Food exports in El Salvador
El Salvador: Food exports was 22.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in El Salvador, 1963–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2024, food exports in El Salvador stood at 22.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in El Salvador peaked at 81.7% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 13.5%, in 2002.
El Salvador ranks 73rd of 196 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.
Food exports in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 60.1% | — |
| 1964 | 62.6% | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 60.7% | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 61.5% | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 60.8% | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 58.4% | -3.9% |
| 1969 | 56.0% | -4.2% |
| 1970 | 59.4% | +6.0% |
| 1971 | 53.3% | -10.2% |
| 1972 | 54.3% | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 57.4% | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 56.5% | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 55.7% | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 64.9% | +16.6% |
| 1977 | 69.7% | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 46.9% | -32.7% |
| 1979 | 65.0% | +38.5% |
| 1980 | 46.8% | -28.0% |
| 1981 | 44.6% | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 43.2% | -3.0% |
| 1983 | 48.7% | +12.8% |
| 1984 | 68.5% | +40.5% |
| 1985 | 67.6% | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 81.7% | +20.9% |
| 1987 | 71.0% | -13.2% |
| 1994 | 51.0% | -28.1% |
| 1995 | 57.1% | +12.0% |
| 1996 | 52.4% | -8.2% |
| 1997 | 55.1% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 46.6% | -15.4% |
| 1999 | 42.1% | -9.8% |
| 2000 | 19.2% | -54.3% |
| 2001 | 14.7% | -23.3% |
| 2002 | 13.5% | -8.4% |
| 2003 | 13.6% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 14.3% | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 17.3% | +21.0% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 19.1% | +7.9% |
| 2008 | 19.6% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 22.4% | +14.4% |
| 2010 | 21.2% | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 24.3% | +15.0% |
| 2012 | 22.7% | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 21.8% | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 19.1% | -12.5% |
| 2015 | 19.6% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 18.2% | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 18.7% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 17.6% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 18.8% | +6.9% |
| 2020 | 20.4% | +8.4% |
| 2021 | 18.1% | -11.3% |
| 2022 | 19.1% | +5.4% |
| 2023 | 21.6% | +13.2% |
| 2024 | 22.9% | +6.1% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 22.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.9%, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 22.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 32.3%, 71% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 60.0% | 56.0% | 62.6% | 7 |
| 1970s | 58.3% | 46.9% | 69.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 59.0% | 43.2% | 81.7% | 8 |
| 1990s | 50.7% | 42.1% | 57.1% | 6 |
| 2000s | 17.2% | 13.5% | 22.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.2% | 17.6% | 24.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 18.1% | 22.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More private sector data for El Salvador
- Merchandise trade 66.1% (2025)
- Food imports 20.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 62.0% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 17.85 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 70.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 6.43 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,010 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1751 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 2,804 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in El Salvador?
- Food exports in El Salvador was 22.9% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 81.7% in 1986.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.5% in 2002.
- How does El Salvador rank for food exports?
- El Salvador ranks 73rd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food exports rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.