Military spending in El Salvador
El Salvador: Military spending was 488.54 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
488.54 million constant 2024 US$
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
109th
of 162 countries
All-time high
950.82 million constant 2024 US$
in 1984
All-time low
83.76 million constant 2024 US$
in 1960
Years of data
71
1953–2025
Military spending in El Salvador, 1953–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending in El Salvador stood at 488.54 million constant 2024 US$.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 65.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in El Salvador peaked at 950.82 million constant 2024 US$ in 1984 and was at its lowest, 83.76 million constant 2024 US$, in 1960.
El Salvador ranks 109th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 93.80 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1956 | 95.41 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 110.25 million constant 2024 US$ | +15.6% |
| 1958 | 103.23 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1959 | 85.38 million constant 2024 US$ | -17.3% |
| 1960 | 83.76 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1961 | 87.20 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1962 | 121.96 million constant 2024 US$ | +39.9% |
| 1963 | 117.86 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1964 | 108.62 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1965 | 122.47 million constant 2024 US$ | +12.8% |
| 1966 | 126.00 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 127.68 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 121.63 million constant 2024 US$ | -4.7% |
| 1969 | 138.22 million constant 2024 US$ | +13.6% |
| 1970 | 127.76 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.6% |
| 1971 | 151.81 million constant 2024 US$ | +18.8% |
| 1972 | 195.58 million constant 2024 US$ | +28.8% |
| 1973 | 205.87 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 188.45 million constant 2024 US$ | -8.5% |
| 1975 | 185.53 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1976 | 227.37 million constant 2024 US$ | +22.6% |
| 1977 | 283.13 million constant 2024 US$ | +24.5% |
| 1978 | 305.89 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1979 | 418.88 million constant 2024 US$ | +36.9% |
| 1980 | 405.30 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1981 | 445.77 million constant 2024 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1982 | 480.56 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1983 | 559.60 million constant 2024 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1984 | 950.82 million constant 2024 US$ | +69.9% |
| 1985 | 825.04 million constant 2024 US$ | -13.2% |
| 1986 | 815.58 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 707.49 million constant 2024 US$ | -13.3% |
| 1988 | 597.67 million constant 2024 US$ | -15.5% |
| 1989 | 604.79 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 513.90 million constant 2024 US$ | -15.0% |
| 1991 | 465.69 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.4% |
| 1992 | 403.80 million constant 2024 US$ | -13.3% |
| 1993 | 307.83 million constant 2024 US$ | -23.8% |
| 1994 | 262.09 million constant 2024 US$ | -14.9% |
| 1995 | 243.94 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.9% |
| 1996 | 220.59 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.6% |
| 1997 | 213.74 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 205.87 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 212.04 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 199.43 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 262.38 million constant 2024 US$ | +31.6% |
| 2002 | 276.46 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 211.96 million constant 2024 US$ | -23.3% |
| 2004 | 205.16 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 203.47 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 209.12 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 233.03 million constant 2024 US$ | +11.4% |
| 2008 | 228.14 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 247.81 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.6% |
| 2010 | 259.24 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 270.76 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 270.50 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 284.26 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 276.80 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 295.29 million constant 2024 US$ | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 293.39 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 306.06 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 341.87 million constant 2024 US$ | +11.7% |
| 2019 | 367.81 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 400.26 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 395.48 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 481.12 million constant 2024 US$ | +21.7% |
| 2023 | 458.65 million constant 2024 US$ | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 490.60 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2025 | 488.54 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.4% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 488.54 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.62 billion constant 2024 US$, 30% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 488.54 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 575.75 million constant 2024 US$, 85% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in El Salvador changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +69.9% | 559.60 million constant 2024 US$ | 950.82 million constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 97.61 million constant 2024 US$ | 85.38 million constant 2024 US$ | 110.25 million constant 2024 US$ | 5 |
| 1960s | 115.54 million constant 2024 US$ | 83.76 million constant 2024 US$ | 138.22 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 229.03 million constant 2024 US$ | 127.76 million constant 2024 US$ | 418.88 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 639.26 million constant 2024 US$ | 405.30 million constant 2024 US$ | 950.82 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 304.95 million constant 2024 US$ | 205.87 million constant 2024 US$ | 513.90 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 227.70 million constant 2024 US$ | 199.43 million constant 2024 US$ | 276.46 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 296.60 million constant 2024 US$ | 259.24 million constant 2024 US$ | 367.81 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 452.44 million constant 2024 US$ | 395.48 million constant 2024 US$ | 490.60 million constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
- 106 Brunei 560.27 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 107 Kyrgyzstan 557.82 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 108 Senegal 532.84 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 110 Niger 449.94 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 111 Mozambique 445.67 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 112 Nepal 429.02 million constant 2024 US$ compare
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 military spending in El Salvador?
- Military spending in El Salvador was 488.54 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 950.82 million constant 2024 US$ in 1984.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.76 million constant 2024 US$ in 1960.
- How does El Salvador rank for military spending?
- El Salvador ranks 109th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 71 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.