2024 Edition Primary

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.

Area

land

20,721 sq km

total

21,041 sq km

water

320 sq km

Area - comparative

about the same size as New Jersey

Climate

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

Coastline

307 km

Elevation

highest point

Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

442 m

Geographic coordinates

13 50 N, 88 55 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

274 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

border countries

Guatemala 199 km; Honduras 391 km

total

590 km

Land use

agricultural land

74.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 33.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 10.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 30.7% (2018 est.)

forest

13.6% (2018 est.)

other

11.7% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

2.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

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

Child marriage

women married by age 15

4.3%

women married by age 18

19.7% (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5% (2014)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

71.9% (2014)

Current health expenditure

9.9% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55% (2023 est.)

Death rate

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

Demographic profile

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.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

12.3

potential support ratio

8.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.3

youth dependency ratio

39

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 94.2% of population

improved: total

total: 98.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.6% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 5.8% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.8% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.98 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

10 deaths/1,000 live births

male

13.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.5 years

male

72.4 years

total population

75.9 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

87.3% (2019)

male

91.3%

total population

89.1%

Major urban areas - population

1.116 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

43 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

31.2 years

male

28.2 years

total

29.7 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.8 years (2008 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

adjective

Salvadoran

noun

Salvadoran(s)

Net migration rate

-7.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.6% (2016)

Physician density

2.87 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

female

3,456,458 (2024 est.)

male

3,172,244

total

6,628,702

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

Population growth rate

0.34% (2024 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 97.1% of population

improved: total

total: 99.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 2.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2018)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.7% (2020 est.)

male

14.1% (2020 est.)

total

7.9% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

75.4% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

Spanish for "Holy Savior" (referring to Jesus Christ)

geographic coordinates

13 42 N, 89 12 W

name

San Salvador

time difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

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

history

many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of El Salvador

conventional 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)

local long form

República de El Salvador

local short form

El Salvador

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador William H. DUNCAN (since 24 January 2023)

email address and website

ACSSanSal@state.govhttps://sv.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador

FAX

[503] 2501-2150

mailing address

3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450

telephone

[503] 2501-2999

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020)

consulate(s) 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)

email address and website

infoEEUU@rree.gob.sv

FAX

[1] (202) 232-3763

telephone

[1] (202) 595-7500

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers selected by the president

chief of state

President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)

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%

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 2029)

head of government

President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

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

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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

Legal system

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

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)

election 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%

elections

last held on 28 February 2021 (next to be held in 2024)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE

name

"Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El Salvador)

note

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

selected World Heritage Site locales

Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties

Christian Democratic Party or PDCFarabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLNGreat Alliance for National Unity or GANANational Coalition Party or PCNNationalist Republican Alliance or ARENANew Ideas (Nuevas Ideas) or NIOur Time (Nuestro Tiempo) or NTVamos or V

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugarcane, maize, milk, chicken, beans, sorghum, coconuts, oranges, eggs, yautia (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

26.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$9.371 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$9.359 billion (2023 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B- (2017)

Moody's rating

B3 (2018)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

B- (2018)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$1.25 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$2.182 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$465.688 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2022

$11.276 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic 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

Exchange rates

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

Exports

Exports 2021

$8.351 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$10.164 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$10.629 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, fabric, raw sugar (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

US 38%, Guatemala 16%, Honduras 16%, Nicaragua 7%, Costa Rica 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

31.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption

18% (2023 est.)

household consumption

81.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-49.8% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-2.7% (2023 est.)

note

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.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

59.8% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$34.016 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

38.8 (2022 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28.7% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

1.9% (2022 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$15.483 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$18.184 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$17.032 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, garments, natural gas, plastic products, plastics (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

US 30%, China 16%, Guatemala 12%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

4.12% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

3.47% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.2% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.05% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

2.87 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

26.6% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2021

66.47% of GDP (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$67.623 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$69.516 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$71.957 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

11.9% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.51% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$10,700 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$11,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$11,300 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

25.74% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

24.05% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

23.94% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019

$4.446 billion (2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020

$3.083 billion (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$3.426 billion (2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.69% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

4.33% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.76% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

10.8% (2023 est.)

male

5.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

7.2% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

441,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

7.814 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

8.256 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

500 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

6.666 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

85.75 million kWh (2022 est.)

