Quick facts
San Salvador overview
San Salvador (orange) and the other large cities of El Salvador
San Salvador lies in San Salvador Department in El Salvador at 13.69°N, 89.19°W, about 653 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/El_Salvador (UTC-6); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of El Salvador: the next largest cities are Soyapango (329,708), San Miguel (247,126), Santa Ana (176,661). Together, the three largest cities hold 17.2% of the national population.
The nearest large city is San Marcos, about 3 km away, followed by Mejicanos (4 km).
El Salvador as a whole has a live population of 6,399,842 (+0.4% a year) and ranks #113 of 238 countries — see the El Salvador population page for the full statistics and the El Salvador atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near San Salvador
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| San Marcos San Salvador Department | 3 km | 54,615 |
| Mejicanos San Salvador Department | 4 km | 160,317 |
| Delgado San Salvador Department | 4 km | 71,594 |
| Cuscatancingo San Salvador Department | 4 km | 44,369 |
| Ayutuxtepeque San Salvador Department | 5 km | 25,426 |
| Soyapango San Salvador Department | 6 km | 329,708 |
| Antiguo Cuscatlán La Libertad Department | 8 km | 33,767 |
| Ilopango San Salvador Department | 9 km | 38,890 |
Largest cities in El Salvador
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San SalvadorCapital | San Salvador Department | 525,990 |
| 2 | Soyapango | San Salvador Department | 329,708 |
| 3 | San Miguel | San Miguel Department | 247,126 |
| 4 | Santa Ana | Santa Ana Department | 176,661 |
| 5 | Mejicanos | San Salvador Department | 160,317 |
| 6 | Santa Tecla | La Libertad Department | 124,694 |
| 7 | Apopa | San Salvador Department | 112,158 |
| 8 | Delgado | San Salvador Department | 71,594 |
| 9 | Sonsonate | Sonsonate Department | 59,468 |
| 10 | San Marcos | San Salvador Department | 54,615 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of San Salvador?
San Salvador has about 525,990 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is San Salvador the capital of El Salvador?
Yes — San Salvador is the national capital of El Salvador.
How big is San Salvador compared with the rest of El Salvador?
Its 525,990 residents are 8.2% of the 6,399,842 people living in El Salvador today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is San Salvador?
In San Salvador Department, El Salvador, at latitude 13.69 and longitude -89.19, 653 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include San Marcos (3 km), Mejicanos (4 km), Delgado (4 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). San Salvador Population 2026 — El Salvador. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/el-salvador/san-salvador/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/el-salvador/san-salvador/">San Salvador Population 2026 — El Salvador</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.