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Country comparison

El SalvadorvsPanama

See the biggest differences first, then scan the geographic, economic, and practical reference data.

This comparison uses the latest available atlas values for each country; reporting years can differ by metric.

The biggest differences first

Population

El Salvador is higher

El Salvador records 6,338,193, about 1.40× the other value.

Surface area

Panama is higher

Panama records 75,320 km², about 3.58× the other value.

Nominal GDP

Panama is higher

Panama records $86.52 billion, about 2.45× the other value.

What stands out

Proportional bars and relative differences make the headline numbers easier to read.

Population

🇸🇻 El Salvador6,338,193
🇵🇦 Panama4,515,577

El Salvador’s population is 40% larger than that of Panama, a difference of 1,822,616.

Surface area

🇸🇻 El Salvador21,040 km²
🇵🇦 Panama75,320 km²

Panama’s surface area is 258% larger than that of El Salvador, a difference of 54,280 km².

Population density

🇸🇻 El Salvador301 /km²
🇵🇦 Panama60 /km²

El Salvador’s population density is 402% higher than that of Panama, a difference of 241 /km².

Nominal GDP

🇸🇻 El Salvador$35.36 billion · 2024
🇵🇦 Panama$86.52 billion · 2024

Panama’s nominal GDP is 145% larger than that of El Salvador, a difference of $51.16 billion.

GDP per capita

🇸🇻 El Salvador$5,580 · 2024
🇵🇦 Panama$19,161 · 2024

Panama’s GDP per capita is 243% higher than that of El Salvador, a difference of $13,582.

Values use the latest available observations in WorldSumma. Economic reporting years are shown when available and can differ by country.

Full side-by-side comparison

Capital

San Salvador

Panama City

Population

6,338,193

4,515,577

Surface area

21,040 km²

75,320 km²

Population density

301 /km²

60 /km²

Nominal GDP

$35.36 billion · 2024

$86.52 billion · 2024

GDP per capita

$5,580 · 2024

$19,161 · 2024

Region

Americas

Americas

Subregion

Central America

Central America

Currency

United States dollar · USD · $

Panamanian balboa · PAB · B/.

Nationality

Salvadoran

Panamanian

Phone code

+503

+507

Internet domain

.sv

.pa

ISO codes

SV / SLV

PA / PAN

Time zone

America/El_Salvador

America/Panama

Native name

El Salvador

Panamá

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About El Salvador

El Salvador, the smallest yet most densely populated nation in Central America, packs a vibrant mix of volcanic landscapes, colonial heritage, and a warm, resilient people into a compact 21,000‑square‑kilometer canvas.

Full El Salvador profile →

About Panama

Panama is a transcontinental country connecting Central America with South America. It is renowned for the Panama Canal, a vital waterway that allows ships to travel between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, significantly reducing travel time and cost.

Full Panama profile →

El Salvador & Panama: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of El Salvador?

The capital of El Salvador is San Salvador.

What is the population of El Salvador?

El Salvador has a recorded population of approximately 6,338,193 people.

How big is El Salvador?

El Salvador covers an area of about 21,040 km².

What is the population density of El Salvador?

El Salvador has a population density of roughly 301 /km² (people per square kilometre).

What is the GDP of El Salvador?

El Salvador has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $35.36 billion as of 2024.

What is the GDP per capita of El Salvador?

El Salvador has a GDP per capita of approximately $5,580.

What currency is used in El Salvador?

El Salvador uses the United States dollar (USD), with the symbol $.

Where is El Salvador located?

El Salvador is located in Central America, Americas.

What are people from El Salvador called?

People from El Salvador are referred to as Salvadoran.

What is the phone calling code for El Salvador?

The international dialing code for El Salvador is +503.

What is the internet domain for El Salvador?

The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for El Salvador is .sv.

What time zone is El Salvador in?

El Salvador uses the America/El_Salvador time zone.

What is El Salvador known for?

El Salvador, the smallest yet most densely populated nation in Central America, packs a vibrant mix of volcanic landscapes, colonial heritage, and a warm, resilient people into a compact 21,000‑square‑kilometer canvas.

What is the capital of Panama?

The capital of Panama is Panama City.

What is the population of Panama?

Panama has a recorded population of approximately 4,515,577 people.

How big is Panama?

Panama covers an area of about 75,320 km².

What is the population density of Panama?

Panama has a population density of roughly 60 /km² (people per square kilometre).

What is the GDP of Panama?

Panama has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $86.52 billion as of 2024.

What is the GDP per capita of Panama?

Panama has a GDP per capita of approximately $19,161.

What currency is used in Panama?

Panama uses the Panamanian balboa (PAB), with the symbol B/..

Where is Panama located?

Panama is located in Central America, Americas.

What is the native name of Panama?

The native name of Panama is Panamá.

What are people from Panama called?

People from Panama are referred to as Panamanian.

What is the phone calling code for Panama?

The international dialing code for Panama is +507.

What is the internet domain for Panama?

The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Panama is .pa.

What time zone is Panama in?

Panama uses the America/Panama time zone.

What is Panama known for?

Panama is a transcontinental country connecting Central America with South America. It is renowned for the Panama Canal, a vital waterway that allows ships to travel between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, significantly reducing travel time and cost.