Central America :: El Salvador
  • Introduction :: El Salvador
  • 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.
  • Geography :: El Salvador
  • Location:
    Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
    Geographic coordinates:
    13 50 N, 88 55 W
    Map references:
    Central America and the Caribbean
    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
    Area comparison map: Area comparison map
    Land boundaries:
    total: 590 km
    border countries (2): Guatemala 199 km, Honduras 391 km
    Coastline:
    307 km
    Maritime claims:
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    contiguous zone: 24 nm
    Climate:
    tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
    Terrain:
    mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
    Elevation:
    mean elevation: 442 m
    lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
    Natural resources:
    hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
    Land use:
    agricultural land: 74.7% (2011 est.)
    arable land: 33.1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 10.9% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 30.7% (2011 est.)
    forest: 13.6% (2011 est.)
    other: 11.7% (2011 est.)
    Irrigated land:
    452 sq km (2012)
    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
    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

    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
    Geography - note:
    smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea
  • People and Society :: El Salvador
  • Population:
    6,481,102 (July 2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 109
    Nationality:
    noun: Salvadoran(s)
    adjective: Salvadoran
    Ethnic groups:
    Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Amerindian 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)
    Languages:
    Spanish (official), Nawat (among some Amerindians)
    Religions:
    Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 36%, other 2%, none 12% (2014 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.

    Age structure:
    0-14 years: 25.83% (male 857,003/female 817,336)
    15-24 years: 18.82% (male 619,368/female 600,501)
    25-54 years: 40.51% (male 1,221,545/female 1,404,163)
    55-64 years: 7.23% (male 198,029/female 270,461)
    65 years and over: 7.6% (male 214,717/female 277,979) (2020 est.)
    population pyramid: population pyramid
    Dependency ratios:
    total dependency ratio: 54.4
    youth dependency ratio: 41.1
    elderly dependency ratio: 13.4
    potential support ratio: 7.5 (2020 est.)
    Median age:
    total: 27.7 years
    male: 26.2 years
    female: 29.3 years (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 145
    Population growth rate:
    0.83% (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 125
    Birth rate:
    18.6 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 81
    Death rate:
    5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    Net migration rate:
    -4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 194
    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
    Urbanization:
    urban population: 73.4% of total population (2020)
    rate of urbanization: 1.57% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF
    Major urban areas - population:
    1.106 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2020)
    Sex ratio:
    at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 0.73 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
    Mother's mean age at first birth:
    20.8 years (2008 est.)

    note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

    Maternal mortality rate:
    46 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 95
    Infant mortality rate:
    total: 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 108
    Life expectancy at birth:
    total population: 74.8 years
    male: 71.3 years
    female: 78.6 years (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 124
    Total fertility rate:
    2.09 children born/woman (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    Contraceptive prevalence rate:
    71.9% (2014)
    Drinking water source:
    improved: urban: 100% of population
    rural: 92.2% of population
    total: 97.4% of population
    unimproved: urban: 0% of population
    rural: 7.8% of population
    total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)
    Current Health Expenditure:
    7.2% (2017)
    Physicians density:
    1.57 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
    Hospital bed density:
    1.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)
    Sanitation facility access:
    improved: urban: 99.8% of population
    rural: 94.7% of population
    total: 98.3% of population
    unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population
    rural: 5.3% of population
    total: 1.7% of population (2017 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
    0.6% (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 62
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
    27,000 (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 79
    HIV/AIDS - deaths:
    <1000 (2019 est.)
    Major infectious diseases:
    degree of risk: high (2020)
    food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea
    vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
    Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
    24.6% (2016)
    country comparison to the world: 57
    Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
    5% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 82
    Education expenditures:
    3.6% of GDP (2018)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    Literacy:
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 88.5%
    male: 90.6%
    female: 86.7% (2017)
    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
    total: 12 years
    male: 12 years
    female: 12 years (2018)
    Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
    total: 9.6%
    male: 8.4%
    female: 11.7% (2018)
    country comparison to the world: 128
  • Government :: El Salvador
  • 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
    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)
    Government type:
    presidential republic
    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)
    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
    Independence:
    15 September 1821 (from Spain)
    National holiday:
    Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
    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 many times, last in 2018
    International law organization participation:
    has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
    Citizenship:
    citizenship by birth: yes
    citizenship by descent only: yes
    dual citizenship recognized: yes
    residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
    Suffrage:
    18 years of age; universal
    Executive branch:
    chief of state: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019); Vice President Felix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (since 1 June 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
    head of government: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019); Vice President Felix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (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 3 February 2019 (next to be held on February 2024)
    election results: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.72%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.41%, other 0.77%
    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 4 March 2018 (next to be held on 28 February 2021)
    election results: percent of vote by party - ARENA 42.3%, FMLN 24.4%, GANA 11.5%, PCN 10.8%, PDC 3.2%, CD 0.9%, Independent 0.7%, other 6.2%; seats by party - ARENA 37, FMLN 23, GANA 11, PCN 8, PDC 3, CD 1, independent 1; composition -men 58, women 26, percent of women 31%
    Judicial branch:
    highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges and 16 substitutes 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
    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 Coalition Party or PCN [Manuel RODRIGUEZ]
    Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Mauricio INTERIANO]
    Nuevas Ideas [Federico Gerardo ANLIKER]
    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
    Diplomatic representation in the US:
    chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Werner Matias ROMERO Guerra (since 9 June 2019)
    chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036
    telephone: [1] (202) 595-7500
    FAX: [1] (202) 232-1928
    consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Brentwood (NY), Chicago, Dallas, Doral (FL), Doraville (GA), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New York, Nogales (AZ), San Francisco, Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ), Washington, DC, Woodbridge (VA)
    consulate(s): Elizabeth (NJ), Newark (NJ), Seattle, Woodbridge (VA)
    Diplomatic representation from the US:
    chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald D. JOHNSON (since 6 September 2019)
    telephone: [503] 2501-2999
    embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
    mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
    FAX: [503] 2501-2150
    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

