Map of El Salvador | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms. El Salvador is beset by one of the world's highest homicide rates and pervasive criminal gangs.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 21,041 km²
Land: 20,721 km²
Water: 320 km²
Comparative: about the same size as New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 590 km
Border countries (2): (2) Guatemala 199 km; Honduras 391 km

Coastline: 307 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Elevation
Highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 442 m

Natural resources

Land use
Agricultural land: 57.7% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 34.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Forest: 33% (2023 est.)
Other: 9.3% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 240 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
Volcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital, which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (2,130 m) is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana

Geography
Note: smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea


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Population
Total: 6,628,702 (2024 est.)
Male: 3,172,244
Female: 3,456,458
Distribution: high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador
Growth rate: 0.34% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

Languages: Spanish (official), Nawat (among some indigenous)
Major-language sample(s): ; La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Roman Catholic 43.9%, Protestant 39.6% (Evangelical - unspecified 38.2%, Evangelical - Methodist 1.3%, Evangelical - Baptist 0.1%), none 16.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2023 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 25.3% (male 855,841/female 818,642)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,077,745/female 2,317,416)
65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 238,658/female 320,400)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 47.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 35 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 12.5 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 8 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 29.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 28.2 years
Female: 31.2 years

Population growth rate: 0.34% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 17.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

Population distribution: high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador

Urbanization
Urban population: 75.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.116 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2023)

Environment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 39 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.4 years
Female: 79.5 years

Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5% (2021 est.)

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.9% (2024 est.); 3% (2023 est.); 3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


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Country name

Government type

Capital
Name: San Salvador
Geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
Time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: Spanish colonists founded the city in 1526 on the feast day of the Transfiguration of the Savior (Jesus Christ), and the name means 'Holy Savior' in Spanish

Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapán, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlán, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazán, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulután

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: civil law system with minor common law influence; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
Head of government: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
Election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
Most recent election date: 4 February 2024
2024: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez reelected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (Nuevas Ideas) 84.7%, Manuel FLORES (FMLN) 6.4%, Joel SANCHEZ (ARENA) 5.6%, Luis PARADA (NT) 2%, other 1.3%
2019: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.7%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.4%, other 0.8%
Expected date of next election: 28 February 2,027; note - on 31 July 2025, the Legislative Assembly voted to move the date of the next presidential election from 2,029 to 2,027 to bring the presidential election cycle in line with the three-year legislative and municipal election cycle
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea legislativa)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 60 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 3 years
Most recent election date: 2/4/2024
Parties elected and seats per party: New Ideas (N) (54); Other (6)
Percentage of women in chamber: 31.7%
Expected date of next election: February 2,027

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of cobalt blue (top), white, and cobalt blue, with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has a round emblem with the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL around it

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'Himno Nacional de El Salvador' (National Anthem of El Salvador)
Lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
History: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; at four minutes and 20 seconds, the anthem is one of the world's longest

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.6% (2024 est.); 3.5% (2023 est.); 3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 2.6% (2024 est.); 3.5% (2023 est.); 3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 79.6% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 19.2% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22.2% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: -1.9% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 32.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -51.9% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Industry: 22.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 61% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals

Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 2.89 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.9% (2024 est.); 3% (2023 est.); 3% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.9% (2024 est.); 3% (2023 est.); 3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $9.359 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $10.313 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 20.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $11.586 billion (2024 est.); $10.629 billion (2023 est.); $10.164 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, raw sugar, toilet paper (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $18.354 billion (2024 est.); $17.034 billion (2023 est.); $18.181 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 2.803 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 6.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 140 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 750.096 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 770.613 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 19.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 24.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 14% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 500 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 3 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 56,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Consumption: 486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.694 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 7.745 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 948,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 24.421 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 863,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 11.5 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 68% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 671,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2022 est.)


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Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 27 (2025)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 12.5 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 12.5 km (2014) 0.914-mm gauge

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 5 (2023)
By type: other 5

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs