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.
land: 20,721 sq km
water: 320 sq km
border countries (2): Guatemala 199 km; Honduras 391 km
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 442 m
arable land: 33.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 10.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 30.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 13.6% (2018 est.)
other: 11.7% (2018 est.)
6,602,370 (2023 est.)
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Amerindian 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)
Spanish (official), Nawat (among some Amerindians)
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.
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 36%, other 2%, none 12% (2014 est.)
El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It is well into its demographic transition, experiencing slower population growth, a decline in its number of youths, and the gradual aging of its population. The increased use of family planning has substantially lowered El Salvador’s fertility rate, from approximately 6 children per woman in the 1970s to replacement level today. A 2008 national family planning survey showed that female sterilization remained the most common contraception method in El Salvador - its sterilization rate is among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean - but that the use of injectable contraceptives is growing. Fertility differences between rich and poor and urban and rural women are narrowing.Salvadorans fled during the 1979 to 1992 civil war mainly to the United States but also to Canada and to neighboring Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Emigration to the United States increased again in the 1990s and 2000s as a result of deteriorating economic conditions, natural disasters (Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and earthquakes in 2001), and family reunification. At least 20% of El Salvador’s population lives abroad. The remittances they send home account for close to 20% of GDP, are the second largest source of external income after exports, and have helped reduce poverty.
0-14 years: 25.4% (male 857,304/female 819,670)
15-64 years: 66.39% (male 2,072,784/female 2,310,573)
65 years and over: 8.21% (2023 est.) (male 232,684/female 309,355)
total dependency ratio: 51.3
youth dependency ratio: 39
elderly dependency ratio: 12.3
potential support ratio: 8.1 (2021 est.)
total: 29.2 years (2023 est.)
male: 27.7 years
female: 30.7 years
0.46% (2023 est.)
17.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
-7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
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
urban population: 75.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
1.116 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2023)
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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
20.8 years (2008 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29
43 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
total: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
total population: 75.6 years (2023 est.)
male: 72.2 years
female: 79.3 years
2.04 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.99 (2023 est.)
71.9% (2014)
improved: urban: 99.6% of population
rural: 94.2% of population
total: 98.2% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population
rural: 5.8% of population
total: 1.8% of population (2020 est.)
9.9% of GDP (2020)
2.87 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 97.1% of population
total: 99.2% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 2.9% of population
total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)
degree of risk: high (2023)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
24.6% (2016)
total: 2.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total: 7.9% (2020 est.)
male: 14.1% (2020 est.)
female: 1.7% (2020 est.)
5% (2014)
55% (2023 est.)
women married by age 15: 4.3%
women married by age 18: 19.7% (2021 est.)
4.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.3%
female: 87.3% (2019)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2018)
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
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
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
agricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 33.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 10.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 30.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 13.6% (2018 est.)
other: 11.7% (2018 est.)
urban population: 75.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
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.)
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,648,996 tons (2010 est.)
municipal: 470 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 210 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 1.43 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
26.27 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
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
$57.371 billion (2021 est.)
$52.024 billion (2020 est.)
$56.657 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
10.28% (2021 est.)
-8.18% (2020 est.)
2.44% (2019 est.)
$9,100 (2021 est.)
$8,300 (2020 est.)
$9,000 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
$27.023 billion (2019 est.)
3.47% (2021 est.)
-0.37% (2020 est.)
0.08% (2019 est.)
Fitch rating: B- (2017)
Moody’s rating: B3 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2018)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
agriculture: 12% (2017 est.)
industry: 27.7% (2017 est.)
services: 60.3% (2017 est.)comparison rankings:
household consumption: 84.5% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 15.8% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 27.6% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -44.9% (2017 est.)
sugar cane, maize, milk, poultry, sorghum, beans, coconuts, eggs, apples, oranges
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
9.47% (2021 est.)
2.658 million (2021 est.)
5.94% (2021 est.)
6.25% (2020 est.)
4.17% (2019 est.)
note: data are official rates; but underemployment is high
total: 13.7% (2021 est.)
male: 11.3%
female: 18.3%
22.8% (2019 est.)
38.8 (2019 est.)
on food: 26.5% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 0.5% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 32.3% (2014 est.)
revenues: $6.448 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $7.273 billion (2019 est.)
-2.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
71.41% of GDP (2020 est.)
53.88% of GDP (2019 est.)
52.21% of GDP (2018 est.)
note: El Salvador’s total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt
18.66% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
calendar year
-$1.457 billion (2021 est.)
$202.947 million (2020 est.)
-$113.356 million (2019 est.)
$8.491 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$6.295 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$8.057 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
United States 40%, Guatemala 15%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 6% (2019)
clothing, electrical capacitors, plastic lids, sugar, packaged medicines, toilet paper (2021)
$15.754 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$10.764 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$12.469 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
United States 30%, China 14%, Guatemala 13%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 6% (2019)
refined petroleum, packaged medicines, clothing, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2019)
$3.426 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$3.083 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$4.446 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
$17.24 billion (2019 est.)
$16.712 billion (2018 est.)
note: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy
Exchange rates:
1 (2021 est.)
1 (2020 est.)
1 (2019 est.)
1 (2018 est.)
1 (2017 est.)
population without electricity: (2020) less than 1 million
electrification - total population: 97.8% (2021)
electrification - urban areas: 99.2% (2021)
electrification - rural areas: 94% (2021)
installed generating capacity: 2.586 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 6,443,200,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 158 million kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 1.45 billion kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 795.8 million kWh (2019 est.)comparison rankings:
fossil fuels: 28.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 30% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 22.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 12.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 59,100 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
347 bbl/day (2015 est.)
49,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
7.632 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 7.63 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
24.124 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
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
YS
68 (2021)
5
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
63
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
2 (2021)
total: 12.5 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 12.5 km (2014) 0.914-mm gauge
total: 9,012 km (2017)
paved: 5,341 km (2017)
unpaved: 3,671 km (2017)
422 km (2022) (Rio Lempa River is partially navigable by small craft)
total: 4 (2022)
by type: other 4
major seaport(s): Puerto Cutuco
oil terminal(s): Acajutla offshore terminal
manyapis