Throughout 2025, El Salvador’s economy showed stronger-than-expected growth, according to official data, international institutions, and year-end assessments. While final consolidated figures take time to be fully confirmed, multiple indicators point to a year of solid economic expansion, outperforming several early projections.
In terms of figures, available estimates and preliminary assessments indicate that El Salvador’s economy grew around 4% in real terms during 2025. This number reflects projections and partial data published throughout the year and should be understood as an approximate reference, subject to revision once final official statistics are released.
Economic activity was supported by higher domestic and international confidence, record levels of remittances, and robust investment, particularly in key sectors such as construction, tourism, and services.
These factors helped sustain momentum across the year and reinforced expectations of continued growth going into 2026.
On December 22, 2025, President Nayib Bukele underscored this performance by sharing a screenshot from an IMF publication on social media.
The excerpt noted that El Salvador’s economy was expanding at a faster pace than anticipated, highlighting strong fundamentals and improved fiscal management.
The IMF also emphasized that the government was on track to meet its primary fiscal balance targets by the end of 2025, while the recently approved 2026 budget aligns with further deficit reduction alongside increased social spending.
Along with the screenshot, President Bukele added a short but symbolic message: “First, slowly… then suddenly.”
The phrase echoed a broader narrative of gradual reforms translating into visible economic results.
This message also aligns with a statement Bukele made during his presidential inauguration, when he declared: “We are going to make this country prosperous.”
Taken together, the economic data, international assessments, and official statements suggest that 2025 marked a year of meaningful growth for El Salvador, laying the groundwork for sustained expansion in the years ahead.
Very Positive Expectations Based on the Last Quarter of 2025 Performance: 5.1%
Toward the end of 2025, El Salvador’s Central Reserve Bank reported that the economy expanded 5.1% in the third quarter, consolidating a clear upward trajectory after growth of 2.4% in the first quarter and 4.1% in the second quarter.
According to the institution, this performance was driven by improved security conditions, the strength of the financial sector, and a strong increase in public and private investment, particularly in construction.
From a sectoral perspective, the fastest-growing activities during the third quarter of 2025 were construction (27.1%), mining and quarrying (23.3%), and professional services (20.5%), among others.
On the demand side, economic growth was led mainly by investment (24.7%), followed by private consumption (3.2%) and exports of goods and services (6.6%), reinforcing the view that investment has become a key engine of economic expansion.
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