Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
671,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
multiple privately owned national terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio stations and 2 government-owned radio stations; transition to digital transmission was set to begin in 2018, along with adoption of the Japanese-Brazilian Digital Standard (ISDB-T) (2022)
Communications: Internet country code
.sv
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
66.48% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
14 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
885,000 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
177 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
11.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, maize, milk, chicken, sorghum, beans, oranges, coconuts, eggs, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
0.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
26.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$10.313 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$9.359 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$1.518 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.214 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$753.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$550.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$464.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$859.2 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$113.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$276.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.250 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$2.144 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$367.831 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$632.549 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$21.188 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$12.668 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
1.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
United States dollar
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1.0000 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
1.0000 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
1.0000 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
1.0000 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
1.0000 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
1.0000 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
1.0000 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1.0000 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1.0000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
1.0000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
1.0000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
1.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, raw sugar, toilet paper (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$5.879 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$6.677 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$6.911 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$6.885 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$7.251 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$7.529 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$8.052 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$6.112 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$8.359 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$10.164 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$10.629 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$11.586 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
32.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
19.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
79.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-51.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
22.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-1.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
4.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
22.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
61% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$13,264 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$35.365 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$84.070 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
40.6 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
40.0 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
38.0 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
38.6 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
38.8 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
39.0 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
38.8 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
39.8 (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
29.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$8.595 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$11.033 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$10.731 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$11.309 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$12.152 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$12.388 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$10.450 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$15.411 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$18.181 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$17.034 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$18.354 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
0.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-0.73% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.60% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.01% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.09% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.08% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-0.37% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.47% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.20% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.05% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.85% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.89 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
27.20% (2023 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
62.40% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
50.84% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
52.07% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
55.25% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
52.21% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
53.88% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
70.38% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
66.47% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
74.04% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
102.19% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$46.245 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$49.060 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$52.432 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$55.706 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$60.710 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$58.560 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$67.623 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$69.621 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$72.085 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$73.961 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.40% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
2.54% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
2.25% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.41% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
2.44% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-7.89% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
11.90% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
2.95% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.54% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.60% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$7,504 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$7,934 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$8,456 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$8,965 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$9,757 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$9,393 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$10,810 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$11,876 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$12,680 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$3.966 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$4.160 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$4.275 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$5.931 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$7.622 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
24.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
24.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
24% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$2.787 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$3.238 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$3.567 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$3.569 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$4.446 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$3.083 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$3.426 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$2.695 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$3.079 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$3.705 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
20.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.17% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.01% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.33% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.00% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
2.99% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.26% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
9.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
5.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
6.7% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
500 metric tons (2022 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
14% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: geothermal
24.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
19.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
6.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
140 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
750.096 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
2.803 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
770.613 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
24.421 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
56,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
3 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
948,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
7.745 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
8.694 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment: International environmental 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Law of the Sea
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
57.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 34.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
33% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
9.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
23.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
26.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.411 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
94.316 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
433.229 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
75.07% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.649 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
15.2% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about the same size as New Jersey
Geography: Area: land
20,721 sq km
Geography: Area: water
320 sq km
Geography: Coastline
307 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
442 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
13 50 N, 88 55 W
Geography: Geography - note
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea
Geography: Irrigated land
240 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Guatemala 199 km; Honduras 391 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
590 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
57.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 34.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
33% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
9.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: 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) is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana
Geography: Population distribution
high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador
Geography: Terrain
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Government: Administrative divisions
14 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Ahuachapán, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlán, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazán, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulután
Government: Capital: etymology
Spanish colonists founded the city in 1526 on the feast day of the Transfiguration of the Savior (Jesus Christ), and the name means "Holy Savior" in Spanish
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
13 42 N, 89 12 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: history
many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983
Government: Country name: conventional short form
El Salvador
Government: Country name: etymology
means "the Savior" in Spanish and is a shortened form of "the Divine Savior of the World" (el Divino Salvador del Mundo), referring to Jesus Christ; 16th-century Spanish colonists gave the name "San Salvador" to the fort located where the country's capital of San Salvador now stands, and the name was later used for the city and the surrounding region; the country was officially named El Salvador in 1824
Government: Country name: local long form
República de El Salvador
Government: Country name: local short form
El Salvador
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Naomi C. FELLOWS (since August 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSSanSal@state.gov https://sv.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[503] 2501-2150
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[503] 2501-2999
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: 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)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
infoEEUU@rree.gob.sv https://rree.gob.sv/embajadas-consulados-y-misiones-permanentes-de-la-republica-de-el-salvador/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 232-3763
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 595-7500
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers selected by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
28 February 2027; note - on 31 July 2025, the Legislative Assembly voted to move the date of the next presidential election from 2029 to 2027 to bring the presidential election cycle in line with the three-year legislative and municipal election cycle
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
4 February 2024
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 has a round emblem with the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL around it meaning: the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and the white for the land, as well as peace and prosperity history: the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Appellate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace
Government: Legal system
civil law system with minor common law influence; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
February 2027
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea legislativa)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
2/4/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
60 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
New Ideas (N) (54); Other (6)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
31.7%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
3 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; at four minutes and 20 seconds, the anthem is one of the world's longest
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
Government: National color(s)
blue, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Government: National symbol(s)
turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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 and Security: 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) are 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 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 the military led the country for much of the 20th century; from 1980 to 1992, it fought a bloody civil war against guerrillas from the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front or FMLN, the paramilitary arm of the Democratic Revolutionary Front (Frente Democrático Revolucionario), a coalition of left-wing dissident political groups backed by Cuba and the Soviet Union; the FAES received considerable US support during the conflict; significant human rights violations occurred during the war and approximately 75,000 Salvadorans, mostly civilians, were killed (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
The Armed Forces of El Salvador (La Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Army of El Salvador (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Naval Force of El Salvador (Fuerza Naval de El Salvador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña, FAS) Ministry of Justice and Public Safety: National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil, PNC) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 25,000 active FAES (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FAES is lightly armed with an inventory of mostly older or secondhand arms and equipment, largely provided by the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.06% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.02% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.04% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.13% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.18% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.38% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.21% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.43% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.34% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.19% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (17-22 for military schools); men are subject to selective compulsory military service; service obligation up to 18 months (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
25.3% (male 855,841/female 818,642)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
66.3% (male 2,077,745/female 2,317,416)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
8.4% (2024 est.) (male 238,658/female 320,400)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
2.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
12.46 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
4.3% (2021)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
19.7% (2021)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
5% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
9.29% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
50.7% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
13.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
7.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
43 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
29.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 94.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
15.9% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.32% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Indigenous 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.68 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9.7% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
21.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.40% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
10 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
13.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
8.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Spanish (official), Nawat (among some indigenous)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
76.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
67.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
88.2% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
91.6% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
89.77% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.116 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
39 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
31.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
28.2 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.8 years (2008 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Salvadoran
People and Society: Net migration rate
-3.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
24.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.62 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
6,338,193 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.34% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
3,308,078
People and Society: Population: male
3,026,645
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
11 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
11 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.9 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.74 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
14.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
7.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.77 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
75.07% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
35,391 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
392 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
27 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YS
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
other 5
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
5 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Acajutla, Acajutla Offshore Terminal, La Union
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
3
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
3 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
3
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
12.5 km (2014) 0.914-mm gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
12.5 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.