El Salvador

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.

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
country comparison to the world: 153 land:20,721 sq km
water:320 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

307 km

Maritime claims

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

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 extremes

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

Natural resources

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Land use

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

Irrigated land

450 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

25.2 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

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

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 Caribbean Sea

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective:Salvadoran

Ethnic groups

mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

Languages

Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Religions

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

Population

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

Age structure

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.)

Median age

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

Population growth rate

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

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

SAN SALVADOR (capital) 1.534 million (2009)

Sex ratio

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

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

Infant mortality rate

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

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

Total fertility rate

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

Health expenditures

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

Physicians density

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

Hospital bed density

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

Drinking water source

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)

Sanitation facility access

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)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

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

HIV/AIDS – deaths

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

Major infectious diseases

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

Education expenditures

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

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

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

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

Government type

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)
daylight saving time:none scheduled for 2011

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

20 December 1983

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

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

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 the World 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%

Legislative branch

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

Judicial branch

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)

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

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

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

turquoise-browed motmot (bird)

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

the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world’s longest

Economy

Economy – overview

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$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 (official exchange rate)

$21.7 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

0.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179 -3.5% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$7,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128 $7,200 (2009 est.)
$7,500 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

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

Labor force

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

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

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

Population below poverty line

37.8% (2009 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Distribution of family income – Gini index

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

Investment (gross fixed)

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

Budget

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

Taxes and other revenues

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Public debt

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

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

Stock of narrow money

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

Stock of broad money

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

Stock of domestic credit

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

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

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

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

Electricity – production

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

Electricity – consumption

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

Electricity – exports

78.7 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

208.4 million kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

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

Oil – consumption

47,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Oil – exports

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

Oil – imports

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

Oil – proved reserves

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

Natural gas – production

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

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Natural gas – exports

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

Natural gas – imports

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

Natural gas – proved reserves

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

Current account balance

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

Exports

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

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

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

Imports

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

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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

Debt – external

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

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

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

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

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

Transportation

Airports

65 (2010)
country comparison to the world:76

Airports – with paved runways

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

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

Heliports

1 (2010)

Railways

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

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

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

Ports and terminals

Puerto Cutuco
oil terminals:Acajutla offshore terminal

Military

Military branches

Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2011)

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 – 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2009)

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military expenditures

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

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 (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

transshipment point for cocaine

small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption

significant use of cocaine