Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador
El Salvador: Refugees by country of asylum was 120 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador, 1972–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador is 120 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 13.2% on the previous year and up 263.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador peaked at 20,730 people in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1979.
El Salvador ranks 145th of 183 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 100 people | — |
| 1979 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1980 | 390 people | — |
| 1985 | 210 people | -46.2% |
| 1986 | 310 people | +47.6% |
| 1987 | 300 people | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 20,350 people | +6683.3% |
| 1989 | 20,730 people | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 20,300 people | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 20,099 people | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 19,903 people | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 161 people | -99.2% |
| 1994 | 153 people | -5.0% |
| 1995 | 153 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 148 people | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 106 people | -28.4% |
| 1998 | 30 people | -71.7% |
| 1999 | 21 people | -30.0% |
| 2000 | 57 people | +171.4% |
| 2001 | 69 people | +21.1% |
| 2002 | 74 people | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 246 people | +232.4% |
| 2004 | 235 people | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 51 people | -78.3% |
| 2006 | 39 people | -23.5% |
| 2007 | 39 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 34 people | -12.8% |
| 2009 | 32 people | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 39 people | +21.9% |
| 2011 | 39 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 43 people | +10.3% |
| 2013 | 42 people | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 33 people | -21.4% |
| 2015 | 46 people | +39.4% |
| 2016 | 41 people | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 40 people | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 44 people | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 48 people | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 48 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 98 people | +104.2% |
| 2022 | 104 people | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 106 people | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 120 people | +13.2% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 120 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 2% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 120 people is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 166 people, 72% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +6683.3% | 300 people | 20,350 people |
| 2003 | +232.4% | 74 people | 246 people |
| 2000 | +171.4% | 21 people | 57 people |
| 2021 | +104.2% | 48 people | 98 people |
| 1979 | -100.0% | 100 people | 0 people |
| 1993 | -99.2% | 19,903 people | 161 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50 people | 0 people | 100 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 7,048 people | 210 people | 20,730 people | 6 |
| 1990s | 6,107 people | 21 people | 20,300 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 87.6 people | 32 people | 246 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.5 people | 33 people | 48 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 95.2 people | 48 people | 120 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More reference data data for El Salvador
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2714 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.6267 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0909 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3176 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4948 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador?
- Refugees by country of asylum in El Salvador was 120 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 20,730 people in 1989.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1979.
- How does El Salvador rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- El Salvador ranks 145th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 263.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.