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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

2.75 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

380,000 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

13,475 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

5 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

600,000 (1990)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.73 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos

Debt - external [time series]

$3.3 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

total $252 million; $57 million from US (1999 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

El Salvador is a poor Central American economy which has been suffering from a weak tax collection system, factory closings, the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, and weak world coffee prices. On the bright side, in recent years inflation has fallen to single digit levels, and total exports have grown substantially. The substantial trade deficit has been offset by remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and from external aid.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.17 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

30 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

65 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

4.1 billion kWh (1999 est.)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 49.32% hydro: 36.46% nuclear: 0% other: 14.22% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 (end of period) - 8.755 fixed rate since 1993

Exports [time series]

$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity

Exports - partners [time series]

US 59%, Guatemala 12%, Germany 6%, Costa Rica 4%, Honduras (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $18.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 12% industry: 22% services: 66% (1999 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3,100 (1999 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.2% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 38.3% (1995)

Imports [time series]

$4.15 billion (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities [time series]

raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity

Imports - partners [time series]

US 51%, Guatemala 9%, Mexico 6%, Japan 3%, Costa Rica (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.5% (1999 est.)

Industries [time series]

food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.3% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.35 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

48% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.7% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 21,040 sq km land: 20,720 sq km water: 320 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate [time series]

tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands

Coastline [time series]

307 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes; Hurricane Mitch damage

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 50 N, 88 55 W

Geography - note [time series]

smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

Irrigated land [time series]

1,200 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 27% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 29% forests and woodland: 5% other: 31% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity

Natural resources [time series]

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

San Salvador

Constitution [time series]

23 December 1983

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023 telephone: [503] 278-4444 FAX: [503] 278-6011

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Boston

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2004) election results: Francisco FLORES Perez elected president; percent of vote - Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%, Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN) 29%, Ruben ZAMORA (CDU) 7.5%, other (no individual above 3%) 11.5%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly

Legal system [time series]

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 note: Legislative Assembly passed landmark judicial reforms in 1996

Legislative branch [time series]

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 1997 (next to be held 12 March 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%, PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, CD 3.8%, PRSC 3.4%, PLD 3.2%, MU 2.1%, PD 1.0%, other 0.8%; seats by party - ARENA 28, FMLN 27, PCN 9, PDC 8, PRSC 3, CD 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1, independent 3

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rene AGUILUZ, secretary general]; Democratic Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Jose Fabio CASTILLO]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, secretary general]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Walter ARAUJO]; Popular Labor Party or PPL [Ernesto VILANOVA, secretary general]; Social Christian Union or USC [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]; Social Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ and Juan MEDRANO]; United Democratic Center or CDU [Ruben ZAMORA], bloc includes CD and PD formed by merger of Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC, National Solidarity Movement or MSN, and the Unity Movement or MU

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

labor organizations: Association of Agricultural Producers or APROAS; 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 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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost the lives of some 75,000 people, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$105 million (FY98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.9% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,428,974 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 906,656 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 67,181 (2000 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 38% (male 1,186,328; female 1,141,245) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,652,083; female 1,833,998) 65 years and over: 5% (male 139,919; female 168,942) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

29.02 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.27 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

29.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.74 years male: 66.14 years female: 73.52 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 71.5% male: 73.5% female: 69.8% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran

Net migration rate [time series]

-4.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

6,122,515 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.87% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 86% 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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.38 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

the Honduras-El Salvador Border Protocol ratified by Honduras in May 1999 established a framework for a long-delayed border demarcation, which is currently underway; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJ referred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced for local consumption; domestic drug abuse on the rise [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Transportation

Airports [time series]

85 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 81 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 64 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 10,029 km paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,043 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El Triunfo

Railways [time series]

total: 602 km (single track; note - some sections abandoned, unusable, or operating at reduced capacity) narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

Rio Lempa partially navigable