The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador published first quarter 2026 national accounts showing gross domestic product grew 4.8 percent from a year earlier to USD 9,261.8 million, up USD 604.7 million. The bank said the result was more than double the average first quarter growth rate of the past 17 years and reflected broad-based expansion across the economy, with 17 of 19 activities posting positive growth and accounting together for 80.3 percent of GDP. The strongest gains were in construction at 13.5 percent, mining and quarrying at 11.1 percent, transport and storage at 7.6 percent, and hotels and restaurants at 7.1 percent. The bank attributed the overall performance mainly to favorable domestic factors and stronger external trade, including public and private investment, strategic infrastructure projects, logistics improvements at the main airport and Acajutla port, and higher household income. Exports of goods and services rose 5.0 percent in monetary terms, international visitors reached 1.3 million, and family remittances increased 7.3 percent to USD 2,435.6 million, supporting private consumption and sectors such as commerce, restaurants, transport and entertainment. Education and agriculture were the only sectors to contract slightly, down 0.3 percent and 0.8 percent respectively, and together represented 6.7 percent of GDP in monetary terms.
Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador2026-06-30
Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador reports 4.8 percent first quarter GDP growth led by construction and tourism
The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador reported that GDP grew 4.8 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026 to USD 9,261.8 million. Growth was broad based, led by construction, mining, transport, and hotels and restaurants. The bank linked the result to investment, stronger exports and tourism, logistics improvements, and higher remittances that supported domestic demand.