Map of El Salvador | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

top of page


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.


top of page


Location: Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

Geographic coordinates: 13 50 N, 88 55 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 21,041 km²
Land: 20,721 km²
Water: 320 km²
Comparative: about the same size as New Jersey
Country comparison total: 590 km
Country comparison border countries: (2) Guatemala 199 km; Honduras 391 km

Land boundaries
Total: 590 km
Border countries: (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: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Land use
Agricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 33.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 10.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 30.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 13.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 11.7% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 274 km² (2020)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 470 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 210 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 1.43 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 26.27 billion m³ (2020 est.)

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), which last erupted in 2002, 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


top of page


Population
Distribution: athough it is the smallest country in land area in Central America, El Salvador has a population that is 18 times larger than Belize; at least 20% of the population lives abroad; high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador
Total: 6,628,702
Male: 3,172,244
Female: 3,456,458 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.34% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 26.6% (2022 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Salvadoran(s)
Adjective: Salvadoran

Ethnic groups: Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Indigenous 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)

Languages: Spanish (official), Nawat (among some indigenous)
Major-language samples: La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish); Gheos World Guide, 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: 51.3
Youth dependency ratio: 39
Elderly dependency ratio: 12.3
Potential support ratio: 8.1 (2021 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: -7.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: athough it is the smallest country in land area in Central America, El Salvador has a population that is 18 times larger than Belize; at least 20% of the population lives abroad; 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
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 22.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.17 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 4.71 megatons (2020 est.)

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: 20.8 years (2008 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality ratio: 43 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 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: 71.9% (2014)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 99.6% of population
Unimproved rural: 5.8% of population
Unimproved total: 1.8% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 0.4% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 100% of population
Improved rural: 97.1% of population
Improved total: 99.2% of population
Unimproved urban: 0% of population
Unimproved rural: 2.9% of population
Unimproved total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 24.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 2.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 1.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 7.9% (2020 est.)
Male: 14.1% (2020 est.)
Female: 1.7% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5% (2014)

Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 89.1%
Male: 91.3%
Female: 87.3% (2019)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 12 years (2018)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
Conventional short form: El Salvador
Local long form: República de El Salvador
Local short form: El Salvador
Etymology: name is an abbreviation of the original Spanish conquistador designation for the area 'Provincia de Nuestro Senor Jesus Cristo, el Salvador del Mundo' (Province of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World), which became simply 'El Salvador' (The Savior)

Government type: presidential republic

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 for 'Holy Savior' (referring to Jesus Christ)

Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulutan

Dependent areas

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution
History: many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983
Amendments: proposals require agreement by absolute majority of the Legislative Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on basic principles, and citizen rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003, 2009, 2014

Legal system: civil law system with minor common law influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

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

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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
Elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 5-year term; election last held on 4 February 2024 (next to be held in 2,029)
Election results: 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%
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies and a single nationwide constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 3-year terms)
Elections: last held on 28 February 2021 (next to be held in 2024)
Elections results: percent of vote by party - NI 66.5%, ARENA 12.2%, FMLN 6.9%, GANA 5.3%, PCN 4.1%, other 5%; seats by party - NI 56, ARENA 14, GANA 5, FMLN 4, other 5; composition - men 61, women 23, percent of women 27.4%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 15 judges, including its president, and 15 substitute judges organized into Constitutional, Civil, Penal, and Administrative Conflict Chambers)
Judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of both the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly, and the Bar Association; judges elected for 9-year terms, with renewal of one-third of membership every 3 years; consecutive reelection is allowed
Subordinate courts: Appellate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or PDC, Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN, Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA, National Coalition Party or PCN, Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA, New Ideas (Nuevas Ideas) or NI, Our Time (Nuestro Tiempo) or NT, Vamos or V

International organization participation: ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020)
In the us chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 595-7,500
In the us fax: [1] (202) 232-3,763
In the us email address and website: infoEEUU@rree.gob.sv
In the us consulates general: Aurora (CO), Boston, Charlotte (NC), Chicago, Dallas, Doral (FL), Duluth (GA), El Paso (TX), Elizabeth (NJ), Fresno (CA), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Laredo (TX), Long Island (NY), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New York, Omaha (NE), San Bernardino (CA), San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Silver Spring (MD), Springdale (AR), St. Paul (MN), Tucson (AZ), Woodbridge (VA)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador William H. DUNCAN (since 24 January 2023)
From the us embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
From the us mailing address: 3,450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20,521-3,450
From the us telephone: [503] 2,501-2,999
From the us fax: [503] 2,501-2,150
From the us email address and website: ACSSanSal@state.gov; [link]

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 features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperity
Note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

National symbols: turquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white

National anthem
Name: 'Himno Nacional de El Salvador' (National Anthem of El Salvador)
Lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
Note: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; at 4:20 minutes, the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


top of page


Economy overview: growth-challenged Central American economy buttressed via remittances; dense labor force; fairly aggressive COVID-19 stimulus plan; new and lower banking reserve requirements; earthquake, tropical storm, and crime disruptions; widespread corruption

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $71.957 billion (2023 est.); $69.516 billion (2022 est.); $67.623 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 3.51% (2023 est.); 2.8% (2022 est.); 11.9% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $11,300 (2023 est.); $11,000 (2022 est.); $10,700 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 81.4% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 18% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -2.7% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 31.1% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -49.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Industry: 25% (2023 est.)
Services: 59.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: sugarcane, maize, milk, chicken, beans, sorghum, coconuts, oranges, eggs, yautia (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 4.12% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 2.87 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.76% (2023 est.); 3% (2022 est.); 4.33% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 26.6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national 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: $9.371 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 19.69% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 66.47% of GDP (2021 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.6% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.05% (2023 est.); 7.2% (2022 est.); 3.47% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on 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: -$465.688 million (2023 est.); -$2.182 billion (2022 est.); -$1.25 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $10.629 billion (2023 est.); $10.164 billion (2022 est.); $8.351 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 38%, Guatemala 16%, Honduras 16%, Nicaragua 7%, Costa Rica 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, fabric, raw sugar (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $17.032 billion (2023 est.); $18.184 billion (2022 est.); $15.483 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 30%, China 16%, Guatemala 12%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, garments, natural gas, plastic products, plastics (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.426 billion (2021 est.); $3.083 billion (2020 est.); $4.446 billion (2019 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $11.276 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy


top of page


Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 2.853 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 6.666 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 85.75 million kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 1.351 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 953.156 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 9.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 16.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 35.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 24.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 14.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

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

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 3 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 58,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Consumption: 226.472 million m³ (2022 est.)
Imports: 226.472 million m³ (2022 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.256 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 7.814 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 441,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 23.672 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 863,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 11.509 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: the Armed Force of El Salvador (La Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Army of El Salvador (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Navy of El Salvador (Fuerza Naval de El Salvador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2024)
Note: the National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil, PNC) are under the Ministry of Justice and Public Safety; in 2016, El Salvador created a combined Army commando and PNC unit to combat criminal gang violence

Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and non-commissioned officers (2023)

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,545,105 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10.73 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YS

Airports: 27 (2024)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 9,012 km
Paved: 5,341 km
Unpaved: 3,671 km (2017)

Waterways: 422 km (2022) (Rio Lempa River is partially navigable by small craft)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Idps: 52,000 (2022)

Illicit drugs: a transit country for illicit drugs destined for the United States; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics