President Nayib Bukele has achieved an official approval rating that is around 90%, according to both national and international polls,a number virtually unprecedented in the Latin American region. Recent data reports an approval rating of 91% for Bukele, positioning him as one of the best-rated leaders on the planet.
Since 2019, when Bukele assumed the presidency, El Salvador has shown significant progress in citizen security, a key factor for the new national narrative. The homicide rate has dropped dramatically: for example, one report places the rate at 1.9 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants by the end of 2024, making it the country’s “safest year.”
This shift in public security has generated a widespread perception that “the country is heading in the right direction,” which translates into high citizen satisfaction. A recent survey by the University Institute of Public Opinion (IUDOP) reports an average score of 8.15/10 for Bukele during his sixth year in office.
In a territorial survey, only 1.4% of Salvadorans identified the concentration of power in one person as a “problem.” This is the same percentage that uses the label “dictatorship” to describe Bukele’s government, based on institutional changes and the expansion of power. However, the fact is that the majority of citizens do not perceive it this way.
From the perspective of practical governance, El Salvador is betting on legal stability and security for investments, which reinforces the argument that this is not an authoritarian regime in the classic “no-return” sense, but rather a government that offers certainty for citizens and economic actors.
Investment and Business as a New Magnet
The country’s economic growth accompanies the narrative of transformation. For example, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 3.4%.
Furthermore, El Salvador is reportedly experiencing an “unprecedented boom” in foreign direct investment, driven by Bukele’s policies that seek to make the country more competitive, safe, and attractive for business.
The combination of security, growth, and institutional trust translates into citizen well-being: there are high ratings for the government, a perception that “the country is moving forward,” and an atmosphere of greater tranquility for living and starting a business, demonstrating that “Salvadorans are happy in their country.”