View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2011 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

multiple privately-owned national terrestrial television networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio broadcast stations and 1 government-owned radio broadcast station (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.sv

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

13,849 (2010) country comparison to the world: 119

Internet users [time series]

746,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 107

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2009 teledensity exceeded 100 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2009)

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

1 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 78

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

7.7 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 83

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.97 billion expenditures: $4.89 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-4.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

7.62% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 114 9.32% (31 December 2009)

Current account balance [time series]

-$491.5 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 -$304.2 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$11.92 billion (30 June 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $12.06 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

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

46.9 (2007) country comparison to the world: 32 52.5 (2001)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Despite being the smallest country geographically in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest economy in the region. The economy took a hit from the global recession and real GDP contracted by 3.5% in 2009. The economy began a slow recovery in 2010 on the back of improved export and remittances figures. Remittances accounted for 16% of GDP in 2009, and about a third of all households receive these transfers. In 2006 El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition and the expiration of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. El Salvador has promoted an open trade and investment environment, and has embarked on a wave of privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution, banking, and pension funds. In late 2006, the government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $461 million compact to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the country's northern region, the primary conflict zone during the civil war, through investments in education, public services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El Salvador lost control over monetary policy. Any counter-cyclical policy response to the downturn must be through fiscal policy, which is constrained by legislative requirements for a two-thirds majority to approve any international financing, and by already high levels of debt.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.524 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Electricity - exports [time series]

78.7 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

208.4 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

5.445 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Exports [time series]

$4.577 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $3.93 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures

Exports - partners [time series]

US 43.5%, Guatemala 14.2%, Honduras 13.6%, Nicaragua 5.6% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$21.7 billion (2010 est.)

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

$43.57 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $43.24 billion (2009 est.) $44.83 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 11.3% industry: 30.7% services: 57.9% (2010 est.)

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

$7,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $7,200 (2009 est.) $7,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

0.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178 -3.5% (2009 est.) 2.4% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 36.3% (2007)

Imports [time series]

$8.189 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $7.038 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 32.1%, Guatemala 11.5%, Mexico 8.2%, Honduras 5.2%, China 4.8% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 1.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

13.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Labor force [time series]

2.564 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 19% industry: 23% services: 58% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$4.227 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 84 $4.432 billion (31 December 2009) $4.656 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Oil - consumption [time series]

47,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Oil - exports [time series]

3,825 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Oil - imports [time series]

45,570 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Oil - production [time series]

443 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Population below poverty line [time series]

37.8% (2009 est.)

Public debt [time series]

54.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 52.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.883 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $2.986 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$9.388 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $9.011 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$333 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $333 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$7.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $7.132 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$10.04 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $9.867 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$2.527 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $2.153 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

18.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 7.3% (2009 est.) note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 21,041 sq km country comparison to the world: 153 land: 20,721 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%) per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)

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]

450 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 31.37% permanent crops: 11.88% other: 56.75% (2005)

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: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes volcanism: El Salvador experiences significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (elev. 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 (elev. 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

Natural resources [time series]

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Total renewable water resources [time series]

25.2 cu km (2001)

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, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulutan

Capital [time series]

name: San Salvador geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: none scheduled for 2011

Constitution [time series]

20 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert BLAU embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450 telephone: [503] 2501-2999 FAX: [503] 2501-2150

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Robert ALTSCHUL Fuentes chancery: Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671 FAX: [1] (202) 234-3763 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Duluth (Georgia), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington (DC), Woodbridge (Virginia) consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 15 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014) election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president; percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%

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; 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 - 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 law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

BCIE, CACM, CD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four Supreme Court chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict)

Legal system [time series]

civil law system with minor common law influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in March 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FMLN 35, ARENA 32, PCN 11, PDC 5, CD 1; note - as of 1 January 2011, the current composition of the legislature by seats is as follows: FMLN 35, ARENA 19, GANA 16, PCN 10, PDC 2, CD 1, independent 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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; the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s) [time series]

turquoise-browed motmot (bird)

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

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic Convergence or CD [Oscar KATTAN] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA]; Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Alfredo CRISTIANI]; Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Andres ROVIRA]

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 16-49: 1,449,214 females age 16-49: 1,611,248 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,079,038 females age 16-49: 1,373,368 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 71,530 female: 68,971 (2010 est.)

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

Salvadoran Armed Forces (FAES): Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2011)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 156

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation - 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2009)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 30.6% (male 953,842/female 905,688) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,802,113/female 2,021,191) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 173,363/female 215,577) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.75 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

6.1% (2003) country comparison to the world: 77

Death rate [time series]

5.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 94% of population rural: 76% of population total: 87% of population unimproved: urban: 6% of population rural: 24% of population total: 13% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 115

Ethnic groups [time series]

mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

1,400 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

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

34,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

3.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 164

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 145

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 97 male: 22.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.44 years country comparison to the world: 117 male: 70.16 years female: 76.87 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.1% male: 82.8% female: 79.6% (2007 census)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

SAN SALVADOR (capital) 1.534 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

110 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 67

Median age [time series]

total: 24.3 years male: 22.9 years female: 25.7 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran

Net migration rate [time series]

-8.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.596 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 76

Population [time series]

6,071,774 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Population growth rate [time series]

0.318% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 89% of population rural: 83% of population total: 87% of population unimproved: urban: 89% of population rural: 83% of population total: 87% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.08 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 11.4% country comparison to the world: 94 male: 13% female: 8.3% (2007)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 64% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 (OAS) 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

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine

Transportation

Airports [time series]

65 (2010) country comparison to the world: 75

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 47 (2010)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Puerto Cutuco oil terminals: Acajutla offshore terminal

Railways [time series]

total: 283 km country comparison to the world: 121 narrow gauge: 283 km 0.600-m gauge note: railways have been inoperable since 2005 because of disuse and high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2010)

Roadways [time series]

total: 10,886 km country comparison to the world: 134 paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)

Waterways [time series]

(Rio Lempa is partially navigable for small craft) (2010)