El Salvador
Country Guide

Explore El Salvador

El Salvador with its capital San Salvador is located in North America (Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean). It covers some 21,042 square kilometers (about the same size as New Jersey) with 6,172,010 citizens. Spanish is the language commonly spoken used by the people in El Salvador. Interesting info is sharing borders with Guatemala and Honduras.

El Salvador is a country in Central America and, geographically, is part of continental North America. El Salvador is gaining a reputation for having some of the best surfing in the world. Tourists from all over Central America are discovering the surfing meccas of La Libertad (near San Salvador), El Sunzal, El Zonte and El Cuco (near San Miguel ), transforming El Salvador into the fastest growing surf tourism hot-spot in Central America. The countryside of El Salvador is breathtaking, with volcanoes and mountains offering green adventurers exactly what they are looking for. Many of environmentally-oriented community-based organizations promote eco-tourism, and there are a number of beautiful and secluded beaches and forests scattered throughout the country.

Popular Destinations in El Salvador

Administrative regions of El Salvador

• Departamento de Ahuachapan
• Departamento de Cabanas
• Departamento de Chalatenango
• Departamento de Cuscatlan
• Departamento de La Libertad
• Departamento de La Paz
• Departamento de La Union
• Departamento de Morazan
• Departamento de San Miguel
• Departamento de San Salvador
• Departamento de San Vicente
• Departamento de Santa Ana
• Departamento de Sonsonate
• Departamento de Usulutan

About the country

The landscape is mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau. The average density of population is about 293 per km². The climate in El Salvador can be described as tropicalrainy season (May to October), dry season (November to April), tropical on coast, temperate in uplands. Potential threats by nature are extremely susceptible to hurricanes, frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity, known as the Land of Volcanoes and 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 .

To reach someone El Salvador dial +503 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".sv". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 120 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is USD.

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.

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

Area
Total (World Rank: 153)	21,041	sq km
Land (World Rank: 151)	20,721	sq km
Water (World Rank: 127)	320	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 53)	30.70	%
Comparative	about the same size as New Jersey
Coastline
307
Landborder
590
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 89)	2,730	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 15)	74.70	%
Arable (World Rank: 28)	33.10	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 28)	10.90	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 53)	30.70	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 117)	452	sq km
Map reference
Central America and the Caribbean
Environment
Issues	- contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes - deforestation - soil erosion - water pollution
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Ozone Layer Protection - Wetlands
Agreement signed	Law of the Sea
Hazzards	- extremely susceptible to hurricanes - frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity - known as the Land of Volcanoes - 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
Location
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 108)	6,172,010
Deathrate (World Rank: 171)	0.58	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 112)	1.62	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 176)	0.25	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 170)	-0.80	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 141)	1.87	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 147)	25.60
Female (World Rank: 130)	28.60
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 106)	820,255
0 14 female (World Rank: 106)	779,306
15 24 male (World Rank: 97)	628,535
15 24 female (World Rank: 96)	620,230
25 54 male (World Rank: 116)	1,120,700
25 54 female (World Rank: 108)	1,300,770
55 64 male (World Rank: 118)	194,360
55 64 female (World Rank: 110)	246,164
65 x male (World Rank: 100)	203,320
65 x female (World Rank: 103)	258,365
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 96)	1.68	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 117)	75	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 106)	78	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 121)	72	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 76)	1.92
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 144)	1.10
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 136)	75.00	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 56)	24.60	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 119)	93.80	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 117)	5,482,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 112)	6,351,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 81)	74,300,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 65)	1,066,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 148)	51.60	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 72)	25.60	%
Source renew (World Rank: 19)	25.70	%
Crude oil
Exports (World Rank: 79)	220	bbl / day
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 104)	46,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 118)	225	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 84)	45,540	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 162)	5	m³
Carbon footprint
4318000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 125)	3	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 126)	1	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 86)	7	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 107)	-3	% of GDP
National symbol
turquoise-browed motmot
National colours
white
Adjective
Salvadoran
Noun
Salvadoran(s)
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.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 107)	54,670,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 113)	2.40	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 140)	8,600	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 85)	10.60	%
Source industry (World Rank: 116)	24.60	%
Source service (World Rank: 92)	64.80	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 108)	2,760,000
In poverty (World Rank: 49)	34.90	%
Products
Industries	- beverages - chemicals - fertilizer - food processing - furniture - light metals - petroleum - textiles
Agriculture	- beans - beef - coffee - corn - cotton - dairy products - oilseed - rice - sorghum - sugar
Exports	- apparel - chemicals - coffee - electricity - ethanol - iron - offshore assembly exports - steel manufactures - sugar - textiles
Imports	- capital goods - consumer goods - electricity - foodstuffs - fuels - petroleum - raw materials

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 78)	933,377
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 113)	15.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 29)	148.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 117)	1,785,250
Population (World Rank: 160)	29.00	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 148)	5.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 52)	63.00
Heliports (World Rank: 63)	2.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 135)	12.50
Road
Total length (World Rank: 146)	6,979
Paved length (World Rank: 103)	4,414
Unpaved length (World Rank: 115)	2,565

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