Public sector employment as a share of total employment in El Salvador
El Salvador: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 8.5% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in El Salvador, 2000–2021
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public sector employment as a share of total employment in El Salvador is 8.5%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.1% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in El Salvador peaked at 9.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 2016.
El Salvador ranks 65th of 79 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.6% | — |
| 2001 | 8.9% | -7.5% |
| 2002 | 8.7% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 8.4% | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 8.2% | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 8.5% | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 8.1% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 8.8% | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | -9.6% |
| 2009 | 7.9% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 8.4% | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 7.7% | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 7.2% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 7.8% | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | +10.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.5% | 7.9% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 7.2% | 8.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More work & labour data for El Salvador
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.8531 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.8121 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.893 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.2563 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,984 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,013 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,591 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,482 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,073 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public sector employment as a share of total employment in El Salvador?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in El Salvador was 8.5% in 2021, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 2016.
- How does El Salvador rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- El Salvador ranks 65th out of 79 countries with data for 2021.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.