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Topic 02 of 12 · Country Index 2026
El Salvador: Economy & Innovation
What does an economy do for the people inside it?
El Salvador is placed 92nd of 150 countries on economy & innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: GDP per Capita (PPP) 12,050 (2025); Economic Complexity Index 0.346 (2024).
Economy & Innovation
92nd
of 150 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place El Salvador on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country in that edition, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
GDP per Capita (PPP)
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Output per person: the standard measure of an economy's size set against the population it has to support.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
12,050
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Higher is better
El Salvador: 12,050. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.
- World median
- 17,265
- Best in Central America
- 37,516 Panama
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 12,987 · Honduras 6,726
Each grey tick is one of 185 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 2 of 3
Economic Complexity Index
Growth Lab at Harvard University
Why it is a key: What an economy knows how to make, read from the diversity and rarity of what it exports.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0
0.346
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Higher is better
Ranked 60th of 145 by Growth Lab at Harvard University
El Salvador: 0.346. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.
- World median
- 0.131
- Best in Central America
- 0.942 Mexico
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 0.055 · Honduras -0.291
Each grey tick is one of 145 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 3 of 3
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Whether ordinary adults are inside the financial system at all, which output per person does not reveal.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
43.4
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
El Salvador: 43.4. Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.
- World median
- 72.83
- Best in Central America
- 71.35 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 38.28 · Honduras 42.44
Each grey tick is one of 139 countries in the 2024 edition.
02Over time
Which way El Salvador is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) · higher is better
El SalvadorWorld median
El Salvador rose from 7,545 in 2000 to 12,050 in 2025; the world median went from 10,589 to 17,265.
Every year’s figures
Year El Salvador World median 2025 12,050 17,265 2024 11,647 18,108 2023 11,404 17,686 2022 11,086 16,933 2021 10,810 16,260 2020 9,692 15,631 2019 10,544 16,761 2018 10,297 16,349 2017 10,065 16,129 2016 9,864 15,512 2015 9,646 14,857 2014 9,452 14,475 2013 9,329 14,681 2012 9,163 14,631 2011 8,946 13,916 2010 8,649 14,101 2009 8,494 13,655 2008 8,705 14,030 2007 8,549 13,755 2006 8,404 12,983 2005 8,051 12,023 2004 7,842 11,608 2003 7,780 11,183 2002 7,676 11,144 2001 7,580 10,907 2000 7,545 10,589 Economic Complexity Index
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) · higher is better
El SalvadorWorld median
El Salvador rose from -0.171 in 2000 to 0.346 in 2024; the world median went from 0.016 to 0.131.
Every year’s figures
Year El Salvador World median 2024 0.346 0.1310 2023 0.087 0.0710 2022 0.058 0.0580 2021 0.080 0.0010 2020 0.033 0.0470 2019 0.030 0.0300 2018 0.156 -0.0150 2017 0.164 0.0080 2016 0.097 -0.0660 2015 0.016 -0.0600 2014 0.045 -0.0190 2013 0.017 0.0140 2012 0.030 0.0060 2011 -0.203 -0.0140 2010 -0.045 -0.0020 2009 -0.128 0.0990 2008 -0.036 0.0700 2007 -0.099 -0.0080 2006 -0.014 0.0740 2005 -0.133 0.0510 2004 -0.107 0.0505 2003 -0.222 0.0450 2002 -0.198 0.0100 2001 -0.087 0.0470 2000 -0.171 0.0160 Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+) · higher is better
El SalvadorWorld median
El Salvador rose from 13.76 in 2011 to 43.4 in 2024; the world median went from 37.03 to 72.83.
Every year’s figures
Year El Salvador World median 2024 43 73 2021 36 74 2017 30 59 2014 37 52 2011 14 37
03In context
El Salvador beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 150 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.
1st150thNot placed · 74 countries with too few key statisticsNo data
El Salvador and the countries it borders
The standing is each country’s place among all 150 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | GDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) | Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) | Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Salvador | 92nd | 12,050 | 0.346 | 43.4 |
 Guatemala | 103rd | 12,987 | 0.055 | 38.28 |
 Honduras | 113th | 6,726 | -0.291 | 42.44 |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 150.
Placed either side on economy & innovation
The countries immediately above and below El Salvador in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where El Salvador is ahead of the world, and behind
44 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median1
Statistics on which El Salvador does better than the middle country measured.
GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3963.9063.396▲ Improved since 2015
El Salvador: 3.906 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.
Position 73rd of 186 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Behind the world median26
Statistics on which El Salvador does worse than the middle country measured.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,0722,7773,072▲ Improved since 2013
El Salvador: 2,777 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 93rd of 179 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23105.36106.23▼ Worsened since 2012
El Salvador: 105.36 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 102nd of 195 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1938.8840.19▲ Improved since 2020
El Salvador: 38.88 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 104th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median -0.09-0.176-0.09▼ Worsened since 2014
El Salvador: -0.176 · world median -0.09 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -2.035 to 2.132; higher is better.
