Invest in a City in El Salvador
The 17 cities in figures
| City (district) | Department | Population 2024 | Urban | Municipality | Average labour income in the municipality, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Salvador | San Salvador | 330,543 | 99.6% | San Salvador Centro | $512.12 |
| Santa Ana | Santa Ana | 250,760 | 86.5% | Santa Ana Centro | $325.52 |
| San Miguel | San Miguel | 232,887 | 82.2% | San Miguel Centro | $389.24 |
| Soyapango | San Salvador | 230,255 | 99.8% | San Salvador Este | $452.59 |
| Santa Tecla | La Libertad | 125,532 | 92.7% | La Libertad Sur | $431.90 |
| Antiguo Cuscatlán | La Libertad | 37,451 | 99.0% | La Libertad Este | $551.08 |
| La Libertad (port) | La Libertad | 44,761 | 71.5% | La Libertad Costa | $393.05 |
| Sonsonate | Sonsonate | 72,233 | 69.2% | Sonsonate Centro | $381.22 |
| Usulután | Usulután | 66,125 | 78.6% | Usulután Este | $323.48 |
| La Unión | La Unión | 40,129 | 60.1% | La Unión Sur | $327.96 |
| Ahuachapán | Ahuachapán | 127,301 | 78.7% | Ahuachapán Centro | $300.99 |
| Chalatenango | Chalatenango | 30,679 | 67.6% | Chalatenango Sur | $246.77 |
| Cojutepeque | Cuscatlán | 46,839 | 97.4% | Cuscatlán Sur | $351.89 |
| Zacatecoluca | La Paz | 64,484 | 71.7% | La Paz Este | $355.23 |
| Sensuntepeque | Cabañas | 35,916 | 40.2% | Cabañas Este | $256.00 |
| San Vicente | San Vicente | 52,461 | 80.5% | San Vicente Sur | $289.02 |
| San Francisco Gotera | Morazán | 20,330 | 78.5% | Morazán Sur | $291.59 |
Source: BCR and ONEC: VII Population Census 2024, population by department, municipality and district, urban and rural (Excel, in Spanish); UNDP: socio-economic map, guide to the 44 new municipalities of El Salvador, October 2024 (PDF, in Spanish)1,2
Map of the districts
The cities
San Salvador
The capital: offices, government and the historic centre.
330,543 People in the district of San Salvador, 2024 census
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Santa Ana
The second city: commerce, free zones and lower property prices.
250,760 People in the district of Santa Ana, 2024 census
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San Miguel
The main city of the east: commerce and services.
232,887 People in the district of San Miguel, 2024 census
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Soyapango
The fourth-largest district, on the east side of the capital.
230,255 People in the district of Soyapango, 2024 census
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Santa Tecla
The capital of La Libertad, next to San Salvador.
125,532 People in the district of Santa Tecla, 2024 census
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Antiguo Cuscatlán
Offices, the new CIFCO and the highest labour income of the 44 municipalities.
37,451 People in the district of Antiguo Cuscatlán, 2024 census
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La Libertad (port)
The port town of Surf City, on the Pacific coast.
44,761 People in the district of La Libertad, 2024 census
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Sonsonate
Between the Ruta de las Flores and the port of Acajutla.
72,233 People in the district of Sonsonate, 2024 census
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Usulután
The capital of Usulután, near the Bay of Jiquilisco.
66,125 People in the district of Usulután, 2024 census
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La Unión
The port on the Gulf of Fonseca and the Pacific Airport.
40,129 People in the district of La Unión, 2024 census
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Ahuachapán
Geothermal power and the start of the Ruta de las Flores.
127,301 People in the district of Ahuachapán, 2024 census
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Chalatenango
The northern capital, near the Cerrón Grande dam.
30,679 People in the district of Chalatenango, 2024 census
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Cojutepeque
The capital of Cuscatlán, on the Pan-American Highway.
46,839 People in the district of Cojutepeque, 2024 census
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Zacatecoluca
The capital of La Paz, the department of the airport.
64,484 People in the district of Zacatecoluca, 2024 census
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Sensuntepeque
The capital of Cabañas and the 5 de Noviembre dam.
35,916 People in the district of Sensuntepeque, 2024 census
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San Vicente
A restored historic centre and a new geothermal field.
52,461 People in the district of San Vicente, 2024 census
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San Francisco Gotera
The capital of Morazán, with a new power line.
20,330 People in the district of San Francisco Gotera, 2024 census
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Sources
- BCR and ONEC: VII Population Census 2024, population by department, municipality and district, urban and rural (Excel, in Spanish)
- UNDP: socio-economic map, guide to the 44 new municipalities of El Salvador, October 2024 (PDF, in Spanish)
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.