IMF Praises El Salvador's Economy Amid Bitcoin Waiver

El Salvador's economy is performing strongly, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The fund projects real GDP growth of 4.5% for 2026, following a 2025 that beat expectations.

Last year, El Salvador's economy expanded by 3.9%, outstripping what had been expected. This momentum carried into 2026, with the economy growing 5.1% in the second quarter. The output reached $10,060.6 million.

Construction was one of the standout sectors, with activity rising 11.2% in Q2 2026. The IMF pointed to several engines behind the expansion, including strong investment levels, rising private consumption, large remittance flows from abroad, a revival in tourism, and sizable capital inflows.

The fund also credited the government's macroeconomic policy choices, which have strengthened El Salvador's fiscal position and built up its external buffers. The IMF granted a waiver after the country breached a program condition tied to Bitcoin accumulation.