Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 50 N, 88 55 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean
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Area:
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total: 21,040 sq km
land: 20,720 sq km
water: 320 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Massachusetts
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Land boundaries:
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total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
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Coastline:
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307 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
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Natural resources:
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hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
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Land use:
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arable land: 31.37%
permanent crops: 11.88%
other: 56.75% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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450 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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25.2 cu km (2001)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%)
per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Geography - note:
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smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
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Population:
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7,185,218 (July 2009 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 35.4% (male 1,299,608/female 1,245,617)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 2,033,423/female 2,225,810)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 166,224/female 214,536) (2009 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 22.5 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 23.6 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.656% (2009 est.)
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Birth rate:
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25.31 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Death rate:
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5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 21.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 72.33 years
male: 68.72 years
female: 76.11 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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3 children born/woman (2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.8% (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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35,000 (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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1,700 (2007 est.)
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
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Nationality:
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noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)
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Languages:
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Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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3.1% of GDP (2006)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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15 September 1821 (from Spain)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
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Constitution:
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20 December 1983
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Legal system:
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based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma Albanez DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma Albanez DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 15 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014)
election results: Mauricio FUNES elected president; percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%; note - FUNES will take office 1 June 2009
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 18 January 2009 (next to be held in March 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FMLN 35, ARENA 32, PCN 11, PDC 5, CD 1
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four Supreme Court chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic Convergence or CD [Hector DADA HIREZI] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA]; Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Rodrigo AVILA]; Popular Social Christian Party or PPSC [Rene AGUILUZ]; Revolutionary Democratic Front or FDR [Julio Cesar HERNANDEZ Carcamo]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI
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International organization participation:
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BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez
chancery: 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671
FAX: [1] (202) 234-3763
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Elizabeth (New Jersey), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington (DC), Woodbridge (Virginia), Woodstock (Georgia)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert BLAU
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
telephone: [503] 2501-2999
FAX: [503] 2501-2150
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and 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; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
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Economy - overview:
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The smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest economy, but growth has been modest in recent years. Economic growth will decelerate in 2009 due to the global slowdown and to El Salvador's dependence on exports to the US and remittances from the US. El Salvador leads the region in remittances per capita with inflows equivalent to nearly all export income. In 2006 El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the maquila sector. The SACA administration has sought to diversify the economy, focusing on regional transportation and tourism. El Salvador has promoted an open trade and investment environment, and has embarked on a wave of privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution, banking, and pension funds. In late 2006, the government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $461 million compact to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the country's northern region through investments in education, public services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El Salvador lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$43.94 billion (2008 est.)
$42.57 billion (2007)
$40.66 billion (2006)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$22.28 billion (2008 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.2% (2008 est.)
4.7% (2007 est.)
4.2% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$6,200 (2008 est.)
$6,100 (2007 est.)
$6,000 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 24.7%
services: 64.1% (2008 est.)
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Labor force:
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2.958 million (2008 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 19%
industry: 23%
services: 58% (2006 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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6.3% official rate; but the economy has much underemployment (2008 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 38.8% (2002)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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52.4 (2002)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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16% of GDP (2008 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $3.928 billion
expenditures: $4.226 billion (2008 est.)
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Public debt:
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26.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4.7% (2008 est.)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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NA
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Stock of money:
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$1.802 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$764.1 million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of domestic credit:
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$9.221 billion (31 December 2008)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$6.743 billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products
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Industries:
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food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3.8% (2008 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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5.338 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.426 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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8.64 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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11.08 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2005)
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Oil - consumption:
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44,330 bbl/day (2006 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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4,963 bbl/day (2006)
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Oil - imports:
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45,210 bbl/day (2006)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Current account balance:
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-$1.119 billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$4.55 billion (2008 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
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Exports - partners:
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US 51%, Guatemala 13.6%, Honduras 11.2%, Nicaragua 5.5% (2007)
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Imports:
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$9.75 billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
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Imports - partners:
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US 35.7%, Mexico 9.8%, Guatemala 8.5%, China 4.7% (2007)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$2.541 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$9.422 billion (31 November 2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$6.693 billion (2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$366 million (2008 est.)
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Exchange rates:
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the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001
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Airports:
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65 (2008)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2008)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 47 (2008)
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Heliports:
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1 (2007)
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Railways:
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total: 562 km
narrow gauge: 562 km 0.914-m gauge
note: railways have been inoperable since 2005 because of disuse and high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2007)
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Roadways:
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total: 10,886 km
paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)
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Waterways:
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Rio Lempa partially navigable for small craft (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco
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Military branches:
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Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; service obligation - 8 months, but 11 months for officers and NCOs (2008)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 1,634,816
females age 16-49: 1,775,474 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 1,201,290
females age 16-49: 1,547,278 (2009 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 77,473
female: 74,655 (2009 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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5% of GDP (2006)
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This page was last updated on 14 May 2009
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