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

  • Economy :: El Salvador
  • Economic 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, but recovered somewhat in 2015-17 with an average annual growth rate of 2.4%. Remittances accounted for approximately 18% of GDP in 2017 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, which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition. In September 2015, El Salvador kicked off a five-year $277 million second compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation - a US Government agency aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty - to improve El Salvador's competitiveness and productivity in international markets.

    The Salvadoran Government maintained fiscal discipline during reconstruction and rebuilding following earthquakes in 2001 and hurricanes in 1998 and 2005, but El Salvador's public debt, estimated at 59.3% of GDP in 2017, has been growing over the last several years.

    GDP real growth rate:
    2.3% (2017 est.)
    2.6% (2016 est.)
    2.4% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    0% (2019 est.)
    1% (2018 est.)
    1% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 19
    Credit ratings:
    Fitch rating: B- (2017)
    Moody's rating: B3 (2018)
    Standard & Poors rating: B- (2018)
    GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
    $51.17 billion (2017 est.)
    $50.01 billion (2016 est.)
    $48.75 billion (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    GDP (official exchange rate):
    $27.023 billion (2019 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP):
    $8,000 (2017 est.)
    $7,900 (2016 est.)
    $7,700 (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    country comparison to the world: 129
    Gross national saving:
    14.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
    13% of GDP (2016 est.)
    12.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 137
    GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
    agriculture: 12% (2017 est.)
    industry: 27.7% (2017 est.)
    services: 60.3% (2017 est.)
    GDP - composition, by end use:
    household consumption: 84.5% (2017 est.)
    government consumption: 15.8% (2017 est.)
    investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2017 est.)
    investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
    exports of goods and services: 27.6% (2017 est.)
    imports of goods and services: -44.9% (2017 est.)
    Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
    65.3 (2020)
    Agriculture - products:
    coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products
    Industries:
    food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
    Industrial production growth rate:
    3.6% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 81
    Labor force:
    2.908 million (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 105
    Labor force - by occupation:
    agriculture: 21%
    industry: 20%
    services: 58% (2011 est.)
    Unemployment rate:
    7% (2017 est.)
    6.9% (2016 est.)

