Unemployment rate in El Salvador
El Salvador: Unemployment rate was 3.3 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
3.3
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
136th
of 186 countries
All-time high
9.94
in 1993
All-time low
2.99
in 2023
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in El Salvador, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in El Salvador is 3.3, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in El Salvador peaked at 9.94 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 2.99, in 2023.
El Salvador ranks 136th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.53 | — |
| 1992 | 7.88 | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 9.94 | +26.1% |
| 1994 | 7.68 | -22.7% |
| 1995 | 7.65 | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 7.68 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 7.98 | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 7.1 | -11.0% |
| 1999 | 7.3 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 6.96 | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 6.96 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 6.2 | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 6.9 | +11.3% |
| 2004 | 6.8 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 7.22 | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 6.57 | -9.0% |
| 2007 | 6.41 | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 5.88 | -8.3% |
| 2009 | 7.33 | +24.7% |
| 2010 | 4.89 | -33.2% |
| 2011 | 4.3 | -12.2% |
| 2012 | 3.84 | -10.6% |
| 2013 | 3.69 | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 4.15 | +12.5% |
| 2015 | 4 | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 4.42 | +10.5% |
| 2017 | 4.38 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 4.01 | -8.6% |
| 2019 | 4.17 | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 5.01 | +20.1% |
| 2021 | 4.33 | -13.6% |
| 2022 | 3 | -30.7% |
| 2023 | 2.99 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 3.26 | +9.0% |
| 2025 | 3.3 | +1.3% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 3.3 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.63, 59% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 3.3 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.99, 55% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.86 | 7.1 | 9.94 | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.72 | 5.88 | 7.33 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.19 | 3.69 | 4.89 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.65 | 2.99 | 5.01 | 6 |
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 unemployment rate in El Salvador?
- Unemployment rate in El Salvador was 3.3 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 9.94 in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.99 in 2023.
- How does El Salvador rank for unemployment rate?
- El Salvador ranks 136th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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