2025 country profile

How democratic is
El Salvador?

El Salvador scores 25.7 out of 100 and ranks 153 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is rights and checks on power. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

25.7out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank153 of 179

10-year change−31.7

25-year change−22.9

Source-bound range18.0–32.2

Weakest areaRights & checks

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

El Salvador, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2025 context · Freedom House assessment

Constitutional changes removed presidential term limits

Lawmakers used a revised amendment procedure to abolish presidential term limits. Freedom House also describes increasing pressure on independent journalists. The combination concerns both limits on executive tenure and the availability of independent scrutiny; electoral popularity does not by itself answer either institutional question.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2026

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for El Salvador fell 31.7 points, from 57.4 to 25.7 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. Rights and checks contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Rights and checks

The evidence points toward weaker civil liberties, equality before the law, or constraints on executive power.

Area score: 65.5 → 14.1
Approx. contribution to overall change: −11.1 points

Another important influence

Public reasoning

The evidence rates public justification, consultation, and engagement with opposing arguments less favorably.

Area score: 66.3 → 25.4
Approx. contribution to overall change: −7.8 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2018–2019−5.7 points
The overall score fell from 55.1 to 49.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2019–2020−5.0 points
The overall score fell from 49.4 to 44.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2020–2021−10.1 points
The overall score fell from 44.4 to 34.3. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 57.4 in 2015. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Rights and checks	65.5	14.1	−51.4	−11.1
Public reasoning	66.3	25.4	−40.9	−7.8
Elections	65.8	32.1	−33.7	−6.2
Participation	55.4	35.0	−20.4	−3.8
Political equality	37.1	24.6	−12.5	−2.9

