Imports of goods and services in El Salvador
El Salvador: Imports of goods and services was 11.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in El Salvador, 1966–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in El Salvador is 11.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 81.0% on the previous year and up 141.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in El Salvador peaked at 41.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, -25.9%, in 1980.
That places El Salvador 33rd out of 178 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 10.1% | — |
| 1967 | 1.8% | -82.3% |
| 1968 | -10.1% | -663.3% |
| 1969 | -2.7% | -72.9% |
| 1970 | 6.8% | -347.6% |
| 1971 | 8.5% | +25.3% |
| 1972 | 8.9% | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 17.9% | +101.1% |
| 1974 | 2.4% | -86.8% |
| 1975 | -7.4% | -412.4% |
| 1976 | 19.5% | -363.8% |
| 1977 | 31.5% | +61.9% |
| 1978 | 1.7% | -94.7% |
| 1979 | -8.5% | -612.0% |
| 1980 | -25.9% | +205.6% |
| 1981 | -12.7% | -51.2% |
| 1982 | -22.1% | +74.6% |
| 1983 | 13.7% | -161.8% |
| 1984 | 1.2% | -91.5% |
| 1985 | -0.8% | -172.8% |
| 1986 | -3.2% | +279.0% |
| 1987 | 0.2% | -106.4% |
| 1988 | -0.3% | -239.8% |
| 1989 | 6.0% | -2180.6% |
| 1990 | 41.5% | +590.3% |
| 1991 | 3.9% | -90.7% |
| 1992 | 17.1% | +342.7% |
| 1993 | 19.1% | +11.8% |
| 1994 | 14.3% | -25.0% |
| 1995 | 18.6% | +29.8% |
| 1996 | -5.4% | -128.9% |
| 1997 | 15.3% | -383.2% |
| 1998 | 6.3% | -58.7% |
| 1999 | 1.8% | -71.6% |
| 2000 | 13.1% | +633.5% |
| 2001 | 2.9% | -78.3% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | -68.7% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | +361.4% |
| 2004 | 2.1% | -48.2% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | +128.6% |
| 2006 | 9.2% | +88.9% |
| 2007 | 10.4% | +12.6% |
| 2008 | -4.3% | -141.5% |
| 2009 | -22.3% | +418.3% |
| 2010 | 8.9% | -140.0% |
| 2011 | 5.2% | -41.8% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -78.4% |
| 2013 | 4.7% | +321.9% |
| 2014 | -2.5% | -153.0% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | -285.3% |
| 2016 | -0.5% | -111.1% |
| 2017 | 1.4% | -371.8% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | +85.1% |
| 2019 | 4.2% | +63.3% |
| 2020 | -14.4% | -440.5% |
| 2021 | 28.8% | -299.3% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -89.9% |
| 2023 | -3.9% | -233.1% |
| 2024 | 6.2% | -261.2% |
| 2025 | 11.2% | +81.0% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 11.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 11.2% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 4.7%, 2.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imports of goods and services in El Salvador changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +2180.6% | -0.3% | 6.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.2% | -10.1% | 10.1% | 4 |
| 1970s | 8.1% | -8.5% | 31.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | -4.4% | -25.9% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.3% | -5.4% | 41.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | -22.3% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | -2.5% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.1% | -14.4% | 28.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More economy & growth data for El Salvador
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.92 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.3 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 318.29 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0087 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 50 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 763.72 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -27.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0208 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 119.98 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 30 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in El Salvador?
- Imports of goods and services in El Salvador was 11.2% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 41.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was -25.9% in 1980.
- How does El Salvador rank for imports of goods and services?
- El Salvador ranks 33rd out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 141.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.