2009 Edition

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.

Area

total: 21,041 sq km country comparison to the world: 153 land: 20,721 sq km water: 320 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate

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

Coastline

307 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%) per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

13 50 N, 88 55 W

Geography - note

smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

Irrigated land

450 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

Land use

arable land: 31.37% permanent crops: 11.88% other: 56.75% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Natural resources

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Total renewable water resources

25.2 cu km (2001)

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

25.31 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Death rate

5.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 142

Ethnic groups

mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

35,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Infant mortality rate

total: 21.52 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 101 male: 24.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.33 years country comparison to the world: 118 male: 68.72 years female: 76.11 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 80.2% male: 82.8% female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Median age

total: 22.5 years male: 21.3 years female: 23.6 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran

Net migration rate

-3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Population

7,185,218 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Population growth rate

1.656% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Religions

Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2006)

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

3 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Urbanization

urban population: 61% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

Capital

name: San Salvador geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

20 December 1983

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Francisco ALTSCHUL Fuentes chancery: Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

FAX

[1] (202) 234-3763 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Duluth (Georgia), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington (DC), Woodbridge (Virginia) consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey)

[503] 2501-2150

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation

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, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Political parties and leaders

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products

Budget

revenues: $4.016 billion expenditures: $4.242 billion (2008 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.33% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 109 7.81% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$1.595 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 -$1.119 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$10.69 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 84 $9.808 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

52.4 (2002) country comparison to the world: 18 52.5 (2001)

Economy - overview

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.

Electricity - consumption

4.676 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Electricity - exports

7 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

38 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

5.559 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Exchange rates

the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001

Exports

$4.611 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $4.035 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures

Exports - partners

US 47.5%, Guatemala 14.2%, Honduras 11.5%, Nicaragua 4.6% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10.7% industry: 28.8% services: 60.6% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $6,100 (2007 est.) $6,000 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 4.7% (2007 est.) 4.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$22.12 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$43.73 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $42.66 billion (2007 est.) $40.75 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 37% (2005)

Imports

$9.003 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $8.108 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity

Imports - partners

US 29.9%, Guatemala 11.8%, Mexico 9.7%, China 4.5%, France 4.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 4.6% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

14.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Labor force

2.947 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 19% industry: 23% services: 58% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 79 $6.743 billion (31 December 2007) $5.465 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 61

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Oil - consumption

45,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Oil - exports

1,927 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Oil - imports

46,310 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Population below poverty line

30.7% (2006 est.)

Public debt

44.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.545 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $2.199 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$440 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $384 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$6.702 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $5.918 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.19 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 105 $1.15 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$213.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 105 $209.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$788.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 101 $797.1 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 6.2% (2007 est.) note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment

Internet country code

.sv

Internet hosts

8,177 (2009) country comparison to the world: 123

Internet users

826,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 98

Radio broadcast stations

AM 52, FM 144, shortwave 0 (2005)

Telephone system

general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular service providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2008 mobile-cellular density stood at nearly 100 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.077 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 77

Telephones - mobile cellular

6.951 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 72

Television broadcast stations

5 (1997)

Airports

65 (2009) country comparison to the world: 77

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 47 (2009)

Heliports

1 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco

Railways

total: 283 km country comparison to the world: 123 narrow gauge: 283 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 (2008)

Roadways

total: 10,886 km country comparison to the world: 136 paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)

Waterways

Rio Lempa partially navigable for small craft (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,634,816 females age 16-49: 1,775,474 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,201,290 females age 16-49: 1,547,278 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 77,473 female: 74,655 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)

Military expenditures

5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 18

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation - 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2009)

Disputes - international

International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States (OAS) survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine page last updated on November 11, 2009