View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2005 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sv

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

4,084 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

550,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

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

752,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1,149,800 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

5 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.491 billion expenditures: $2.782 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

US dollar (USD)

Current account balance [time series]

$-880.5 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$4.792 billion (September 2004 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

52.5 (2001)

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

$125 million of which, $53 million from US (2003)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

GDP per capita is roughly half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and the distribution of income is highly unequal. The government is striving to open new export markets, encourage foreign investment, modernize the tax and healthcare systems, and stimulate the sluggish economy. Implementation of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, ratified by El Salvador in 2004, is viewed as a key policy to help achieve these objectives. The trade deficit has been offset by annual remittances from Salvadorans living abroad - 16% of GDP in 2004 - and external aid. 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.45 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports [time series]

91 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports [time series]

473 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production [time series]

4.158 billion kWh (2004)

Exchange rates [time series]

the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001

Exports [time series]

$3.249 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 65.6%, Guatemala 11.8%, Honduras 6.3% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$32.35 billion (2004 est.)

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

agriculture: 9.2% industry: 31.1% services: 59.7% (2004 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2004 est.)

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

1.8% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)

Imports [time series]

$5.968 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 46.3%, Guatemala 8.1%, Mexico 6% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.7% (2004 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

16.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.75 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 17.1%, industry 17.1%, services 65.8% (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

39,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

36.1% (2003 est.)

Public debt [time series]

41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$1.888 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.3% - but the economy has much underemployment (2004 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

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

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

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]

360 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 31.85% permanent crops: 12.07% other: 56.08% (2001)

Location [time series]

Central 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; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

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 FAX: [1] (202) 234-3834 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), San Francisco, and Washington, DC consulate(s): Boston

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (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 Gonzalez (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 March 2009) election results: Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez elected president; percent of vote - Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (ARENA) 57.7%, Schafik HANDAL (FMLN) 35.6%, Hector SILVA (CDU-PDC) 3.9%, other 2.8%

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, 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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or 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

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 2003 (next to be held March 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FMLN 31, ARENA 28, PCN 15, PDC 5, CD 5

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

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

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic Convergence or CD (formerly 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 Gonzalez]; 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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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

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 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,391,278 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 960,315 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males: 70,286 (2005 est.)

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

Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force (FAS)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$157 million (2003)

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

1.1% (2003)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 12-month service obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36.5% (male 1,250,901/female 1,198,589) 15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,860,084/female 2,051,140) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 153,133/female 191,085) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

27.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

2,200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

29,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 27.98 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.22 years male: 67.61 years female: 75.01 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 80.2% male: 82.8% female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 21.57 years male: 20.44 years female: 22.69 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

6,704,932 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.75% (2005 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 83%, other 17% 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: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.16 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

in 1992, the ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, but despite OAS intervention and a further ICJ ruling in 2003, full demarcation of the border remains stalled; 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

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

73 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 54 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 10,029 km paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco

Railways [time series]

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 (2004)

Waterways [time series]

Rio Lempa partially navigable (2004)