honduras or El Salvador?
- Honduras spends more: $581.27M versus $425.20M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).