El Salvador

Introduction

Background

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. El Salvador is beset by one of the world's highest homicide rates and pervasive criminal gangs.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

13 50 N, 88 55 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 21,041 sq km
land: 20,721 sq km
water: 320 sq km
country comparison to the world: 154

Area - comparative

about the same size as New Jersey

Land boundaries

total: 590 km
border countries (2): Guatemala 199 km, Honduras 391 km

Coastline

307 km

Maritime claims

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

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

mean elevation: 442 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Natural resources

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Land use

agricultural land: 74.7% (2011 est.)
arable land: 33.1% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 10.9% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 30.7% (2011 est.)
forest: 13.6% (2011 est.)
other: 11.7% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

452 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

athough it is the smallest country in land area in Central America, El Salvador has a population that is 18 times larger than Belize; at least 20% of the population lives abroad; high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador

Natural hazards

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

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

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Population

6,187,271 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

Nationality

noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran

Ethnic groups

mestizo 86.3%, white 12.7%, Amerindian 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Nawat (among some Amerindians)

Religions

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 36%, other 2%, none 12% (2014 est.)

Demographic profile

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.

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.3%(male 802,813 /female 762,852)
15-24 years: 19.88%(male 619,550 /female 610,725)
25-54 years: 39.8%(male 1,143,226 /female 1,319,138)
55-64 years: 7.32%(male 198,513 /female 254,640)
65 years and over: 7.69%(male 208,817 /female 266,997) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 56.8 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 44.4 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 12.4 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 8 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 27.6 years (2018 est.)
male: 26.1 years
female: 29.1 years
country comparison to the world: 143

Population growth rate

0.25% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Birth rate

16.1 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Death rate

5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Net migration rate

-7.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

Population distribution

athough it is the smallest country in land area in Central America, El Salvador has a population that is 18 times larger than Belize; at least 20% of the population lives abroad; high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador

Urbanization

urban population: 72.7% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 1.57% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.106 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2019)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.8 years (2008 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality rate

46 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.1 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 95

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.1 years (2018 est.)
male: 71.8 years
female: 78.6 years
country comparison to the world: 114

Total fertility rate

1.84 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Contraceptive prevalence rate

72% (2014)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 97.5% of population
rural: 86.5% of population
total: 93.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population
rural: 13.5% of population
total: 6.2% of population (2015 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

7% (2016)

Physicians density

1.57 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 82.4% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 60% of population (2015 est.)
total: 75% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 17.6% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 40% of population (2015 est.)
total: 25% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

25,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<1000 (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea (2016)
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2016)
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.6% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 57

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 82

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2017)
country comparison to the world: 110

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.1%
male: 90.3%
female: 86.3% (2016)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2016)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 10.1%
male: 8.8%
female: 12.2% (2017)
country comparison to the world: 128

Government

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
etymology: name is an abbreviation of the original Spanish conquistador designation for the area "Provincia de Nuestro Senor Jesus Cristo, el Salvador del Mundo" (Province of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World), which became simply "El Salvador" (The Savior)

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Spanish for "Holy Saviour" (referring to Jesus Christ)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution

history: many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983
amendments: proposals require agreement by absolute majority of the Legislative Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on basic principles, and citizen rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2018 (2018)

Legal system

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

International law organization participation

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019); Vice President Felix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (since 1 June 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019); Vice President Felix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (since 1 June 2019)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 5-year term; election last held on 3 February 2019 (next to be held on February 2024)
election results: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.72%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.41%, other 0.77%

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies and a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 3-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2021)
election results: percent of vote by party - ARENA 42.3%, FMLN 24.4%, GANA 11.5%, PCN 10.8%, PDC 3.2%, CD 0.9%, Independent 0.7%, other 6.2%; seats by party - ARENA 37, FMLN 23, GANA 11, PCN 8, PDC 3, CD 1, independent 1; composition -men 58, women 26, percent of women 31%

Judicial branch

highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges and 16 substitutes judges organized into Constitutional, Civil, Penal, and Administrative Conflict Chambers)
judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of both the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly, and the Bar Association; judges elected for 9-year terms, with renewal of one-third of membership every 3 years; consecutive reelection is allowed
subordinate courts: Appellate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo Antonio PARKER Soto]
Democratic Change (Cambio Democratico) or CD [Douglas AVILES] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU)
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]
Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Jose Andres ROVIRA Caneles]
National Coalition Party or PCN [Manuel RODRIGUEZ]
Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Mauricio INTERIANO]
Nuevas Ideas [Federico Gerardo ANLIKER]

International organization participation

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, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Werner Matias ROMERO Guerra (since 9 June 2019)
chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 595-7500
FAX: [1] (202) 232-1928
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Brentwood (NY), Chicago, Dallas, Doral (FL), Doraville (GA), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New York, Nogales (AZ), San Francisco, Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ), Washington, DC, Woodbridge (VA)
consulate(s): Elizabeth (NJ), Newark (NJ), Seattle, Woodbridge (VA)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David GOSNEY (since August 2019)
telephone: [503] 2501-2999
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
FAX: [503] 2501-2150

