El Salvador

Republic of El SalvadorRepublica de El Salvador

republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

El Salvador as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 99 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSan Salvador

Position13 50 N, 88 55 W

Area21,040 sq km

LocationMiddle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between

Populationas each edition published it

5.75 million July 1998 est. · 5.31m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.57% 1998 est. · 2.04% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 21.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

69.66 years 1998 est. · 66.5 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.06 children per woman 1998 est. · 4.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

29.07 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 49 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,000 1997 est. · $1,060 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4% 1997 est. · 4.6% in 1993

Geography

Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between | Guatemala and Honduras

18 fields

Land useshare of 21,040 sq km

arable land 27%permanent crops 8%permanent pastures 29%forests and woodland 5%other 31% (1993 est.)irrigated 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

21,040sq km

land: 20,720 sq kmwater: 320 sq kmslightly smaller than Massachusetts

Coastline

307km

territorial sea: 200 nm

Highest point

2,730m

Cerro El Pitallowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

545km

border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

Location

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

Climate

tropical;
rainy season (May to October);
dry season (November to April)

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Natural hazards

known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity

Environment-current issues

deforestation;
soil erosion;
water pollution;
contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes

Environment-international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: Law of the Sea

Geography-note

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

People

15 fields

Population

5,752,067

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 1.57% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

26.71Death

6.32Net migration

-4.73

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)69.66

66.31 · 73.17

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)71.5%

73.5% · 69.8%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

mestizo 94%Amerindian 5%white 1%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 37% (male 1,088,579; female 1,042,087)
15-64 years:: 58% (male 1,575,806; female 1,748,250)
65 years and over:: 5% (male 135,556; female 161,789) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

29.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Salvadoran(s)
adjective:: Salvadoran

Religions

Roman Catholic 75% note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador

Government

Republic; President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994); President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

35.4%

ARENA 35.4%FMLN 34.3%PCN 8.1%PDC 7.9%CD 3.8%PRSC 3.4%PLD 3.2%MU 2.1%PD 1.0%other 0.8%last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)

Legislature, 84 seats, elected 16 March 1997one dot, one seat

ARENA 28FMLN 27PCN 9PDC 8PRSC 3CD 2PLD 2MU 1PD 1independent 3

Percent of vote

ARENA 35.4%FMLN 34.3%PCN 8.1%PDC 7.9%CD 3.8%PRSC 3.4%PLD 3.2%MU 2.1%PD 1.0%other 0.8%

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

Administrative divisions

14 departments (departamentos, singular-departamento);
Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan

Legal system

based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

note: Legislative Assembly passed landmark judicial reforms in 1996

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994);
Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994);
Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Council of Ministers
elections:: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms;
election last held 20 March 1994, with a run-off election held 24 April 1994 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results:: Armando CALDERON Sol elected president;
percent of vote-Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other 10.49%;
because no candidate received a majority, a run-off election was held and the results were as follows-Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA) 68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms)

elections:: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)
election results:: percent of vote by party-ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%, PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, CD 3.8%, PRSC 3.4%, PLD 3.2%, MU 2.1%, PD 1.0%, other 0.8%;
seats by party - ARENA 28, FMLN 27, PCN 9, PDC 8, PRSC 3, CD 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1, independent 3

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly

Political parties and leaders

National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Alfredo CRISTIANI];
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Facundo GUARDADO, general coordinator];
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Ronal UMANA, secretary general; title in dispute];
National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, secretary general];
Democratic Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general];
Popular Labor Party or PPL [Jose VILANOVA, secretary general];
Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president];
Social Christian Union or USC (formed by union of the PRSC, MU, and MSN) [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president];
Democratic Party or PD [Ana Guadeloupe MARTINEZ, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders

labor organizations:: National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers (CNTS)National Union of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS);
Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar, Transport and other activities (FESINCONTRANS);
Salvadoran Workers Central (CTS);
Port Industry Union of El Salvador (SIPES);
Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador (SIES);
Workers Union of Electrical Corporation (STCEL)
business organizations:: Salvadoran Industrial Association (ASI)Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association (ASIC); National Association of Small Enterprise (ANEP)