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

32.1

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

14.1

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

35.0

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

25.4

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

24.6

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

El Salvador score table

Download El Salvador CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	25.7	18.0–32.2	32.1	14.1	35.0	25.4	24.6
2024	27.9	20.6–33.9	33.5	13.3	45.2	26.9	25.6
2023	29.9	22.5–36.2	37.7	14.6	46.9	25.0	31.0
2022	30.2	22.8–36.9	37.8	17.5	46.8	24.9	28.4
2021	34.3	26.1–41.1	40.3	26.3	47.2	24.3	36.1
2020	44.4	35.8–52.2	51.8	53.3	50.4	32.5	36.4
2019	49.4	40.8–57.8	59.9	60.3	51.9	40.4	37.1
2018	55.1	47.9–63.7	63.1	62.8	57.2	59.9	35.3
2017	56.6	49.0–64.8	67.2	65.2	55.8	61.2	36.6
2016	56.6	49.2–64.3	65.9	65.8	55.4	62.3	36.6
2015	57.4	50.4–65.7	65.8	65.5	55.4	66.3	37.1
2014	57.3	50.4–65.7	66.5	65.9	55.4	65.0	37.1
2013	56.7	48.8–64.4	62.6	65.8	56.5	64.1	37.5
2012	57.3	49.9–65.1	61.5	65.4	56.8	70.8	35.7
2011	57.0	50.0–65.0	61.3	64.7	56.8	70.8	35.4
2010	57.4	50.7–65.8	61.3	64.8	56.5	72.4	35.7
2009	56.1	49.2–64.1	59.4	62.0	56.2	72.3	34.4
2008	50.8	43.5–59.1	56.1	56.7	54.7	57.6	31.7
2007	50.6	43.5–59.1	56.0	55.8	54.7	57.6	31.7
2006	50.5	43.4–59.0	55.7	55.8	54.7	57.6	31.7
2005	50.1	43.0–58.5	54.2	55.2	54.7	57.6	31.7
2004	50.0	42.8–58.6	53.9	54.8	54.7	57.6	31.7
2003	49.9	42.6–58.2	53.7	54.7	54.5	57.6	31.7
2002	49.8	42.8–58.5	54.3	53.4	54.5	57.6	31.7
2001	49.1	41.6–57.3	53.4	53.5	54.5	54.9	31.7
2000	48.6	40.9–56.6	52.2	52.1	54.5	54.9	31.7
1999	48.6	40.5–56.1	50.5	50.3	54.5	58.2	31.8
1998	48.9	41.2–56.5	49.2	50.3	54.5	58.2	34.4
1997	48.6	40.7–56.1	49.3	48.5	54.5	58.2	34.4
1996	48.6	40.7–56.1	49.1	48.5	54.5	58.2	34.4
1995	48.2	40.2–55.5	48.4	48.0	53.8	58.2	34.4
1994	46.1	38.5–54.3	47.1	44.8	49.7	57.3	33.5
1993	43.3	35.8–50.9	37.9	42.4	50.5	56.0	31.7
1992	34.8	27.2–41.7	27.2	34.5	46.5	38.9	28.5
1991	25.6	18.2–31.3	22.1	22.3	43.3	23.6	19.7
1990	24.9	18.2–30.9	21.2	21.7	41.8	22.5	19.7
1989	24.5	17.7–30.5	20.8	20.3	41.8	22.5	19.9
1988	24.5	17.7–30.3	20.1	21.0	41.8	22.5	19.9
1987	24.1	17.2–29.9	20.0	21.0	39.6	22.5	19.9
1986	24.1	17.3–30.1	20.0	20.9	39.6	22.5	19.9
1985	23.1	16.4–29.0	19.1	17.6	39.6	22.2	19.9
1984	18.6	12.9–23.7	15.6	14.0	36.1	11.8	19.6
1983	17.6	11.7–22.1	13.9	13.5	35.3	9.9	19.6
1982	17.3	11.5–21.8	13.0	13.5	34.9	9.9	19.6
1981	16.6	11.0–21.1	10.4	13.2	34.9	9.9	19.6
1980	16.4	10.6–20.7	10.1	13.2	34.2	9.9	19.6
1979	16.9	10.9–21.1	15.8	13.6	33.4	9.2	16.6
1978	16.9	11.2–21.2	17.1	13.6	32.0	9.0	16.6
1977	16.9	11.2–21.1	17.1	13.8	32.0	8.8	16.6
1976	17.5	11.7–21.9	17.1	13.9	32.0	10.5	16.9
1975	17.5	11.7–22.0	17.3	13.9	32.0	10.5	16.9
1974	17.5	11.7–22.0	17.3	13.9	32.0	10.5	16.9
1973	17.5	11.7–21.9	17.3	14.1	32.0	10.5	16.9
1972	18.8	12.4–23.3	18.1	15.4	34.2	13.4	15.7
1971	20.4	14.5–25.6	18.7	16.4	36.6	16.4	16.8
1970	20.4	14.5–25.6	18.7	16.4	36.6	16.4	16.8
1969	19.7	13.6–24.7	19.2	16.4	34.2	16.4	14.8
1968	20.0	13.8–24.9	19.3	16.8	34.2	17.1	14.8
1967	19.9	14.1–25.2	19.1	17.1	34.2	17.1	14.6
1966	19.9	14.1–25.2	19.2	17.1	34.2	17.0	14.6
1965	19.2	13.3–24.1	19.1	17.5	34.2	14.0	14.1
1964	19.2	13.3–24.1	19.1	17.5	34.2	14.0	14.1
1963	19.2	13.3–24.0	18.8	17.5	34.2	14.0	14.1
1962	18.5	12.7–23.3	15.6	17.4	34.2	14.0	14.1
1961	17.0	11.4–21.5	11.6	16.2	31.8	14.0	14.1
1960	18.6	12.7–23.2	17.7	17.5	31.8	14.0	14.1
