Central government spending as share of GDP in El Salvador
El Salvador: Central government spending as share of GDP was 27.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in El Salvador, 1998–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for central government spending as share of gdp in El Salvador is 27.9%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in El Salvador peaked at 33.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 1998.
El Salvador ranks 67th of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 12.0% | — |
| 1999 | 14.2% | +18.7% |
| 2000 | 15.0% | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 23.0% | +52.9% |
| 2002 | 20.2% | -12.0% |
| 2003 | 17.3% | -14.2% |
| 2004 | 19.6% | +13.1% |
| 2005 | 20.5% | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 22.5% | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 20.5% | -8.8% |
| 2008 | 22.8% | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 25.9% | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 24.1% | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 24.9% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 22.9% | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 23.0% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 22.8% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 22.8% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 23.2% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 24.8% | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 24.7% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 33.9% | +37.1% |
| 2021 | 29.5% | -13.1% |
| 2022 | 27.4% | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 27.9% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.1% | 12.0% | 14.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 20.7% | 15.0% | 25.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.8% | 22.8% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.7% | 27.4% | 33.9% | 4 |
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)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 4.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8776 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 5,061 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 4.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.8776 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 5,061 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 3.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.723 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in El Salvador?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in El Salvador was 27.9% in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 33.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 1998.
- How does El Salvador rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- El Salvador ranks 67th out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.