Position 112th of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
World Energy Trilemma IndexWorld Energy Council · 2023 · world median 63.862.563.8No earlier reading
El Salvador: 62.5 · world median 63.8 · Trilemma score (0–100). World Energy Council, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 27.7 to 83.2; higher is better.
Ranked 53rd of 99 by World Energy Council.
GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 14,27311,25914,273▲ Improved since 2015
El Salvador: 11,259 · world median 14,273 · GNI per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,181 to 116,633; higher is better.
Position 58th of 102 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Logistics Performance IndexWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 2.92.72.9▼ Worsened since 2014
El Salvador: 2.7 · world median 2.9 · LPI score (1–5). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.9 to 4.3; higher is better.
Ranked 79th of 139 by World Bank Group.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.5550.609No real change since 2013
El Salvador: 0.555 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 102nd of 169 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08102.68106.08▼ Worsened since 2012
El Salvador: 102.68 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 119th of 195 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Adjusted Net SavingsWorld Bank Group · 2021 · world median 8.3895.5958.389▼ Worsened since 2011
El Salvador: 5.595 · world median 8.389 · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from -81.62 to 32.18; higher is better.
Position 74th of 118 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1345.3650.13No earlier reading
El Salvador: 45.36 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.9750.440.975▼ Worsened since 2014
El Salvador: 0.44 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 77th of 119 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Global Innovation IndexWorld Intellectual Property Organization · 2025 · world median 28.5222.2428.52▲ Improved since 2022
El Salvador: 22.24 · world median 28.52 · GII score (0–100). World Intellectual Property Organization, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.94 to 65.96; higher is better.
Ranked 98th of 139 by World Intellectual Property Organization.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 10.7932.7510.79▲ Improved since 2012
El Salvador: 32.75 · world median 10.79 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.04 to 96.28; lower is better.
Position 22nd of 73 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.860.4166.8No earlier reading
El Salvador: 60.41 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.
Position 36th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 2.1183.8332.118No real change since 2012
El Salvador: 3.833 · world median 2.118 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.43 to 24.43; lower is better.
Position 20th of 73 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 56.2125.4356.21▼ Worsened since 2016
El Salvador: 25.43 · world median 56.21 · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 4.13 to 1,319; higher is better.
Ranked 128th of 175 by UNCTAD.
Gini IndexWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 33.9138.7533.91▲ Improved since 2012
El Salvador: 38.75 · world median 33.91 · Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 24.08 to 54.82; lower is better.
Position 19th of 73 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8254.5365.82No earlier reading
El Salvador: 54.53 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.
Position 38th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.0698.89107.06▼ Worsened since 2012
El Salvador: 98.89 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 148th of 194 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 1.055.211.05No real change since 2012
El Salvador: 5.21 · world median 1.05 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 81.36; lower is better.
Position 17th of 71 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.085.637.08▼ Worsened since 2012
El Salvador: 5.63 · world median 7.08 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 3.22 to 10.36; higher is better.
Position 58th of 73 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.9475.3943.94No real change since 2014
El Salvador: 75.39 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.
Position 21st of 110 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 0.421.970.42▼ Worsened since 2012
El Salvador: 1.97 · world median 0.42 · Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 44.72; lower is better.
Position 12th of 69 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8140.1020.814▲ Improved since 2013
El Salvador: 0.102 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.
Position 77th of 84 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.9396.212.93▼ Worsened since 2014
El Salvador: 96.2 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.
Position 1st of 109 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end17
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Household ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 62.0481.3262.04Moved since 2015
El Salvador: 81.32 · world median 62.04 · Household and NPISH final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 25.21 to 133.34.
Position 19th of 131 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.97512.067.975Moved since 2012
El Salvador: 12.06 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.
Position 26th of 168 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.9657.7137.96No real change since 2013
El Salvador: 57.71 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 45th of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 22.9326.3322.93Moved since 2015
El Salvador: 26.33 · world median 22.93 · Gross capital formation (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.679 to 45.27.
Position 39th of 131 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 41.7256.1141.72Moved since 2015
El Salvador: 56.11 · world median 41.72 · Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.279 to 196.89.
Position 42nd of 138 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5350.70.535Moved since 2013
El Salvador: 0.7 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 70th of 188 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 11.2612.6711.26Moved since 2015
El Salvador: 12.67 · world median 11.26 · Manufacturing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.481 to 43.97.
Position 56th of 132 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Trade (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 79.6888.1679.68Moved since 2015
El Salvador: 88.16 · world median 79.68 · Exports plus imports (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.382 to 396.65.
