El Salvador

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 586,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (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

total: 3.969 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 63% (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

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) domestic: fixed-line services, roughly 14 per 100, mobile-cellular competition now at 175 subscribers per 100 inhabitants (2021) international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 863,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 11.509 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182 (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

sugarcane, maize, milk, chicken, beans, sorghum, coconuts, oranges, eggs, yautia (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 26.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 0.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $9.359 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $9.371 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: B- (2017) Moody's rating: B3 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2018) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

-$465.688 million (2023 est.) -$2.182 billion (2022 est.) -$1.25 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$11.276 billion (2022 est.) 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

$10.629 billion (2023 est.) $10.164 billion (2022 est.) $8.351 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, fabric, raw sugar (2022) 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: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$34.016 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 81.4% (2023 est.) government consumption: 18% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -2.7% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 31.1% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -49.8% (2023 est.) 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.) services: 59.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

38.8 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 28.7% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$17.032 billion (2023 est.) $18.184 billion (2022 est.) $15.483 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, garments, natural gas, plastic products, plastics (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

US 30%, China 16%, Guatemala 12%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 6% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

4.12% (2023 est.) 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)

4.05% (2023 est.) 7.2% (2022 est.) 3.47% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

2.87 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

26.6% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

66.47% of GDP (2021 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$71.957 billion (2023 est.) $69.516 billion (2022 est.) $67.623 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

3.51% (2023 est.) 2.8% (2022 est.) 11.9% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$11,300 (2023 est.) $11,000 (2022 est.) $10,700 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

23.94% of GDP (2023 est.) 24.05% of GDP (2022 est.) 25.74% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.426 billion (2021 est.) $3.083 billion (2020 est.) $4.446 billion (2019 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

19.69% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

2.76% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) 4.33% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 7.2% (2023 est.) male: 5.3% (2023 est.) female: 10.8% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Carbon dioxide emissions

8.256 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 7.814 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from consumed natural gas: 441,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption: 500 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 2.853 million kW (2022 est.) consumption: 6.666 billion kWh (2022 est.) exports: 85.75 million kWh (2022 est.) imports: 1.351 billion kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 953.156 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 9.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) solar: 16.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) hydroelectricity: 35.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) geothermal: 24.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) biomass and waste: 14.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

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

total petroleum production: 3 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 58,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 22.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.17 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.71 megatons (2020 est.)

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.) arable land: 33.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.7% (2018 est.) forest: 13.6% (2018 est.) other: 11.7% (2018 est.)

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

municipal: 470 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 210 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 1.43 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 75.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,648,996 tons (2010 est.)

Area

total : 21,041 sq km land: 20,721 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

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

Land use

agricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 33.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.7% (2018 est.) forest: 13.6% (2018 est.) other: 11.7% (2018 est.)

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 (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

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Rep blica de El Salvador local 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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador William H. DUNCAN (since 24 January 2023) embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador mailing address: 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450 telephone: [503] 2501-2999 FAX: [503] 2501-2150 email address and website: ACSSanSal@state.gov https://sv.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 595-7500 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3763 email address and website: infoEEUU@rree.gob.sv 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)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019) head of government: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019) 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 4 February 2024 (next to be held in 2029) 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% 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: 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) elections: last held on 28 February 2021 (next to be held in 2024) 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%

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 heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Joya de Cer n Archaeological Site

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties

Christian Democratic Party or PDC Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA National Coalition Party or PCN Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA New Ideas (Nuevas Ideas) or NI Our Time (Nuestro Tiempo) or NT Vamos or V

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. El Salvador is beset by one of the world's highest homicide rates and pervasive criminal gangs.

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 Mart National Liberation Front or FMLN, the paramilitary arm of the Democratic Revolutionary Front (Frente Democr tico 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: 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

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2019 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)

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

total: 2.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

total dependency ratio: 51.3 youth dependency ratio: 39 elderly dependency ratio: 12.3 potential support ratio: 8.1 (2021 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99.6% of population rural: 94.2% of population total: 98.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population rural: 5.8% of population total: 1.8% of population (2020 est.)

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

total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), Nawat (among some indigenous) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.9 years (2024 est.) male: 72.4 years female: 79.5 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.1% male: 91.3% female: 87.3% (2019)

Major urban areas - population

1.116 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

total: 29.7 years (2024 est.) male: 28.2 years female: 31.2 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.8 years (2008 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran

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

total: 6,628,702 male: 3,172,244 female: 3,456,458 (2024 est.)

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: urban: 100% of population rural: 97.1% of population total: 99.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 2.9% of population total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 7.9% (2020 est.) male: 14.1% (2020 est.) female: 1.7% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 75.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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)

Airports

27 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YS

Merchant marine

total: 5 (2023) by type: other 5

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,545,105 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10.73 million (2018) mt-km

Ports

total ports: 3 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Acajutla, Acajutla Offshore Terminal, La Union

Railways

total: 12.5 km (2014) narrow gauge: 12.5 km (2014) 0.914-mm gauge

Roadways

total: 9,012 km paved: 5,341 km unpaved: 3,671 km (2017)

Waterways

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