    note: data are official rates; but underemployment is high

    country comparison to the world: 114
    Population below poverty line:
    32.7% (2016 est.)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share:
    lowest 10%: 2.2%
    highest 10%: 32.3% (2014 est.)
    Budget:
    revenues: 5.886 billion (2017 est.)
    expenditures: 6.517 billion (2017 est.)
    Taxes and other revenues:
    23.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 123
    Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
    -2.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 114
    Public debt:
    67.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
    66.4% of GDP (2016 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: 54
    Fiscal year:
    calendar year
    Current account balance:
    -$501 million (2017 est.)
    -$500 million (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 122
    Exports:
    $4.662 billion (2017 est.)
    $5.42 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 118
    Exports - partners:
    US 45.7%, Honduras 13.9%, Guatemala 13.5%, Nicaragua 6.7%, Costa Rica 4.6% (2017)
    Exports - commodities:
    offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
    Imports:
    $9.499 billion (2017 est.)
    $8.954 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 111
    Imports - commodities:
    raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
    Imports - partners:
    US 36.7%, Guatemala 10.5%, China 8.7%, Mexico 7.4%, Honduras 6.7% (2017)
    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
    $3.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $3.238 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
    Debt - external:
    $15.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $16.32 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    Exchange rates:
    note: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy
    1 (2017 est.)
  • Energy :: El Salvador
  • Electricity access:
    electrification - total population: 97% (2019)
    electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019)
    electrification - rural areas: 93% (2019)
    Electricity - production:
    5.83 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 116
    Electricity - consumption:
    5.928 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 116
    Electricity - exports:
    89.6 million kWh (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 82
    Electricity - imports:
    1.066 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 70
    Electricity - installed generating capacity:
    1.983 million kW (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 113
    Electricity - from fossil fuels:
    49% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 153
    Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 83
    Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
    23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 84
    Electricity - from other renewable sources:
    29% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 18
    Crude oil - production:
    0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 130
    Crude oil - exports:
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 117
    Crude oil - imports:
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    Crude oil - proved reserves:
    0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    Refined petroleum products - production:
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 138
    Refined petroleum products - consumption:
    52,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 103
    Refined petroleum products - exports:
    347 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 115
    Refined petroleum products - imports:
    49,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 82
    Natural gas - production:
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    Natural gas - consumption:
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 141
    Natural gas - exports:
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 98
    Natural gas - imports:
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 119
    Natural gas - proved reserves:
    0 cu m (1 January 2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 130
    Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
    7.331 million Mt (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 124
  • Communications :: El Salvador
  • Telephones - fixed lines:
    total subscriptions: 882,498
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13.73 (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 79
    Telephones - mobile cellular:
    total subscriptions: 9,442,667
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 146.91 (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    Telecommunication systems:
    general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular operators began rolling out (Long Term Evolution) LTE data services in late-2016; Internet usage grew almost 400% between 2007 and 2015; 6% of phones are fixed-line, while 94% are mobile-cellular; as of March 2019, the regulator launched a public dialog that allowed mobile network operators to improve the reach and quality of service; telecom legislation encourages competition and foreign investment; only 1 DSL market leader retaining a monopoly; govt. increases tax on telecom services to 18% (2020)
    domestic: growth in fixed-line services 14 per 100, has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition at 147 per 100 (2019)
    international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019)
    note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
    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; transition to digital transmission to begin in 2018 along with adaptation of the Japanese-Brazilian Digital Standard (ISDB-T)
    Internet country code:
    .sv
    Internet users:
    total: 2,153,776
    percent of population: 33.82% (July 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
    total: 492,265
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 86
  • Transportation :: El Salvador
  • 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 mt-km (2018)
    Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
    YS (2016)
    Airports:
    68 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 73
    Airports - with paved runways:
    total: 5 (2017)
    over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
    914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)
    under 914 m: 1 (2017)
    Airports - with unpaved runways:
    total: 63 (2013)
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
    914 to 1,523 m: 11 (2013)
    under 914 m: 51 (2013)
    Heliports:
    2 (2013)
    Railways:
    total: 13 km (2014)
    narrow gauge: 12.5 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 135
    Roadways:
    total: 9,012 km (2017)
    paved: 5,341 km (2017)
    unpaved: 3,671 km (2017)
    country comparison to the world: 138
    Waterways:
    (Rio Lempa River is partially navigable by small craft) (2011)
    Merchant marine:
    total: 2
    by type: other 2 (2019)
    country comparison to the world: 173
    Ports and terminals:
    major seaport(s): Puerto Cutuco
    oil terminal(s): Acajutla offshore terminal
  • Military and Security :: El Salvador
  • Military and security forces:
    Armed Force of El Salvador (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) (2020)
    note: supporting the National Police (Ministry of Interior) in countering gang violence and drug trafficking is a primary mission for the FAES
    Military expenditures:
    1.2% of GDP (2019)
    1% of GDP (2018)
    0.9% of GDP (2017)
    0.9% of GDP (2016)
    0.95% of GDP (2015)
    country comparison to the world: 103
    Military and security service personnel strengths:
    the Armed Force of El Salvador (FAES) has approximately 22,000 active troops (18,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2019 est.)
    Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
    the FAES is dependent on a mix of imported Cold War-era platforms, largely from the US; since 2000, the FAES has received limited amounts of equipment from Chile, Israel, and the US (2019 est.)
    Military deployments:
    200 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)
    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)
  • Transnational Issues :: El Salvador
  • 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

    Refugees and internally displaced persons:
    IDPs: 71,500 (2018)
    Illicit drugs:
    transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine