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El Salvador vs Guyana
Side-by-side comparison of El Salvador and Guyana from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
El Salvador
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 185 years
Guyana
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 60 years
In short
Guyana scores 45.8 in the NationsTree Index (104th in the world) and El Salvador scores 41.1 (127th), a gap of 4.6 points. Their trees are 5.4 m and 5.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
El Salvador has 7.6 times the population of Guyana. Guyana is 10 times larger than El Salvador by land area. El Salvador and Guyana have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: El Salvador 6.4 million and Guyana 835,986 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $97,899 in Guyana and $14,101 in El Salvador (2025, international dollars). People in El Salvador live on average 2.0 years longer (72.3 vs 70.3 years).
Of 34 indicators reported by both countries, El Salvador ranks higher in the world on 13 and Guyana on 21. El Salvador is clearly stronger in tourism, military and main industries. Guyana is clearly stronger in natural resources, economy and environment & energy.
As a nation, El Salvador is the older of the two (statehood since 1841, 185 years), compared with Guyana (since 1966). Over the last five years Guyana improved faster (direction score 91 vs 55 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between El Salvador and Guyana.
El Salvador
87.6%
156th of 189
Guyanabetter
28.9%
31st of 189
UnemploymentEconomy
El Salvadorbetter
3.3%
51st of 187
Guyana
12.0%
162nd of 187
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
El Salvador
2,489
92nd of 183
Guyanabetter
293,317
2nd of 183
Hospital bedsSociety & health
El Salvador
1.2
109th of 145
Guyanabetter
3.2
53rd of 145
CO₂ emissions per personEnvironment & energy
El Salvadorbetter
1.51
78th of 203
Guyana
4.56
145th of 203
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Guyana overtook El Salvador in the NationsTree Index in 2019 and has stayed ahead since.
El Salvador overtook Guyana in life expectancy in 1991 and has stayed ahead since.
Guyana has been ahead of El Salvador in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
El Salvador has been ahead of Guyana in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
El SalvadorGuyana All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | El Salvador | Guyana |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 21,040150th/216 · 2024 | 214,97084th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 20,720150th/216 · 2024 | 211,14083rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 6.4 m112th/217 · 2025 | 835,986164th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.43%146th/217 · 2025 | 0.59%131st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 305.941st/216 · 2024 | 3.9211th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 75.5%72nd/217 · 2025 | 26.5%202nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.4%98th/217 · 2025 | 28.9%76th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.3%115th/217 · 2025 | 7.0%125th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $36.71 bn109th/210 · 2025 | $27.10 bn120th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $89.76 bn106th/199 · 2025 | $81.84 bn110th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $76.70 bn106th/199 · 2025 | $69.94 bn110th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $5,767134th/210 · 2025 | $32,41453rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $14,101126th/199 · 2025 | $97,8999th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,410126th/201 · 2025 | $28,47051st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.9%81st/210 · 2025 | 19.3%1st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.3%18th/180 · 2025 | 3.3%98th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.3%51st/187 · 2025 | 12.0%162nd/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 107.3%50th/55 · 2024 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 87.6%156th/189 · 2025 | 28.9%31st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.9%102nd/192 · 2025 | -5.5%159th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 4.4%111th/197 · 2025 | 7.7%86th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 24.5%92nd/200 · 2025 | 75.1%1st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 12.7%70th/192 · 2025 | 1.9%177th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 58.9%95th/200 · 2025 | 14.8%200th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $11.76 bn106th/182 · 2025 | $698.0 m2005 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $20.60 bn92nd/182 · 2025 | $905.1 m2005 |
| Exports % of GDP | 32.0%103rd/183 · 2025 | 84.6%2005 |
| Imports % of GDP | 56.1%61st/183 · 2025 | 109.7%2005 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 88.2%82nd/183 · 2025 | 194.4%2005 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 4.8%77th/170 · 2025 | 88.9%5th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 69.4%44th/171 · 2025 | 0.2%170th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 23.7%61st/171 · 2025 | 1.7%156th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.4%122nd/171 · 2025 | 1.0%135th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 5.6%92nd/168 · 2024 | 13.3%54th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -3.5%121st/191 · 2025 | 21.4%4th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.1%98th/196 · 2025 | 33.1%4th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.5%130th/209 · 2021 | 33.7%7th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%118th/197 · 2021 | 22.08%8th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 9.38%13th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.54%68th/209 · 2021 | 2.22%33rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 34.8%21st/206 · 2024 | 0.4%196th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,48992nd/183 · 2022 | 293,3172nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 707,000109th/194 · 2020 | 86,400169th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $755.0 m82nd/175 · 2020 | $28.0 m2003 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 12.3%49th/168 · 2020 | 4.2%2003 |
| Outbound trips departures | 515,00076th/107 · 2020 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 72.3135th/217 · 2024 | 70.3151st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 10.077th/196 · 2024 | 25.2132nd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.6291st/174 · 2023 | 1.3995th/174 · 2020 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.2109th/145 · 2023 | 3.253rd/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 95%59th/193 · 2024 | 98%20th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 49.2%115th/153 · 2023 | 57.0%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 62.1%145th/173 · 2024 | 91.4%96th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 88.8%5th/55 · 2022 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 12.3%114th/217 · 2025 | 10.9%123rd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 9.3%40th/193 · 2023 | 2.5%189th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 89.8%52nd/98 · 2024 | 85.6%62nd/98 · 2020 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 32.8%104th/150 · 2024 | 26.4%109th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.678132nd/193 · 2023 | 0.77689th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 39.885th/108 · 2023 | 45.11998 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 4.6%74th/108 · 2023 | 13.0%1998 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 98.7%138th/215 · 2024 | 93.0%157th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 67.2%91st/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 36.0%101st/144 · 2024 | 43.4%93rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 66.5%130th/186 · 2024 | 83.0%91st/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 17714th/210 · 2024 | 113114th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 12.5109th/208 · 2024 | 12.9107th/208 · 2022 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 5472003 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 3.3 m71st/161 · 2023 | 7,512153rd/161 · 2021 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.5178th/203 · 2024 | 4.56145th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 21.9%99th/212 · 2021 | 12.1%134th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 29.6150th/200 · 2023 | 16.9100th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 33.0%105th/214 · 2024 | 87.1%6th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 787104th/149 · 2024 | 6612007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 47.5127th/205 · 2025 | 55.495th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 37.0137th/207 · 2025 | 40.4122nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 47.0149th/207 · 2025 | 53.5118th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 67.6108th/207 · 2025 | 69.299th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 53.1107th/205 · 2025 | 48.5128th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 44.0140th/205 · 2025 | 58.999th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 7.9111th/145 · 2022 | 19.1128th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $490.0 m105th/156 · 2025 | $247.6 m118th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.3%96th/156 · 2025 | 1.0%116th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.4%97th/154 · 2025 | 4.0%109th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 42,00077th/170 · 2020 | 3,000152nd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.62%37th/168 · 2020 | 1.04%63rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 3.0 m141st/163 · 2025 | 5.0 m129th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m1991 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.10%97th/110 · 2023 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 6113th/137 · 2024 | 2123rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 65148th/197 · 2023 | 50155th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, El Salvador or Guyana?
El Salvador has the larger population: 6.4 m (2025) compared with 835,986 for Guyana (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, El Salvador or Guyana?
Guyana is larger: 214,970 km² (2024) compared with 21,040 km² for El Salvador (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, El Salvador or Guyana?
El Salvador has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $89.76 bn intl. (2025) compared with $81.84 bn intl. for Guyana (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, El Salvador or Guyana?
Guyana has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $97,899 intl. (2025) compared with $14,101 intl. for El Salvador (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in El Salvador or Guyana?
El Salvador has the higher life expectancy at birth: 72.3 years (2024) compared with 70.3 years for Guyana (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, El Salvador or Guyana?
El Salvador spends more on the military: $490.0 m (2025) compared with $247.6 m for Guyana (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, El Salvador or Guyana?
Guyana: 45.8 points (104th in the world); El Salvador: 41.1 points (127th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Honduras
Nicaragua
Uruguay
Haiti
Jamaica
Trinidad and TobagoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). El Salvador vs Guyana — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/el-salvador-vs-guyana. Data as of 26 October 2026.