El Salvador

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 1 government-owned radio broadcast station (2007)

Internet country code

.sv

Internet hosts

24,070 (2012) country comparison to the world: 113

Internet users

746,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 107

Telephone system

general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2011 teledensity exceeded 135 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 (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.03 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 77

Telephones - mobile cellular

8.316 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 86

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $4.835 billion expenditures: $5.534 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.2% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 5.99% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.035 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 -$1.223 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$12.84 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $12.18 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

46.9 (2007) country comparison to the world: 31 52.5 (2001)

Economy - overview

The smallest country in Central America geographically, El Salvador has the third largest economy in the region. With the global recession in 2009, real GDP contracted by 3.1%. The economy slowed even further during 2010-12. Remittances accounted for 17% of GDP in 2011 and were received by about a third of all households. In 2006, El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition. 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. The Salvadoran Government maintained fiscal discipline during post-war reconstruction and reconstruction following earthquakes in 2001 and hurricanes in 1998 and 2005. Taxes levied by the government include a value added tax (VAT) of 13%, income tax of 30%, excise taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, and import duties. The VAT accounted for about 51.7% of total tax revenues in 2011. El Salvador's external debt amounts to about one-fourth of GDP. In 2012, El Salvador successfully completed a $461 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - a United States Government agency aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty in the country's northern region, the primary conflict zone during the civil war, through investments in education, public services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure. In December 2011, the MCC approved El Salvador's eligibility to develop a proposal for a program for consideration.

Exchange rates

note: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy, 1 (2012 est.)

Exports

$5.804 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $5.402 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 45.1%, Guatemala 13.3%, Honduras 8.6%, Nicaragua 5.2%, Germany 4.1% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$23.99 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$45.98 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $45.3 billion (2011 est.) $44.67 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10.5% industry: 30% services: 59.4% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,700 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $7,700 (2011 est.) $7,600 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 1.4% (2011 est.) 1.4% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 37% (2009 est.)

Imports

$10.44 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $9.801 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 39%, Guatemala 9.8%, Mexico 7.7%, China 5.2% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 5.1% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

14.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Labor force

2.593 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 21% industry: 20% services: 58% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$5.474 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 84 $4.227 billion (31 December 2010) $4.432 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

36.5% (2010 est.)

Public debt

57.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 57.5% of GDP (2011 est.) note: El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt.

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.623 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $2.504 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$9.527 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $9.213 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$12.4 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $12.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$8.747 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $8.097 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$11.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $10.69 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.942 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $2.561 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 7% (2011 est.) note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.484 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Crude oil - imports

13,160 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - consumption

5.756 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Electricity - exports

101.6 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Electricity - from fossil fuels

53% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

31.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - from other renewable sources

15.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - imports

215.8 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.501 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Electricity - production

5.728 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Refined petroleum products - consumption

44,040 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Refined petroleum products - exports

2,158 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Refined petroleum products - imports

26,860 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Refined petroleum products - production

16,750 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

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 volcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (elev. 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 (elev. 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

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Total renewable water resources

25.2 cu km (2001)

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) daylight saving time: all year for 2012

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 Mari Carmen APONTE 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Robert ALTSCHUL Fuentes chancery: Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671 FAX: [1] (202) 234-3763 consulate(s) general: Brentwood (New York), Boston, Chicago, Coral Gables (Florida), Dallas, Duluth (Georgia), Elizabeth (New Jersey), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Woodbridge (Virginia) consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Carlos 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 government head of government: President Carlos Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 15 March 2009 (next to be held in February 2014) election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president; percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%

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; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperity note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - 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 law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), 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

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on 11 March 2012 (next to be held in 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ARENA 33, FMLN 31, GANA 11, CN 7, PES 1, PCD 1

National anthem

name: "Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El Salvador) lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE note: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

turquoise-browed motmot (bird)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Change (Cambio Democratico) or CD [Tomas CHEVEZ] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]; Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Andres ROVIRA]; National Coalition (Concertation Nacional) or CN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA] (formerly the National Conciliation Party or PCN); Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Alfredo CRISTIANI]; Party of Hope or PES [Rodolfo Antonio PARKER Soto] (formerly the Christian Democratic Party or PDC)

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

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,449,214 females age 16-49: 1,611,248 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,079,038 females age 16-49: 1,373,368 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 71,530 female: 68,971 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Salvadoran Armed Forces (FAES): Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2011)

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 156

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.7% (male 929,135/ female 882,159) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 1,829,483/ female 2,049,977) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 178,004/ female 221,888) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

17.44 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.1% (2003) country comparison to the world: 77

Death rate

5.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

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.

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 115

Ethnic groups

mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,400 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

34,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Health expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 164

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 19.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 97 male: 21.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.69 years country comparison to the world: 116 male: 70.41 years female: 77.12 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.1% male: 82.8% female: 79.6% (2007 census)

Major cities - population

SAN SALVADOR (capital) 1.534 million (2009)

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)

Maternal mortality rate

81 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 81

Median age

total: 24.7 years male: 23.4 years female: 26.2 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran

Net migration rate

-8.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Physicians density

1.596 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

6,090,646 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Population growth rate

0.303% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 89% of population rural: 83% of population total: 87% of population unimproved: urban: 11% of population rural: 17% of population total: 13% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.04 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 11.4% country comparison to the world: 94 male: 13% female: 8.3% (2007)

Urbanization

urban population: 64% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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 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

Airports

65 (2012) country comparison to the world: 77

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 60 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 48 (2012)

Heliports

2 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Puerto Cutuco oil terminals: Acajutla offshore terminal

Railways

total: 283 km country comparison to the world: 121 narrow gauge: 283 km 0.600-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: 134 paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)

Waterways

(Rio Lempa is partially navigable for small craft) (2011)