Administrative divisions14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Age structure
0-14 years: 36.8% (male 1,237,262; female 1,185,750)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 1,819,035; female 2,009,032)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 150,221; female 186,241) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; shrimp; beef, dairy products
Airports
73 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 69
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 54 (2003 est.)
Area
total: 21,040 sq km
water: 320 sq km
land: 20,720 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
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.
Birth rate
27.48 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget
revenues: $2.434 billion
expenditures: $2.625 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Capital
San Salvador
Climate
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Coastline
307 km
Constitution
23 December 1983
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Currency code
USD
Current account balance
$-734 million (2003)
Death rate
5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external
$6.575 billion (2003 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador H. Douglas BARCLAY
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
telephone: [503] 278-4444
FAX: [503] 278-6011
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC
FAX: [1] (202) 234-3834
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671
chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Disputes - international
in 1992, the ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, and the OAS is assisting with a technical resolution of undemarcated bolsones; in 2003, the ICJ rejected El Salvador's request to revise its decision on one part of the bolsones; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned by the ICJ, off Honduras in the Gulf de Fonseca
Distribution of family income - Gini index
52.2 (1998)
Economic aid - recipient
total $252 million; $57 million from US (1995)
Economy - overview
With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency, El Salvador has lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy. GDP per capita is roughly only half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and the distribution of income is highly unequal. The trade deficit has been offset by annual remittances of almost $2 billion from Salvadorans living abroad and external aid. The government is striving to open new export markets, encourage foreign investment, modernize the tax and healthcare systems, and stimulate the sluggish economy.
Electricity - consumption
3.777 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports
44 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports
353 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production
3.729 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 44%
hydro: 30.9%
other: 25.1% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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
Ethnic groups
mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9%
Exchange rates
the US dollar is the legal tender
Executive branch
chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Elias Antonio SACA (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 21 March 2004 (next to be held NA March 2009)
election results: Elias Antonio SACA elected president; percent of vote - Elias Antonio SACA (ARENA) 57.7%, Schafik HANDAL (FMLN) 35.6%, Hector SILVA (CDU-PDC) 3.9%, other 2.8%
Exports
$3.162 billion (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity
Exports - partners
US 57.5%, Guatemala 13.5%, Honduras 7.7%, Nicaragua 5%, Costa Rica 4% (2003 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
GDP
purchasing power parity - $30.99 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 9.4%
industry: 31.2%
services: 59.3% (2003)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
1.4% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates
13 50 N, 88 55 W
Geography - note
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
Government type
republic
Heliports
1 (2003 est.)
Highways
total: 10,029 km
paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
2,200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
29,000 (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise
Imports
$5.466 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners
US 36.4%, Guatemala 10.4%, Mexico 5.7% (2003 est.)
Independence
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate
1.6% (2003 est.)
Industries
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Infant mortality rate
total: 25.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 28.79 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.1% (2003 est.)
International organization participation
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet country code
.sv
Internet hosts
4,084 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
4 (2000)
Internet users
550,000 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed)
16.2% of GDP (2003)
Irrigated land
360 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly)
Labor force
2.62 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Land use
arable land: 31.85%
permanent crops: 12.07%
other: 56.08% (2001)
Languages
Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Legal system
based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FMLN 31, ARENA 28, PCN 15, PDC 5, CD 5
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.92 years
male: 67.31 years
female: 74.7 years (2004 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
Location
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm
Median age
total: 21.4 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 22.5 years (2004 est.)
Merchant marine
none
Military branches
Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$157 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.1% (2003)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 1,571,299 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 995,672 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - military age
18 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 69,993 (2004 est.)
National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Nationality
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Natural hazards
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
Natural resources
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Net migration rate
-3.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption
39,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports
NA (2001)
Oil - imports
NA (2001)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; United Democratic Center or CDU [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general]; Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Fabio CASTILLO]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; National Action Party or PAN [Gustavo Rogelio SALINAS, secretary general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA, president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Walter ARAUJO]; Social Christian Union or USC (formed by the merger of Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC and Unity Movement or MU) [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Juan MEDRANO]
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
Population
6,587,541 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
48% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.78% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors
Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El Triunfo
Public debt
43.7% of GDP (2003)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
2.75 million (1997)
Railways
total: 283 km
narrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gauge
note: length of operational route reduced from 562 km to 283 km by disuse and lack of maintenance (2003)
Religions
Roman Catholic 83%
note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold
$2.061 billion (2003)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: NA
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Telephones - main lines in use
752,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1,149,800 (2003)
Television broadcast stations
5 (1997)
Televisions
600,000 (1990)
Terrain
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Total fertility rate
3.2 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
6.5% - but the economy has much underemployment (2003 est.)
Waterways
Rio Lempa partially navigable