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El Salvador Historical and Political Profile








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El Salvador Index

  • El Salvador-Income Distribution
  • El Salvador-Civic Action
  • El Salvador-THE "DEMOCRATIC PROCESS"
  • El Salvador-Nationalist Republican Alliance
  • El Salvador-Indians
  • El Salvador-The Legislature
  • El Salvador-Energy
  • El Salvador-THE 1970s: THE ROAD TO REVOLT
  • El Salvador-Quality of Life
  • El Salvador-The Constitution of 1983
  • El Salvador-The Penal System
  • El Salvador-The Military under Democratic Rule, 1984-88
  • El Salvador-The Oligarchy and the Liberal State THE COFFEE REPUBLIC
  • El Salvador-ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
  • El Salvador-Acknowledgments
  • El Salvador-Standard of Living RURAL LIFE
  • El Salvador-THE UNITED STATES TAKES A HAND
  • El Salvador-Political Parties
  • El Salvador-MIGRATION
  • El Salvador-Left-Wing Parties
  • El Salvador-Trade and Trade Policy
  • El Salvador-Major Crops and Commodities
  • El Salvador-The Lower Sector
  • El Salvador-Cotton
  • El Salvador-AGRICULTURE
  • El Salvador-SPANISH CONQUEST AND COLONIZATION
  • El Salvador-National Conciliation Party
  • El Salvador-Military Justice
  • El Salvador-SOCIETY
  • El Salvador-The Arias Plan
  • El Salvador-The Roman Catholic Church
  • El Salvador-THE CIVIL CONFLICT BEGINS
  • El Salvador-FOREIGN MILITARY INFLUENCE AND ASSISTANCE
  • El Salvador-Penal and Procedural Codes
  • El Salvador-Sectors of the Economy
  • El Salvador-GEOGRAPHY
  • El Salvador-Fiscal Policy and the Budget Process
  • El Salvador-Insurgent Organization
  • El Salvador-THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY
  • El Salvador-The Role of Religion
  • El Salvador-Relations with the United States FOREIGN RELATIONS
  • El Salvador-Health, Education, and Entitlements
  • El Salvador-The Criminal Justice System CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
  • El Salvador-GEOGRAPHY
  • El Salvador-Chapter 3 - The Economy
  • El Salvador-The Oligarchy's Private Army, 1824-1931 EVOLUTION OF THE MILITARY'S ROLE IN SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT
  • El Salvador-Left-Wing Extremism
  • El Salvador-Preface
  • El Salvador-Monetary and Credit Policies
  • El Salvador-FOREIGN SECURITY ASSISTANCE
  • El Salvador-The Judiciary
  • El Salvador-Education
  • El Salvador-The Electoral Process
  • El Salvador-Judicial Reform
  • El Salvador-Dashed Hopes: The 1972 Elections
  • El Salvador-Local Government
  • El Salvador-THREATS TO INTERNAL SECURITY
  • El Salvador-ECONOMY
  • El Salvador-El Salvador
  • El Salvador-Allocation of Government Expenditures
  • El Salvador-Chapter 4 - Government and Politics
  • El Salvador-Public Enterprises
  • El Salvador-Chapter 5 - National Security
  • El Salvador-THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS: A CENTRIST ALTERNATIVE?
  • El Salvador-Military Schools EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND RULES OF CONDUCT
  • El Salvador-POPULATION
  • El Salvador-Livestock
  • El Salvador-Demographic Trends
  • El Salvador-Communications
  • El Salvador-INDUSTRY
  • El Salvador-Chapter 1 - Historical Setting
  • El Salvador-GROWTH AND STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY
  • El Salvador-Foreword
  • El Salvador-Right-Wing Extremism
  • El Salvador-Manufacturing
  • El Salvador-EL SALVADOR AND THE UNITED PROVINCES OF CENTRAL AMERICA
  • El Salvador-Basic Grains
  • El Salvador-Peace Talks
  • El Salvador-Military Service
  • El Salvador-Economic Crisis and Repression
  • El Salvador-The Upper Sector
  • El Salvador-Sugar
  • El Salvador-The Land Tenure System
  • El Salvador-The Military
  • El Salvador-The Crisis in Central America
  • El Salvador-GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
  • El Salvador-Interest Groups
  • El Salvador-Agrarian Reform
  • El Salvador-Ranks, Uniforms, and Insignia
  • El Salvador-NATIONAL SECURITY
  • El Salvador-Transportation
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-REPRESSION AND REFORM UNDER MILITARY RULE
  • El Salvador-THE REFORMIST COUP OF 1979
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS
  • El Salvador-The Constitutions of El Salvador, 1824-1962 CONSTITUTIONAL BACKGROUND
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-Other Parties
  • El Salvador-TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
  • El Salvador-The Banking System
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-Direct Foreign Investment and External Debt
  • El Salvador-Physical Features
  • El Salvador-Urbanization
  • El Salvador-Geology
  • El Salvador-Mass Communications
  • El Salvador-Other Leading Industries
  • El Salvador-Counterinsurgency Tactics
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-Utilities and Communications
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-The Executive
  • El Salvador-The Navy
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-Mission and Organization THE ARMED FORCES
  • El Salvador-Climate
  • El Salvador-The 1969 War with Honduras
  • El Salvador-Labor and Campesino Groups
  • El Salvador-Electoral Procedures POLITICAL DYNAMICS
  • El Salvador-INFRASTRUCTURE
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-The Labor Force
  • El Salvador-Defense Budget
  • El Salvador-Historical Background THE SECURITY FORCES
  • El Salvador-Judicial Ineffectiveness
  • El Salvador-Capabilities
  • El Salvador-Introduction
  • El Salvador-The Military in Power, 1931-84
  • El Salvador-Health and Welfare
  • El Salvador-The Tax System
  • El Salvador-Population Growth and Age Distribution
  • El Salvador-The Contadora Process
  • El Salvador
  • El Salvador-URBAN LIFE
  • El Salvador-Officer Corps Dynamics
  • El Salvador-Forestry
  • BackgroundEl 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.
    LocationCentral America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
    Area(sq km)total: 21,041 sq km
    land: 20,721 sq km
    water: 320 sq km
    Geographic coordinates13 50 N, 88 55 W
    Land boundaries(km)total: 545 km
    border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