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Rene A. LEON
chancery:: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 265-9671, 9672
consulate(s) general:: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s):: Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy:: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Station Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador
mailing address:: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
telephone:: [503] 278-4444

FAX

[503] 278-6011

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;
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

Economy

In 1997 the government emphasized a fixed exchange | rate, along with conservative monetary and fiscal policies to promote | foreign investment.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$17.8billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$3,000

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 7% (1997 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1997)

GDP-composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 15%industry 24%services 61% (1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$1.75 billionExpenditures

$1.82 billion (1997 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $317 million

Fixed lines

350,000

(1997 est.)

Economy-overview

In 1997 the government emphasized a fixed exchange rate, along with conservative monetary and fiscal policies to promote foreign investment. Inflation fell to an unprecedented low of 2%. Exports reached a record level and were the main engine of growth. Productivity in other sectors remained weaker, however.

For the last few years, El Salvador has experienced sizable deficits in both its trade and its fiscal accounts. The trade deficit has been offset by remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and from external aid. The deficit is expected to increase in 1998 as imports continue to rise.

San Salvador is stepping up its privatization efforts in 1998 to increase revenues. Late in 1997 the legislative assembly approved a privatization law that will facilitate the sale of the state-owned telephone company sometime in 1998. The government also plans to privatize pension funds later in the year.

Labor force

total:: 2.26 million (1997 est.)
by occupation:: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%

Unemployment rate

7.7% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

900,000 kW (1996)

Electricity-production

3.5 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity-consumption per capita

603 kWh (1997 est.)

Agriculture-products

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

Exports

total value:: $1.96 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities:: coffee, sugar;
shrimp;
textiles
partners:: US, Guatemala, Germany, Costa Rica, Honduras

Imports

total value:: $3.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
commodities:: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels
partners:: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Japan

Debt-external

$2.6 billion (yearend 1997)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $763 million (1996) note: US has committed $280 million in economic assistance to El Salvador for 1995-97 (excludes military aid)

Currency

1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 (end of period)-8.755 (January 1998-1995), 8.750 (1994), 8.670 (1993)

note: as of 1 June 1990, the rate is based on the average of the buying and selling rates, set on a weekly basis, for official receipts and payments,

imports of petroleum, and coffee exports; prior to that date, a system of floating was in effect

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Telephone system

domestic:: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international:: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations

AM 18, FM 80, shortwave 2

Radios

1.5 million (1997 est.)

Television broadcast stations

11 (1996 est.)

Televisions

700,000 (1997 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 84 914 to 1,523 m: 18

Networkskm

Highways

9,977Railways

602

Highways: paved: 1,985 km (including 266 km of expressways) · unpaved: 7,992 km (1996 est.) · Railways: (single track; note-some sections abandoned, unusable, or operating at reduced capacity) · narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge

Railways

total:: 602 km (single track; note-some sections abandoned, unusable, or operating at reduced capacity)
narrow gauge:: 602 km 0.914-m gauge

Highways

total:: 9,977 km
paved:: 1,985 km (including 266 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 7,992 km (1996 est.)

total:: 4
over 3,047 m:: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Heliports

1 (1997 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force

7 fields

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

0.9%

(1997)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes-international

land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision;
the presidents of Honduras and El Salvador signed in January 1998 an agreement allowing citizens in the 1992 demarcated areas to choose Honduran or Salvadoran citizenship;
the two countries also agreed to a final demarcation of the border within one year;
the agreement awaits ratification by the legislative assemblies of both countries;
with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced for local consumption EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Central Intelligence Agency. “El Salvador.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/el-salvador/1998.

How to cite ← 1997 edition 1999 edition →