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 users

total: 1.7 million | percent of population: 27.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Radio broadcast stations

AM 52, FM 144, shortwave 0 (2005)

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 - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 950,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 9.2 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 150 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Television broadcast stations

5 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $5.098 billion | expenditures: $5.977 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6% (31 December 2014 est.) | 5.74% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Current account balance

-$1.272 billion (2014 est.) | -$1.577 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Debt - external

$15.46 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $14.01 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Distribution of family income - Gini index

46.9 (2007) | 52.5 (2001) | country comparison to the world: 27

Economy - overview

The smallest country in Central America geographically, El Salvador has the fourth largest economy in the region. With the global recession, real GDP contracted in 2009 and economic growth has since remained low, averaging less than 2% from 2010 to 2014. Remittances accounted for 17% of GDP in 2014 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. The Salvadoran Government maintained fiscal discipline during post-war reconstruction and reconstruction following earthquakes in 2001 and hurricanes in 1998 and 2005, but El Salvador's public debt has been growing over the last several years, amounting to some 59% of GDP in 2014. External debt was below 30% of GDP in 2014. In September 2014, El Salvador signed a five-year $277 million second compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - a United States Government agency aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty - to improve El Salvador's competitiveness and productivity in international markets. In November 2014 along with his counterparts from Guatemala and Honduras, President SANCHEZ CEREN announced the “Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle.” This plan seeks to address the challenges facing the three Northern Triangle countries, including steps the governments will take to stimulate economic growth, increase transparency and fiscal responsibility, reduce violence, modernize the justice system, improve infrastructure, and promote educational opportunities over the next several years.

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$4.521 billion (2014 est.) | $4.334 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 46.5%, Honduras 14.2%, Guatemala 13.4%, Nicaragua 6.4%, Costa Rica 4.6% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$25.33 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$50.94 billion (2014 est.) | $49.95 billion (2013 est.) | $49.12 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 107

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 92.8% | government consumption: 12.1% | investment in fixed capital: 15.4% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 26.6% | imports of goods and services: -46.9% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 10% | industry: 25.1% | services: 64.9% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,000 (2014 est.) | $7,900 (2013 est.) | $7,700 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 143

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2014 est.) | 1.7% (2013 est.) | 1.9% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Gross national saving

9.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | 8.6% of GDP (2013 est.) | 8.7% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$10.11 billion (2014 est.) | $9.629 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 41%, Guatemala 9.5%, China 7.3%, Mexico 7%, Honduras 5.3% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

2.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2014 est.) | 0.8% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Labor force

2.752 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$10.74 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $5.474 billion (31 December 2011) | $4.227 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Population below poverty line

36.5% (2010 est.)

Public debt

63.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | 59% of GDP (2013 est.) | note: El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt | country comparison to the world: 51

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.773 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.745 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Stock of broad money

$11.45 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $10.87 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$650.2 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $650.2 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$9.124 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $8.873 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Stock of domestic credit

$13.07 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $11.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Stock of narrow money

$3.057 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.892 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Taxes and other revenues

20.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Unemployment rate

5.5% (2014 est.) | 6.3% (2013 est.) | note: data are official rates; but underemployment is high | country comparison to the world: 67

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.375 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Crude oil - imports

16,160 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Crude oil - production

3 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - consumption

5.412 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Electricity - exports

78 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - from fossil fuels

53.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

31.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - from other renewable sources

15.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Electricity - imports

163 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.507 million kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Electricity - production

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

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Refined petroleum products - consumption

46,210 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Refined petroleum products - exports

2,425 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Refined petroleum products - imports

29,020 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Refined petroleum products - production

16,620 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Area

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

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 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: 1.84 cu km/yr (22%/14%/64%) | per capita: 301.9 cu m/yr (2007)

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

449.9 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 590 km | border countries (2): Guatemala 199 km, Honduras 391 km

Land use

agricultural land: 74.7% | arable land 33.1%; permanent crops 10.9%; permanent pasture 30.7% | forest: 13.6% | other: 11.7% (2011 est.)

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

25.23 cu km (2011)

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

many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983; amended many times, last on 12 June 2014 to recognize indigenous communities (2012)

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 | note: 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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mari Carmen APONTE (since 22 September 2010) | 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 Roberto ALTSCHUL Fuentes (since 18 September 2014) | chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036 | telephone: [1] (202) 595-7517 | FAX: [1] (202) 232-1928 | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Brentwood (NY), Chicago, Coral Gables (FL), Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New Orleans, New York, Nogales (AZ), San Francisco, Santa Ana (CA), Seattle, Tucson (AZ), Woodbridge (VA), Woodstock (GA) | consulate(s): Costa Mesa (CA), Elizabeth (NJ), Kansas City (MO), Newark (NJ), Philadelphia (PA), Phoenix (AZ), San Diego (CA), St. Louis (MO)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2014); Vice President Salvador Oscar ORTIZ (since 1 June 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2014); Vice President Salvador Oscar ORTIZ (since 1 June 2014) | cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president | 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 2 February 2014, with a runoff on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in February 2019) | election results: percent of vote - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN elected president; first-round results - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (FMLN) 48.9%, Norman QUIJANO (ARENA) 39%, Antonio SACA (CN) 11.4%, other 0.7%; second-round results - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN 50.1%, Norman QUIJANO 49.9%

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, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (CSJ) (consists of 15 judges assigned to constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict divisions) | judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly; judges elected for a 9-year term, with renewal of one-third of judges every 3 years; consecutive re-election 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 proportional representation vote to serve 3-year terms) | elections: last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held in March 2018) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ARENA 35, FMLN 31, GANA 11, PCN 6, PDC 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; at 4:20 minutes 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); national colors: blue, white

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo Antonio PARKER Soto] | Democratic Change (Cambio Democratico) or CD [Douglas AVILES] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU) | Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ] | Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Jose Andres ROVIRA Caneles] | National Conciliation Party or PCN [Manuel RODRIGUEZ] | Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Jorge VELADO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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 Trade Union Federation of Salvadoran Workers or FENASTRAS | National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS | Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES | Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS | Union of Judiciary Workers or SITTOJ | Union of Workers of the Ministry of Treasury or SITRAMI | Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL | American Chamber of Commerce in El Salvador | National Association of Private Enterprise or ANEP | Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce | Salvadoran Chamber of the Construction Industry or CASALCO | 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 (Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Salvadoran Army (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Salvadoran Navy (Fuerza Naval de El Slavador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2013)

Military expenditures

0.99% of GDP (2012) | 1.11% of GDP (2011) | 0.99% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 101

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 is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.31% (male 860,122/female 816,855) | 15-24 years: 20.71% (male 638,989/female 632,741) | 25-54 years: 38.1% (male 1,077,378/female 1,262,585) | 55-64 years: 6.8% (male 186,570/female 230,839) | 65 years and over: 7.09% (male 192,713/female 242,558) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

16.46 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 179,303 | percentage: 4% | note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2007 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.6% (2008) | country comparison to the world: 78

Contraceptive prevalence rate

72.3% | note: percent of women aged 15-44 (2008)

Death rate

5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

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

total dependency ratio: 54.3% | youth dependency ratio: 41.7% | elderly dependency ratio: 12.6% | potential support ratio: 7.9% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 97.5% of population | rural: 86.5% of population | total: 93.8% of population | urban: 2.5% of population | rural: 13.5% of population | total: 6.2% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 129

Ethnic groups

mestizo 86.3%, white 12.7%, Amerindian 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.53% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

HIV/AIDS - deaths

400 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

20,900 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Health expenditures

6.9% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 91

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 17.86 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 19.94 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 15.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Languages

Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.42 years | male: 71.14 years | female: 77.86 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 88% | male: 90.4% | female: 86% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2013)

Major urban areas - population

SAN SALVADOR (capital) 1.098 million (2015)

Median age

total: 26.1 years | male: 24.6 years | female: 27.6 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Salvadoran(s) | adjective: Salvadoran

Net migration rate

-8.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 51

Physicians density

1.6 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

6,141,350 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

Population growth rate

0.25% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

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

urban: 82.4% of population | rural: 60% of population | total: 75% of population | urban: 17.6% of population | rural: 40% of population | total: 25% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years | male: 12 years | female: 12 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.85 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female | total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.91 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 12.4% | male: 12.8% | female: 11.7% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Urbanization

urban population: 66.7% of total population (2015) | 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

68 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 74

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 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 63 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 11 | 51 (2013)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Puerto Cutuco | oil terminal(s): Acajutla offshore terminal

Railways

total: 12.5 km | narrow gauge: 12.5 km 0.914-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 122

Roadways

total: 6,918 km | paved: 3,247 km (includes 341 km of expressways) | unpaved: 3,671 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 148

Waterways

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