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of cobalt blue (top), white, and cobalt 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; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

National symbol(s)

turquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white

National anthem

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; at 4:20 minutes, the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest

Economy

Economy - overview

The smallest country in Central America geographically, El Salvador has the fourth largest economy in the region. With the global recession, real GDP contracted in 2009 and economic growth has since remained low, averaging less than 2% from 2010 to 2014, but recovered somewhat in 2015-17 with an average annual growth rate of 2.4%. Remittances accounted for approximately 18% of GDP in 2017 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, which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition. In September 2015, El Salvador kicked off a five-year $277 million second compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation - a US Government agency aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty - to improve El Salvador's competitiveness and productivity in international markets.The Salvadoran Government maintained fiscal discipline during reconstruction and rebuilding following earthquakes in 2001 and hurricanes in 1998 and 2005, but El Salvador's public debt, estimated at 59.3% of GDP in 2017, has been growing over the last several years.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$51.17 billion (2017 est.)
$50.01 billion (2016 est.)
$48.75 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 109

GDP (official exchange rate)

$24.81 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2017 est.)
2.6% (2016 est.)
2.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,000 (2017 est.)
$7,900 (2016 est.)
$7,700 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 152

Gross national saving

14.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
13% of GDP (2016 est.)
12.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 84.5% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 15.8% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 27.6% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -44.9% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 12% (2017 est.)
industry: 27.7% (2017 est.)
services: 60.3% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

3.6% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Labor force

2.774 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 21%
industry: 20%
services: 58% (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate

7% (2017 est.)
6.9% (2016 est.)
note: data are official rates; but underemployment is high
country comparison to the world: 107

Population below poverty line

32.7% (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 32.3% (2014 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36 (2016 est.)
38 (2014)
country comparison to the world: 90

Budget

revenues: 5.886 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 6.517 billion (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Public debt

67.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
66.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt
country comparison to the world: 54

Fiscal year

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2017 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.47% (31 December 2017 est.)
6.37% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Stock of narrow money

$3.653 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.129 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Stock of broad money

$3.653 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.129 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Stock of domestic credit

$14.22 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$13.71 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.64 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.816 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Current account balance

-$501 million (2017 est.)
-$500 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Exports

$4.662 billion (2017 est.)
$5.42 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Exports - partners

US 45.7%, Honduras 13.9%, Guatemala 13.5%, Nicaragua 6.7%, Costa Rica 4.6% (2017)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$9.499 billion (2017 est.)
$8.954 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 36.7%, Guatemala 10.5%, China 8.7%, Mexico 7.4%, Honduras 6.7% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.238 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Debt - external

$15.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$16.32 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$10.28 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$9.197 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$678.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$976.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Exchange rates

note: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy
1 (2017 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

population without electricity: 400,000 (2016)
electrification - total population: 98.6% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 98.6% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 98.8% (2016)

Electricity - production

5.83 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity - consumption

5.928 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity - exports

89.6 million kWh (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - imports

1.066 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.983 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

Electricity - from fossil fuels

49% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Electricity - from other renewable sources

29% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Refined petroleum products - consumption

52,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Refined petroleum products - exports

347 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Refined petroleum products - imports

49,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

7.331 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 677,599
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 9,982,186
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Telephone system

general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular began rolling out Long Term Evolution (LTE) data services in late-2016; Internet usage grew almost 400% between 2007 and 2015; 6% of phones are fixed while 94% are mobile (2018)
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; growth in fixed-line services 11 per 100, has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competitionat at 162 per 100 (2018)
international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019)

Broadcast media

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; transition to digital transmission to begin in 2018 along with adaptation of the Japanese-Brazilian Digital Standard (ISDB-T)

Internet country code

.sv

Internet users

total: 1,785,254
percent of population: 29% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 442,727
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Military and Security

Military expenditures

1.03% of GDP (2018)
0.9% of GDP (2017)
0.92% of GDP (2016)
0.95% of GDP (2015)
0.93% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 115

Military and security forces

Armed Force of El Salvador (Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Army of El Salvador (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Navy of El Salvador (Fuerza Naval de El Salvador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2019)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2012)

Military - note

Supporting the National Police in countering gang violence and drug trafficking is a primary mission for the Armed Forces of El Salvador. (2019)

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 32 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,597,649 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 13,873,884mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YS (2016)

Airports

68 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 74

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)
under 914 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 63 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 11 (2013)
under 914 m: 51 (2013)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Railways

total: 13 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 12.5 km0.914-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 135

Roadways

total: 9,012 km (2017)
paved: 5,341 km (2017)
unpaved: 3,671 km (2017)
country comparison to the world: 133

Waterways

(Rio Lempa River is partially navigable by small craft) (2011)

Merchant marine

total: 2
by type: other 2 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 169

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Puerto Cutuco
oil terminal(s): Acajutla offshore terminal

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 71,500 (2018)

Illicit drugs

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

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