MigrantoMigration trends in El Salvador
Latin America
El Salvador loses more people than it takes in: 1.8M emigrants against 43.2K immigrants. Net balance −1.8M — 28% of the country's population
6.3M
Population
43.2K
Immigrants
1.8M
Emigrants
−1.8M
Outflow
1 in 147 residents of El Salvador was born abroad — and 1 in 4 people born in El Salvador lives abroad
#45 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in El Salvador
Where people come from
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
47.1K immigrants · 955.6K emigrants
1995
- Slipped out of the 3 biggest countries by emigrants in Latin America
- The diaspora passed 1M people
2000
- Emigration to Guatemala declined sharply — 112.3K fewer migrants there
2005
- The diaspora passed 1M people
Today
- Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and 879.1K more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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