El Salvador: health and care

What is life expectancy in El Salvador?

Life expectancy at birth in El Salvador was 72.3 years in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN Population Division estimates. It was 72.1 years in 2023.

Life expectancy at birth is the number of years a newborn would live if current death rates stayed the same. No current life expectancy figure was found on the sites of the National Office of Statistics and Censuses and the Central Reserve Bank, checked on 15 October 2026. Under-five mortality was 10.0 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to the same source.

Official sources: World Bank: life expectancy at birth, El Salvador · World Bank: under-five mortality, El Salvador

What is the fertility rate in El Salvador?

El Salvador's fertility rate was 1.77 births per woman in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN Population Division estimates. It was 1.78 in 2023.

The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman would have at current birth rates. A rate of about 2.1 is usually needed to keep a population stable without migration, so El Salvador's rate is below that level. The BCR household survey found that women made up 53.3% of the population in 2025.

Official sources: World Bank: fertility rate, El Salvador · BCR: Multi-Purpose Household Survey (EHPM) 2025 (PDF)

What is the average life expectancy in El Salvador?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 72.3 years. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 74.0 years, and El Salvador placed 26th highest of 33. Worldwide: 113th of 193.

What is El Salvador's infant mortality rate?

The latest figure from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, for 2024, is 8.8 per 1,000. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 12.1 per 1,000, and El Salvador placed 28th highest of 33. Worldwide: 118th of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in El Salvador?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 39.0 per 100,000. The peak was 58.0 per 100,000 in 2021 and the low 33.0 per 100,000 in 2006. It is 24th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 55.0 per 100,000. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 105th highest.

What is El Salvador's health spending?

The WHO puts current health spending in El Salvador at 9.3% of GDP in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 8.3% of GDP (2018) to 10.1% of GDP (2021). Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 6.8% of GDP, and El Salvador placed 5th highest of 33. Worldwide: 39th of 191.

How much of health care in El Salvador do patients pay for?

In 2023, out-of-pocket health spending in El Salvador was 32.5%, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 27.4% (2020) to 44.0% (2005). It is 14th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 29.3%. World rank, highest first: 72nd of 191.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in El Salvador?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 1.6 per 1,000. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1.6 per 1,000 (2022) to 3.0 per 1,000 (2018). Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 2.4 per 1,000, and El Salvador placed 7th highest of 9. World rank, highest first: 31st of 58.

What is hospital capacity in El Salvador?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 1.2 per 1,000. Since 2011 it has ranged from 1.0 per 1,000 (2015) to 1.4 per 1,000 (2014). Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 2.1 per 1,000, and El Salvador placed 18th highest of 22. Worldwide: 58th of 73.

What is measles vaccine coverage in El Salvador?

96.0%: that is measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in El Salvador for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. Since 2005 it has ranged from 80.0% (2022) to 99.0% (2005). It is 6th highest of 32 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 89.5%. World rank, highest first: 46th of 191.