ARCHIVE // SV // 2012
El Salvador
2012 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadcast media
[time series]
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 (2007)
Internet country code
[time series]
.sv
Internet users
(Internet hosts)
[time series]
24,070 (2012) country comparison to the world: 113
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 2011 teledensity exceeded 135 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 (2011)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones - main lines in use)
[time series]
1.03 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 77
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
8.316 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 86
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $4.835 billion expenditures: $5.534 billion (2012 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
-2.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Commercial bank prime lending rate
[time series]
6.2% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 5.99% (31 December 2011 est.)
Current account balance
[time series]
-$1.035 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 -$1.223 billion (2011 est.)
Debt - external
[time series]
$12.84 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $12.18 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
(Distribution of family income - Gini index)
[time series]
46.9 (2007) country comparison to the world: 31 52.5 (2001)
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
The smallest country in Central America geographically, El Salvador has the third largest economy in the region. With the global recession in 2009, real GDP contracted by 3.1%. The economy slowed even further during 2010-12. Remittances accounted for 17% of GDP in 2011 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 (CAFTA-DR), which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition. 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. The Salvadoran Government maintained fiscal discipline during post-war reconstruction and reconstruction following earthquakes in 2001 and hurricanes in 1998 and 2005. Taxes levied by the government include a value added tax (VAT) of 13%, income tax of 30%, excise taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, and import duties. The VAT accounted for about 51.7% of total tax revenues in 2011. El Salvador's external debt amounts to about one-fourth of GDP. In 2012, El Salvador successfully completed a $461 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - a United States Government agency aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing 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. In December 2011, the MCC approved El Salvador's eligibility to develop a proposal for a program for consideration.
Exchange rates
[time series]
note: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy, 1 (2012 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$5.804 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $5.402 billion (2011 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 45.1%, Guatemala 13.3%, Honduras 8.6%, Nicaragua 5.2%, Germany 4.1% (2011)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$23.99 billion (2012 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP (purchasing power parity))
[time series]
$45.98 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $45.3 billion (2011 est.) $44.67 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 10.5% industry: 30% services: 59.4% (2012 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita (PPP))
[time series]
$7,700 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $7,700 (2011 est.) $7,600 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
1.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 1.4% (2011 est.) 1.4% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 37% (2009 est.)
Imports
[time series]
$10.44 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $9.801 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners
[time series]
US 39%, Guatemala 9.8%, Mexico 7.7%, China 5.2% (2011)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
1.8% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 5.1% (2011 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
[time series]
14.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Labor force
[time series]
2.593 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture: 21% industry: 20% services: 58% (2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
[time series]
$5.474 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 84 $4.227 billion (31 December 2010) $4.432 billion (31 December 2009)
Population below poverty line
[time series]
36.5% (2010 est.)
Public debt
[time series]
57.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 57.5% of GDP (2011 est.) note: El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt.
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$2.623 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $2.504 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money
[time series]
$9.527 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $9.213 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
[time series]
$12.4 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $12.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
[time series]
$8.747 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $8.097 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
[time series]
$11.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $10.69 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money
[time series]
$2.942 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $2.561 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
20.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Unemployment rate
[time series]
6.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 7% (2011 est.) note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions
(Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy)
[time series]
6.484 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Crude oil - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Crude oil - imports
[time series]
13,160 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Crude oil - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Crude oil - proved reserves
[time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
5.756 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - exports
[time series]
101.6 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - from fossil fuels
[time series]
53% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
[time series]
31.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Electricity - from other renewable sources
[time series]
15.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - imports
[time series]
215.8 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - installed generating capacity
[time series]
1.501 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity - production
[time series]
5.728 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - exports
[time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - imports
[time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - production
[time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - proved reserves
[time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Refined petroleum products - consumption
[time series]
44,040 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Refined petroleum products - exports
[time series]
2,158 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Refined petroleum products - imports
[time series]
26,860 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Refined petroleum products - production
[time series]
16,750 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
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 (2003)
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: 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: all year for 2012
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 Mari Carmen APONTE 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: Brentwood (New York), Boston, Chicago, Coral Gables (Florida), Dallas, Duluth (Georgia), Elizabeth (New Jersey), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Woodbridge (Virginia) consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey)
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President Carlos 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 Carlos 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 February 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, 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, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), 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 11 March 2012 (next to be held in 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ARENA 33, FMLN 31, GANA 11, CN 7, PES 1, PCD 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]
Democratic Change (Cambio Democratico) or CD [Tomas CHEVEZ] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]; Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Andres ROVIRA]; National Coalition (Concertation Nacional) or CN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA] (formerly the National Conciliation Party or PCN); Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Alfredo CRISTIANI]; Party of Hope or PES [Rodolfo Antonio PARKER Soto] (formerly the Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
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: 29.7% (male 929,135/ female 882,159) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 1,829,483/ female 2,049,977) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 178,004/ female 221,888) (2012 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
17.44 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
6.1% (2003) country comparison to the world: 77
Death rate
[time series]
5.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173
Demographic profile
[time series]
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.
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)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 19.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 97 male: 21.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 73.69 years country comparison to the world: 116 male: 70.41 years female: 77.12 years (2012 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]
81 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 81
Median age
[time series]
total: 24.7 years male: 23.4 years female: 26.2 years (2012 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Net migration rate
[time series]
-8.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Physician density
(Physicians density)
[time series]
1.596 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Population
[time series]
6,090,646 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.303% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
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: 11% of population rural: 17% of population total: 13% of population
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: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
2.04 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
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 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 (2012) country comparison to the world: 77
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 60 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 48 (2012)
Heliports
[time series]
2 (2012)
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 (2008)
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) (2011)