Urban area over the long-term in El Salvador
El Salvador: Urban area over the long-term was 539.22 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
539.22 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
121st
of 202 countries
All-time high
539.22 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0002 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in El Salvador, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in El Salvador stood at 539.22 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in El Salvador peaked at 539.22 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0002 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places El Salvador 121st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1200 | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1300 | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1400 | 0.0185 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1500 | 0.0605 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1600 | 0.198 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1700 | 0.648 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1710 | 0.7081 km² per grid cell | +9.3% |
| 1720 | 0.8079 km² per grid cell | +14.1% |
| 1730 | 0.9255 km² per grid cell | +14.6% |
| 1740 | 1.07 km² per grid cell | +15.2% |
| 1750 | 1.24 km² per grid cell | +16.0% |
| 1760 | 1.45 km² per grid cell | +17.1% |
| 1770 | 1.72 km² per grid cell | +18.7% |
| 1780 | 2.27 km² per grid cell | +32.2% |
| 1790 | 2.94 km² per grid cell | +29.3% |
| 1800 | 3.73 km² per grid cell | +27.1% |
| 1810 | 4.68 km² per grid cell | +25.4% |
| 1820 | 5.81 km² per grid cell | +24.1% |
| 1830 | 7.57 km² per grid cell | +30.3% |
| 1840 | 9.68 km² per grid cell | +27.9% |
| 1850 | 12.19 km² per grid cell | +25.9% |
| 1860 | 16 km² per grid cell | +31.2% |
| 1870 | 20.33 km² per grid cell | +27.1% |
| 1880 | 26.27 km² per grid cell | +29.2% |
| 1890 | 31.39 km² per grid cell | +19.5% |
| 1900 | 34.23 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1910 | 39.27 km² per grid cell | +14.7% |
| 1920 | 48.47 km² per grid cell | +23.4% |
| 1930 | 48.47 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 54.36 km² per grid cell | +12.2% |
| 1950 | 71.5 km² per grid cell | +31.5% |
| 1951 | 73.09 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1952 | 74.88 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1953 | 76.85 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 78.97 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1955 | 81.25 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 83.7 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 86.33 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 89.17 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1959 | 92.25 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1960 | 95.6 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1961 | 99.19 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 102.85 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 106.71 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 110.71 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1965 | 114.79 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1966 | 118.94 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1967 | 123.15 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 127.42 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1969 | 131.78 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 136.22 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 140.17 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 145.62 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 151.17 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 156.77 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 162.35 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 168.98 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 175.6 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 182.14 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 188.52 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 194.69 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 201.34 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 207.79 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 214.11 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 220.44 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 226.87 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 233.42 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 240.06 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 246.94 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 254.22 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 262.01 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 269.78 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 278.06 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 289.85 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 302.58 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 314.82 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 328.57 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 341.75 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 354.39 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 360.6 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 366.38 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 374.4 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 382.26 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 390.02 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 397.74 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 405.47 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 413.23 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 421.02 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 428.88 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 436.82 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 444.84 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 451.73 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 458.66 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 465.62 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 472.62 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 479.64 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 486.7 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 493.78 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 500.89 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 508.02 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 515.16 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 520.03 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 524.87 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 529.68 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 534.47 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 539.22 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 539.22 km² per grid cell is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 995.59 km² per grid cell, 54% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 539.22 km² per grid cell is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 613.64 km² per grid cell, 88% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +227.3% | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +227.3% | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0017 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +227.3% | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | 0.0056 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +227.3% | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | 0.0185 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +227.3% | 0.0185 km² per grid cell | 0.0605 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +227.3% | 0.0605 km² per grid cell | 0.198 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0185 km² per grid cell | 0.0185 km² per grid cell | 0.0185 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0605 km² per grid cell | 0.0605 km² per grid cell | 0.0605 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.198 km² per grid cell | 0.198 km² per grid cell | 0.198 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.648 km² per grid cell | 0.648 km² per grid cell | 0.648 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.7081 km² per grid cell | 0.7081 km² per grid cell | 0.7081 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.8079 km² per grid cell | 0.8079 km² per grid cell | 0.8079 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.9255 km² per grid cell | 0.9255 km² per grid cell | 0.9255 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 1.07 km² per grid cell | 1.07 km² per grid cell | 1.07 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 1.24 km² per grid cell | 1.24 km² per grid cell | 1.24 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.45 km² per grid cell | 1.45 km² per grid cell | 1.45 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 1.72 km² per grid cell | 1.72 km² per grid cell | 1.72 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 2.27 km² per grid cell | 2.27 km² per grid cell | 2.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.94 km² per grid cell | 2.94 km² per grid cell | 2.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.73 km² per grid cell | 3.73 km² per grid cell | 3.73 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 4.68 km² per grid cell | 4.68 km² per grid cell | 4.68 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 5.81 km² per grid cell | 5.81 km² per grid cell | 5.81 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 7.57 km² per grid cell | 7.57 km² per grid cell | 7.57 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 9.68 km² per grid cell | 9.68 km² per grid cell | 9.68 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 12.19 km² per grid cell | 12.19 km² per grid cell | 12.19 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 16 km² per grid cell | 16 km² per grid cell | 16 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 20.33 km² per grid cell | 20.33 km² per grid cell | 20.33 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 26.27 km² per grid cell | 26.27 km² per grid cell | 26.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 31.39 km² per grid cell | 31.39 km² per grid cell | 31.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 34.23 km² per grid cell | 34.23 km² per grid cell | 34.23 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 39.27 km² per grid cell | 39.27 km² per grid cell | 39.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 48.47 km² per grid cell | 48.47 km² per grid cell | 48.47 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 48.47 km² per grid cell | 48.47 km² per grid cell | 48.47 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 54.36 km² per grid cell | 54.36 km² per grid cell | 54.36 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 80.8 km² per grid cell | 71.5 km² per grid cell | 92.25 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 113.11 km² per grid cell | 95.6 km² per grid cell | 131.78 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 160.75 km² per grid cell | 136.22 km² per grid cell | 188.52 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 223.99 km² per grid cell | 194.69 km² per grid cell | 254.22 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 310.24 km² per grid cell | 262.01 km² per grid cell | 360.6 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 401.62 km² per grid cell | 366.38 km² per grid cell | 436.82 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 476.25 km² per grid cell | 444.84 km² per grid cell | 508.02 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 527.24 km² per grid cell | 515.16 km² per grid cell | 539.22 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in El Salvador?
- Urban area over the long-term in El Salvador was 539.22 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 539.22 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0002 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does El Salvador rank for urban area over the long-term?
- El Salvador ranks 121st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.