imports

1.351 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.853 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

953.156 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

14.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

9.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

geothermal

24.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

35.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

16.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

23.672 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

226.472 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

226.472 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

58,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

3 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2020 est.)

total

586,000 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

multiple privately owned national terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio broadcast stations and two known government-owned radio broadcast station; transition to digital transmission to begin in 2018 along with adaptation of the Japanese-Brazilian Digital Standard (ISDB-T) (2022)

Internet country code

.sv

Internet users

percent of population

63% (2021 est.)

total

3.969 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line services, roughly 14 per 100, mobile-cellular competition now at 175 subscribers per 100 inhabitants (2021)

general assessment

El Salvador is the smallest country in central America geographically, it has the fourth largest economy in the region; the country’s telecom sector has been restricted by poor infrastructure and unequal income distribution; there have been organizational delays which have slowed the development of telecom services; El Salvador’s fixed-line teledensity is substantially lower than the Latin American and Caribbean average; there has been a significant drop in the number of fixed lines since 2010, particularly in 2017, largely due to the substitution for mobile-only alternatives; about 94% of all telephony lines in the country are on mobile networks; mobile subscriptions are remarkably high considering El Salvador’s economic indicators, being about a third higher than average for Latin America and the Caribbean; the country was one of the last in the region to provide LTE services, mainly due to the inadequate provision of suitable spectrum; the multi-spectrum auction conducted at the end of 2019 has allowed MNOs to improve the reach and quality of their service offerings; El Salvador’s telecom legislation is one of the more liberal in Latin America, encouraging competition in most areas and permitting foreign investment; there are no regulations which promote wholesale broadband; the only effective cross-platform competition in the broadband market comes from the few cable operators; there has been some market consolidation in recent years (2021)

international

country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

863,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

182 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

11.509 million (2022 est.)

Airports

27 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YS

Merchant marine

by type

other 5

total

5 (2023)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

10.73 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

2,545,105 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

13

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Ports

key ports

Acajutla, Acajutla Offshore Terminal, La Union

ports with oil terminals

3

total ports

3 (2024)

very small

3

Railways

narrow gauge

12.5 km (2014) 0.914-mm gauge

total

12.5 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

5,341 km

total

9,012 km

unpaved

3,671 km (2017)

Waterways

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

Military - note

the Armed Force of El Salvador (FAES) is responsible for defending national sovereignty and ensuring territorial integrity but also has considerable domestic security responsibilities; while the National Civil Police (PNC) is responsible for maintaining public security, the country’s constitution allows the president to use the FAES “in exceptional circumstances” to maintain internal peace and public security; in 2016, the government created a special 1,000-strong joint unit of Army commandos and police to fight criminal gangs; more military personnel were devoted to internal security beginning in 2019 when President BUKELE signed a decree authorizing military involvement in police duties to combat rising gang violence, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking, as well as assisting with border security; since the decree, a considerable portion of the Army has been deployed in support of the PNC; in multiple cases since 2022, for example, as many as 8,000 troops have been deployed alongside thousands of police on single operations against criminal gang members the FAES exercises with regional partners and the US, in such areas as internal security and disaster relief operations; it has deployed small numbers of personnel on UN peacekeeping missions and in support of military operations in Iraq (2003-2009) the military led the country for much of the 20th century; from 1980 to 1992, it fought a bloody civil war against guerrillas from the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front or FMLN, the paramilitary arm of the Democratic Revolutionary Front (Frente Democrático Revolucionario), a coalition of left-wing dissident political groups backed by Cuba and the Soviet Union; the FAES received considerable US support during the conflict; significant human rights violations occurred during the war and approximately 75,000 Salvadorans, mostly civilians, were killed (2023)

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

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 and security service personnel strengths

approximately 25,000 active military personnel (21,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FAES is lightly armed with an inventory of mostly older imported arms and equipment, largely from the US  (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

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)

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  

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

52,000 (2022)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

7.17 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

4.71 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

22.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

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, 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

Land use

agricultural land

74.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 33.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 10.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 30.7% (2018 est.)

forest

13.6% (2018 est.)

other

11.7% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.6% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

26.27 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.43 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

210 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

470 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

75.4% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,648,996 tons (2010 est.)