1959	17.1	11.3–21.3	17.8	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1958	17.1	11.3–21.3	17.8	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1957	17.1	11.3–21.3	17.7	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1956	17.1	11.3–21.3	17.7	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1955	17.1	11.3–21.3	17.8	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1954	17.2	11.4–21.4	18.3	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1953	17.2	11.4–21.4	18.2	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1952	17.2	11.4–21.4	18.3	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1951	17.2	11.4–21.5	18.6	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1950	16.3	10.6–20.4	13.7	18.0	29.4	9.7	13.4
1949	14.1	9.3–18.0	10.9	17.5	27.6	7.0	11.5
1948	15.2	10.1–19.2	17.5	16.4	27.6	7.0	11.5
1947	15.3	10.2–19.3	17.8	16.4	27.6	7.0	11.5
1946	15.3	10.2–19.3	17.8	16.4	27.6	7.0	11.5
1945	14.9	9.7–18.6	16.8	16.0	27.6	6.4	11.5
1944	12.9	8.0–16.2	15.0	13.4	26.0	4.1	11.0
1943	13.0	8.1–16.3	15.8	13.4	26.0	4.1	11.0
1942	13.0	8.1–16.3	15.8	13.4	26.0	4.1	11.0
1941	13.0	8.1–16.3	15.8	13.4	26.0	4.1	11.0
1940	13.0	8.1–16.3	15.8	13.4	26.0	4.1	11.0
1939	12.4	7.6–15.6	12.5	13.2	27.5	4.1	9.9
1938	12.2	7.6–15.4	12.5	13.2	27.5	4.1	9.0
1937	12.2	7.6–15.4	12.5	13.2	27.5	4.1	9.0
1936	12.2	7.6–15.4	12.5	13.2	27.5	4.1	9.0
1935	12.2	7.6–15.4	12.5	13.2	27.5	4.1	9.0
1934	12.2	7.6–15.5	12.6	13.2	27.5	4.1	9.0
1933	12.2	7.6–15.5	12.6	13.2	27.5	4.1	9.0
1932	10.6	6.6–13.7	6.7	13.3	27.5	4.0	7.6
1931	16.6	10.5–20.7	15.8	19.2	28.3	13.4	9.2
1930	17.7	11.7–22.0	17.4	23.2	30.3	14.1	7.7
1929	16.7	10.7–20.5	17.2	22.6	29.2	11.1	7.7
1928	16.4	10.6–20.3	17.2	22.6	27.7	11.1	7.7
1927	16.4	10.6–20.4	17.3	22.6	27.7	11.1	7.7
1926	16.0	10.2–19.7	16.4	22.1	26.6	11.1	7.7
1925	16.0	10.2–19.7	16.4	22.1	26.6	11.1	7.7
1924	16.0	10.2–19.7	16.4	22.1	26.6	11.1	7.7
1923	16.0	10.2–19.7	16.4	22.1	26.6	11.1	7.7
1922	16.0	10.1–19.7	16.4	22.1	26.6	11.1	7.7
1921	16.0	10.1–19.7	16.4	22.1	26.6	11.1	7.7
1920	16.0	10.1–19.7	16.4	22.1	26.6	11.1	7.7
1919	16.3	10.5–20.1	16.4	22.0	26.6	12.2	7.7
1918	16.5	10.6–20.4	17.6	22.0	26.6	12.2	7.7
1917	16.5	10.6–20.4	17.6	22.0	26.6	12.2	7.7
1916	16.5	10.6–20.4	17.6	22.0	26.6	12.2	7.7
1915	16.5	10.6–20.4	17.6	22.0	26.6	12.2	7.7
1914	16.5	10.4–20.4	16.4	22.0	26.6	13.4	7.7
1913	16.5	10.4–20.4	16.4	22.0	26.6	13.4	7.7
1912	16.5	10.4–20.4	16.4	22.0	26.6	13.4	7.7
1911	16.5	10.4–20.4	16.4	22.0	26.6	13.4	7.7
1910	16.2	10.4–20.3	16.4	21.6	26.6	13.4	7.0
1909	16.2	10.4–20.3	16.4	21.6	26.6	13.4	7.0
1908	16.2	10.4–20.3	16.4	21.6	26.6	13.4	7.0
1907	16.2	10.4–20.3	16.4	21.6	26.6	13.4	7.0
1906	16.2	10.4–20.3	16.3	21.6	26.6	13.4	7.0
1905	16.3	10.5–20.3	16.3	22.2	26.6	13.4	7.0
1904	16.3	10.6–20.4	16.3	21.9	26.6	13.4	7.0
1903	16.3	10.6–20.4	16.3	21.9	26.6	13.4	7.0

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “El Salvador Democracy Score, 1903–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

NEARBY IN THE 2025 RANKING

#151Cuba26.6 #152Central African Republic26.2 #154Iran25.4 #155Eswatini24.7

All rankings

How democratic isEl Salvador?

El Salvador, 1975–2025

Constitutional changes removed presidential term limits

Rights and checks

Public reasoning

When did the biggest shifts appear?

Five dimensions of democracy

Free and fair elections

Rights and checks on power

Public participation

Public reasoning

Political equality

Two kinds of evidence.One clearer picture.

El Salvador score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
El Salvador?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.