Position 60th of 138 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
General Government ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 16.2116.4116.21Moved since 2015
El Salvador: 16.41 · world median 16.21 · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 5.445 to 38.94.
Position 65th of 132 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 24.6524.4824.65Moved since 2015
El Salvador: 24.48 · world median 24.65 · Industry, including construction, value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.228 to 75.09.
Position 81st of 158 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.3674.687.36Moved since 2013
El Salvador: 74.6 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 104th of 188 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 36.3432.0536.34Moved since 2015
El Salvador: 32.05 · world median 36.34 · Exports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.103 to 199.76.
Position 78th of 138 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 2023 · world median 2.5791.5872.579Moved since 2013
El Salvador: 1.587 · world median 2.579 · Net ODA received (% of GNI). OECD Development Assistance Committee, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -0.001 to 101.78.
Position 77th of 130 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6.5724.4036.572Moved since 2015
El Salvador: 4.403 · world median 6.572 · Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 47.59.
Position 94th of 158 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7080.5351.708Moved since 2011
El Salvador: 0.535 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 125th of 180 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Gross Savings (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 22.0617.3622.06Moved since 2014
El Salvador: 17.36 · world median 22.06 · Gross savings (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -21.13 to 47.82.
Position 103rd of 146 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Container Port TrafficUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 1,827,788255,0171,827,788Moved since 2014
El Salvador: 255,017 · world median 1,827,788 · Container port traffic (TEU, twenty-foot equivalent units). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 17,263 to 299,703,800.
Position 90th of 103 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
05Country Index 2026
Economy & Innovation among El Salvador’s 12 topics
Economy & Innovation is El Salvador’s 7th best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Work & Labour50th of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equality59th of 1783/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability67th of 1613/3 keys
- Development & Human Capital112th of 1943/3 keys
- Peace & Security103rd of 1773/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing119th of 2014/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation92nd of 1503/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions123rd of 1935/5 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties135th of 1983/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge136th of 1824/4 keys
- Mobility & Connectivity111th of 1473/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience149th of 1913/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on economy & innovation
The three countries placed highest of 150, and the leaders El Salvador can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 150 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SwitzerlandWestern Europe
2nd of 150 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Simon Koopmann derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 2.0 de, greyscale
3
AustriaWestern Europe
3rd of 150 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
United States17th3/3 keysHighest in Central America
Panama=61st3/3 keysThis page
El Salvador92nd3/3 keys
Positions out of 150 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about El Salvador and economy & innovation
On economy & innovation
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On economy & innovation
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita. India is the better placed on five of them; Pakistan on one.
On economy & innovation
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
08Questions
El Salvador on economy & innovation: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does El Salvador rank on economy & innovation?
El Salvador is placed 92nd of 150 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP), Economic Complexity Index and Account Ownership at a Financial Institution). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for El Salvador?
12,050 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.
What is the latest Economic Complexity Index figure for El Salvador?
0.346 in 2024 (eCI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)), according to Growth Lab at Harvard University. The world median in the same edition was 0.131.
How does El Salvador compare with Guatemala on economy & innovation?
Guatemala is placed 103rd of 150, and El Salvador 92nd. GDP per Capita (PPP): Guatemala 12,987, El Salvador 12,050; Economic Complexity Index: Guatemala 0.055, El Salvador 0.346; Account Ownership at a Financial Institution: Guatemala 38.28, El Salvador 43.4.
How have El Salvador’s economy & innovation figures changed?
GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 7,545 in 2000 to 12,050 in 2025; Economic Complexity Index rose from -0.171 in 2000 to 0.346 in 2024; Account Ownership at a Financial Institution rose from 13.76 in 2011 to 43.4 in 2024.
09Keep reading
Explore further
El Salvador, topic by topic
- Governance & Institutions123rd of 193
- Work & Labour50th of 182
- Education & Knowledge136th of 182
- Health & Wellbeing119th of 201
- Development & Human Capital112th of 194
- Environment & Sustainability67th of 161
- Gender & Equality59th of 178
- Democracy & Civil Liberties135th of 198
- Peace & Security103rd of 177
- Risk & Resilience149th of 191
- Mobility & Connectivity111th of 147
- The full El Salvador profile
Nearby, on economy & innovation
The key statistics, for every country
10Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.
How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 3 indicators on this topic are keys and 44 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2024 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 3 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 150 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 3.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- GDP per Capita (PPP) — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Economic Complexity Index — Growth Lab at Harvard University, CC0 1.0
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 44 statistics on this page come from 9 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
El Salvador’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- El Salvador (banner) — Renemgb, CC0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Switzerland — Simon Koopmann derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). El Salvador: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/el-salvador/economy