El Salvador

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.

Geography

Area
total : 21,041 sq km
land: 20,721 sq km
water: 320 sq km

Climate
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands

Natural resources
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

People and Society

Population
total: 6,628,702 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Indigenous 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)

Languages
Spanish (official), Nawat (among some indigenous)

Religions
Roman Catholic 43.9%, Protestant 39.6% (Evangelical - unspecified 38.2%, Evangelical - Methodist 1.3%, Evangelical - Baptist 0.1%), none 16.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2023 est.)

Population growth rate
0.34% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: San Salvador

Executive branch
chief of state: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
head of government: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Naomi C. FELLOWS (since August 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
upper-middle-income, dollarized Central American economy; reliant on remittances from US; recent growth linked to infrastructure investment, consumption, and crime reduction; $1.3 billion IMF loan to address fiscal imbalances; Bitcoin adopted as legal tender; persistent poverty and large informal sector

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$73.961 billion (2024 est.)
$72.085 billion (2023 est.)
$69.621 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$11,700 (2024 est.)
$11,400 (2023 est.)
$11,100 (2022 est.)

Exports
$11.586 billion (2024 est.)
$10.629 billion (2023 est.)
$10.164 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
USA 36%, Guatemala 17%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 8%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities
garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, raw sugar, toilet paper (2023)

Imports
$18.354 billion (2024 est.)
$17.034 billion (2023 est.)
$18.181 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
USA 28%, China 15%, Guatemala 11%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.678, ranking it 132nd out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 17th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 6.894. (more information)