You are here: Travel Guides >

El Salvador travel guides

El Salvador vacations

Bermuda per night from $424

Bermuda The Fairmont Southampton from $424

More El Salvador deals >>

El Salvador - General Country Information

Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues

Introduction

General Information: El Salvador

The capital of El Salvador is San Salvador.

Major cities of El Salvador are:
San Salvador.

Geography

Location:	Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Coordinates:	13 50 N, 88 55 W
Area:	total: 21,040 sq km land: 20,720 sq km water: 320 sq km
Area Comparative:	slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land Boundaries:	total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:	307 km
Maritime Claims:	territorial sea: 200 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 Extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural Resources:	hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land Use:	arable land: 31.85% permanent crops: 12.07% other: 56.08% (2001)
Irrigated Land:	360 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Hazards:	known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
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
Note:	smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

People

Population:	6,587,541 (July 2004 est.)
Age Structure:	total: 21.4 years male: 20.2 years female: 22.5 years (2004 est.)
Population Growth Rate:	1.78% (2004 est.)
Birth Rate:	27.48 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death Rate:	5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Migration Rate:	-3.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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.)
Infant Mortality Rate:	total: 25.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Expectancy Birth:	total population: 70.92 years male: 67.31 years female: 74.7 years (2004 est.)
Fertility Rate:	3.2 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV Adult Prevalence Rate:	0.7% (2003 est.)
People Living HIV:	29,000 (2003 est.)
HIV Deaths:	2,200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:	noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic Groups:	mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9%
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
Languages:	Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:	definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 80.2% male: 82.8% female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

Gouvernment

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
Government Type:	republic
Capital:	San Salvador
Administrative Divisions:	14 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
Independence:	15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National Holiday:	Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:	23 December 1983
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
Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal
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%
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
Judicial Branch:	Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly)
Political Parties 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 [Medardo GONZALEZ]; 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 [Elias Antonio SACA]; 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 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
International Organization Participation:	BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic in US:	chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671 FAX: [1] (202) 234-3834 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC
Diplomatic from 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] 278-5522
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

Economy

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.
GDP:	purchasing power parity - $30.99 billion (2003 est.)
GDP Growth Rate:	1.4% (2003 est.)
GDP Capital:	purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2003 est.)
GDP Composition:	agriculture: 9.4% industry: 31.2% services: 59.3% (2003)
Investment:	16.2% of GDP (2003)
Population Below Poverty Line:	48% (1999 est.)
Household Income:	lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)
Gini Index:	52.2 (1998)
Inflation Rate:	2.1% (2003 est.)
Labor Force:	2.62 million (2003)
Labor Force Occupation:	agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.)
Unemployment Rate:	6.5% - but the economy has much underemployment (2003 est.)
Budget:	revenues: $2.434 billion expenditures: $2.625 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Public Debt:	43.7% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture Products:	coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; shrimp; beef, dairy products
Industries:	food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industry Production Growth Rate:	1.6% (2003 est.)
Electricity Production:	3.729 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity Consumption:	3.777 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity Exports:	44 million kWh (2001)
Electricity Imports:	353 million kWh (2001)
Oil Production:	0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Consumption:	39,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Exports:	NA (2001)
Oil Imports:	NA (2001)
Current Account Balance:	$-734 million (2003)
Exports:	$3.162 billion (2003 est.)
Exports Commodities:	offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity
Exports Partners:	US 67.8%, Guatemala 11.5%, Honduras 5.9% (2003)
Imports:	$5.466 billion (2003 est.)
Imports Commodities:	raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
Imports Partners:	US 50%, Guatemala 8.1%, Mexico 5.5% (2003)
Reserves:	$2.061 billion (2003)
Debt External:	$6.575 billion (2003 est.)
Currency:	US dollar (USD)
Currency Code:	USD
Exchange Rates:	the US dollar is the legal tender
Fiscal Year:	calendar year

Communications

Telephones Lines Use:	752,600 (2003)
Mobile Cellular:	1,149,800 (2003)
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
Radio Stations:	AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television Stations:	5 (1997)
Internet Code:	.sv
Internet Hosts:	4,084 (2003)
Internet Users:	550,000 (2003)

Transportation

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)
Highways:	total: 10,029 km paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:	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
Ports Harbors:	Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El Triunfo
Merchant Marine:	none
Airports:	73 (2003 est.)
Airports Paved Runways:	total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports Unpaved Runways:	total: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 54 (2004 est.)
Heliports:	1 (2003 est.)

Military

Military Branches:	Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force
Military Age Obligation:	18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 12-month service obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002)
Military Availability:	males age 15-49: 1,571,299 (2004 est.)
Fit Military Service:	males age 15-49: 995,672 (2004 est.)
Reaching Military Age Annually:	males: 69,993 (2004 est.)
Military Expenditures Dollar Figure:	$157 million (2003)
Military Expenditures Percent GDP:	1.1% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Disputes International: El Salvador

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

Illicit Drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise