El Salvador poverty rate for 2023 was 29.90%, a 2.8% decline from 2022.

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<li>El Salvador poverty rate for 2022 was <strong>32.70%</strong>, a <strong>0.8% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>El Salvador poverty rate for 2021 was <strong>33.50%</strong>, a <strong>1.2% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>El Salvador poverty rate for 2019 was <strong>34.70%</strong>, a <strong>4.4% decline</strong> from 2018.</li>
</ul>Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

The share of population living on less than 3.2 U.S. dollars per day in El Salvador saw no significant changes in 2022 in comparison to the previous year 2021 and remained at around 8.6 percent. In comparison to 2021, the share decreased not significantly by 0.1 percentage points (-1.15 percent). The poverty headcount ratio refers to the share of the total population living on less than an average of 3.2 dollars per day. 2011 international dollars and purchasing power parity (PPP) have been used to allow comparisons over extended periods without the influence of monetary inflation.Find more key insights for the share of population living on less than 3.2 U.S. dollars per day in countries like Costa Rica and Honduras.

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in El Salvador was reported at 26.6 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. El Salvador - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

SV: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data was reported at 4.080 % in 2016. SV: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 4.080 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. SV: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s El Salvador – Table SV.World Bank: Poverty. The growth rate in the welfare aggregate of the bottom 40% is computed as the annualized average growth rate in per capita real consumption or income of the bottom 40% of the population in the income distribution in a country from household surveys over a roughly 5-year period. Mean per capita real consumption or income is measured at 2011 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet). For some countries means are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The annualized growth rate is computed as (Mean in final year/Mean in initial year)^(1/(Final year - Initial year)) - 1. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported. The initial year refers to the nearest survey collected 5 years before the most recent survey available, only surveys collected between 3 and 7 years before the most recent survey are considered. The final year refers to the most recent survey available between 2011 and 2015. Growth rates for Iraq are based on survey means of 2005 PPP$. The coverage and quality of the 2011 PPP price data for Iraq and most other North African and Middle Eastern countries were hindered by the exceptional period of instability they faced at the time of the 2011 exercise of the International Comparison Program. See PovcalNet for detailed explanations.; ; World Bank, Global Database of Shared Prosperity (GDSP) circa 2010-2015 (http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/global-database-of-shared-prosperity).; ; The comparability of welfare aggregates (consumption or income) for the chosen years T0 and T1 is assessed for every country. If comparability across the two surveys is a major concern for a country, the selection criteria are re-applied to select the next best survey year(s). Annualized growth rates are calculated between the survey years, using a compound growth formula. The survey years defining the period for which growth rates are calculated and the type of welfare aggregate used to calculate the growth rates are noted in the footnotes.

El Salvador Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 60% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % data was reported at 0.610 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.630 % for 2018. El Salvador Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 60% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % data is updated yearly, averaging 0.630 % from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2019, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.830 % in 2016 and a record low of 0.250 % in 2014. El Salvador Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 60% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s El Salvador – Table SV.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. This indicator shows the fraction of a country’s population experiencing out-of-pocket health impoverishing expenditures, defined as expenditures without which the household they live in would have been above the 60% median consumption but because of the expenditures is below the poverty line. Out-of-pocket health expenditure is defined as any spending incurred by a household when any member uses a health good or service to receive any type of care (preventive, curative, rehabilitative, long-term or palliative care); provided by any type of provider; for any type of disease, illness or health condition; in any type of setting (outpatient, inpatient, at home).;Global Health Observatory. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. (https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/financial-protection);Weighted average;This indicator is related to Sustainable Development Goal 3.8.2 [https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].

Contains data from the World Bank's data portal covering the following topics which also exist as individual datasets on HDX: Agriculture and Rural Development, Aid Effectiveness, Economy and Growth, Education, Energy and Mining, Environment, Financial Sector, Health, Infrastructure, Social Protection and Labor, Poverty, Private Sector, Public Sector, Science and Technology, Social Development, Urban Development, Gender, Climate Change, External Debt, Trade.

This statistic shows the poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in El Salvador from 2009 to 2019. In 2019, the poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in El Salvador amounted to 22.8 percent of the population.

As of 2023 in El Salvador, the share of the population living in extreme poverty conditions was higher in rural areas accounting for the 11.1 percent of the people. The national average was 8.8 percent.

El Salvador SV: Multidimensional Poverty Intensity (average share of deprivations experienced by the poor) data was reported at 42.400 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 42.600 % for 2018. El Salvador SV: Multidimensional Poverty Intensity (average share of deprivations experienced by the poor) data is updated yearly, averaging 43.200 % from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2019, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 43.900 % in 2014 and a record low of 42.400 % in 2019. El Salvador SV: Multidimensional Poverty Intensity (average share of deprivations experienced by the poor) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s El Salvador – Table SV.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. ;Government statistical agencies. Data for EU countires are from the EUROSTAT;;

El Salvador Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data was reported at 5.500 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.300 % for 2021. El Salvador Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data is updated yearly, averaging 6.650 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2022, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.000 % in 2010 and a record low of 4.400 % in 2019. El Salvador Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s El Salvador – Table SV.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (World Bank) is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Multidimensional Poverty Measure. The Multidimensional Poverty Measure includes three dimensions – monetary poverty, education, and basic infrastructure services – to capture a more complete picture of poverty.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

In 2023, in El Salvador, the proportion of the population living in poverty conditions was slightly higher in rural areas, accounting for a total share of 28.3 percent. Additionally, rural areas also had the highest share of extreme poverty among the different geographical residencies.

El Salvador SV: Multidimensional Poverty Index: scale 0-1 data was reported at 0.117 NA in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.121 NA for 2018. El Salvador SV: Multidimensional Poverty Index: scale 0-1 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.142 NA from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2019, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.152 NA in 2014 and a record low of 0.117 NA in 2019. El Salvador SV: Multidimensional Poverty Index: scale 0-1 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s El Salvador – Table SV.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. ;Government statistical agencies. Data for EU countires are from the EUROSTAT;;

22.3 (%) in 2019. Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Fiscal policy in El Salvador has the capacity to consolidate economic growth, providing greater resilience to the population against possible risks or boosting income generation. This note analyzes the impact of subsidies for energy, water and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), on poverty and household welfare. We use the Commitment to Equity (CEQ) approach with data from the Multipurpose Household Survey of El Salvador (EHPM) to simulate different policy scenarios. The results indicate that if subsidies were eliminated, poverty would increase by 1.3 percentage points and extreme poverty by 0.5 percentage points, negatively affecting the welfare of families. However, in the scenario where the elimination of subsidies is accompanied by an increase of other social transfers, are transformed into targeted subsidies, or the previous scenarios are combined, the impact on poverty could be mitigated. These results show that there is room for efficiency gains on the goal of improving households’ welfare and promoting equitable results.

8,60 (%) in 2022. Population below $3.1 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.1 a day at 2005 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

This note measures vulnerability to poverty in El Salvador based on the approach proposed in De l a Fuente and Serio (2024). Results show that around 34 percent of households are vulnerable to poverty, that is, there are not poor, but they are exposed to hazard events that could affect human beings, their livelihoods and assets, and lead them to fall into poverty. The results provide a comprehensive and new perspective on the challenges faced by households in El Salvador, especially those that are more likely to be poor either because of their expected level of income or because of the risks to which they are exposed.

El Salvador SV: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: Female: % of female population data was reported at 31.000 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 32.800 % for 2018. El Salvador SV: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: Female: % of female population data is updated yearly, averaging 37.100 % from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2019, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 40.900 % in 2016 and a record low of 31.000 % in 2019. El Salvador SV: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: Female: % of female population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s El Salvador – Table SV.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. ;Government statistical agencies. Data for EU countires are from the EUROSTAT;;

Abstract

The World Bank Group is interested in gauging the views of clients and partners who are either involved in development in El Salvador or who observe activities related to social and economic development. The following survey will give the World Bank Group's team that works in El Salvador, greater insight into how the Bank's work is perceived. This is one tool the World Bank Group uses to assess the views of its stakeholders, and to develop more effective strategies that support development in El Salvador. A local independent firm was hired to oversee the logistics of this survey.

This survey was designed to achieve the following objectives: - Assist the World Bank Group in gaining a better understanding of how stakeholders in El Salvador perceive the Bank Group; - Obtain systematic feedback from stakeholders in El Salvador regarding: · Their views regarding the general environment in El Salvador; · Their overall attitudes toward the World Bank Group in El Salvador; · Overall impressions of the World Bank Group's effectiveness and results, knowledge work and activities, and communication and information sharing in El Salvador; · Perceptions of the World Bank Group's future role in El Salvador. - Use data to help inform El Salvador country team's strategy.

Geographic coverage

• Western Zone
• Central Zone
• Eastern Zone

Analysis unit

Stakeholders in El Salvador

Universe

Stakeholders in El Salvador

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

In March-April 2014, 135 stakeholders of the World Bank Group in El Salvador were invited to provide their opinions on the WBG's work in the country by participating in a country opinion survey. Participants were drawn from the office of the President; the office of the Prime Minister; office of a minister; office of a parliamentarian; ministries, ministerial departments, or implementation agencies; consultants/contractors working on WBG-supported projects/programs; project management units (PMUs) overseeing implementation of a project; local government officials; bilateral and multilateral agencies; private sector organizations; private foundations; the financial sector/private banks; NGOs; community based organizations; the media; independent government institutions; trade unions; faith-based groups; academia/research institutes/think tanks; judiciary branch; and other organizations.

Mode of data collection

Other [oth]

Research instrument

The Questionnaire consists of following sections:

A. General Issues Facing El Salvador: Respondents were asked to indicate whether El Salvador is headed in the right direction, what they thought were the top three most important development priorities in the country, which areas would contribute most to reducing poverty and generating economic growth in El Salvador, and how "shared prosperity" would be best achieved.

B. Overall Attitudes toward the World Bank Group (WBG): Respondents were asked to rate their familiarity with the WBG and other regional development banks, their effectiveness in El Salvador, WBG staff preparedness to help El Salvador solve its development challenges, , their agreement with various statements regarding the WBG's work, and the extent to which the WBG is an effective development partner. Respondents were asked to indicate the WBG's greatest values and weaknesses, the most effective instruments in helping reduce poverty in El Salvador, in which sectoral areas the WBG should focus most of its resources (financial and knowledge services), and to what reasons respondents attributed failed or slow reform efforts. Respondents were also asked to respond to a few questions about capacity building and whether they believe the World Bank Group should have more or less local presence.

C. World Bank Group's Effectiveness and Results: Respondents were asked to rate the extent to which the WBG's work helps achieve development results in El Salvador, the extent to which the WBG meets El Salvador's needs for knowledge services and financial instruments, the importance for the WBG to be involved in thirty one development areas, and the WBG's level of effectiveness across twenty-eight development areas, such as education, crime and violence, public sector governance/reform, poverty reduction, and economic growth.

D. The World Bank Group's Knowledge Work and Activities: Respondents were asked to indicate how frequently they consult WBG's knowledge work and activities and to rate the effectiveness and quality of the WBG's knowledge work and activities, including how significant of a contribution it makes to development results and its technical quality. Respondents were also asked about the WBG reports, including if they read/consulted the most recent LAC Flagship Report, whether they raised substantive new information, and whether they provided them with useful information in terms of work they do.

E. Working with the World Bank Group: Respondents were asked to rate WBG's technical assistance/advisory work's contribution to solving development challenges and their level of agreement with a series of statements regarding working with the WBG, such as the WBG's "Safeguard Policy" requirements being reasonable, and disbursing funds promptly. They were also asked to indicate whether they thing the World Bank Group takes enough risks.

F. The Future Role of the World Bank Group in El Salvador: Respondents were asked to indicate what the WBG should do to make itself of greater value in El Salvador, and which services the Bank should offer more of in the country. They were asked whether WBG has moved to the right direction, and the future role international development cooperation should play in El Salvador.

G. Communication and Information Sharing: Respondents were asked to indicate how they get information about economic and social development issues, how they prefer to receive information from the WBG, and their usage and evaluation of the WBG's websites. Respondents were also asked about their awareness of the WBG's Access to Information policy. Respondents were asked to rate WBG's responsiveness to information requests, value of its social media channels, and levels of easiness to find information they needed.

H. Background Information: Respondents were asked to indicate their current position, specialization, whether they professionally collaborate with the WBG, their exposure to the WBG in El Salvador, which WBG agencies they work with, whether IFC and the Bank work well together, and their geographic location.

Response rate

A total of 97 stakeholders participated in the survey (72% response rate).

The Poverty Mapping Project: Unsatisfied Basic Needs data set consists of measures of household level wellbeing and access to basic needs (such as adequate housing conditions, water, electricity, sanitation, education, and employment) for subnational administrative Units of numerous countries in Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru. The data products include shapefiles (vector data) and tabular data sets (csv format). Additionally, a data catalog (xls format) containing detailed information and documentation is provided. This data set is produced by the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT).

The average for 2021 based on 6 countries was 15.65 percent. The highest value was in El Salvador: 28.4 percent and the lowest value was in the USA: 1 percent. The indicator is available from 1963 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.