    Coastline(km)307 km

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

    Elevation extremes(m)lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
    Natural resourceshydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
    Land use(%)arable land: 31.37%
    permanent crops: 11.88%
    other: 56.75% (2005)

    Irrigated land(sq km)450 sq km (2003)
    Total renewable water resources(cu km)25.2 cu km (2001)
    Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%)
    per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)
    Natural hazardsknown as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
    Environment - current issuesdeforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
    Environment - international agreementsparty 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 - notesmallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
    Population7,185,218 (July 2009 est.)
    Age structure(%)0-14 years: 35.4% (male 1,299,608/female 1,245,617)
    15-64 years: 59.3% (male 2,033,423/female 2,225,810)
    65 years and over: 5.3% (male 166,224/female 214,536) (2009 est.)
    Median age(years)total: 22.5 years
    male: 21.3 years
    female: 23.6 years (2009 est.)
    Population growth rate(%)1.656% (2009 est.)
    Birth rate(births/1,000 population)25.31 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Death rate(deaths/1,000 population)5.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

    Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population)-3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Urbanization(%)urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
    rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
    Sex ratio(male(s)/female)at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
    under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
    15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
    Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births)total: 21.52 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 24.38 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 18.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

    Life expectancy at birth(years)total population: 72.33 years
    male: 68.72 years
    female: 76.11 years (2009 est.)

    Total fertility rate(children born/woman)3 children born/woman (2009 est.)
    Nationalitynoun: Salvadoran(s)
    adjective: Salvadoran
    Ethnic groups(%)mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

    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.)
    Languages(%)Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)

    Country nameconventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
    conventional short form: El Salvador
    local long form: Republica de El Salvador
    local short form: El Salvador
    Government typerepublic
    Capitalname: San Salvador
    geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
    time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
    Administrative divisions14 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
    Constitution20-Dec-83

    Legal systembased on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

    Suffrage18 years of age; universal
    Executive branchchief 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
    elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 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 branchunicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)
    elections: last held 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

    Judicial branchSupreme 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 pressure groups and leaderslabor 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 participationBCIE, CACM, FAO, 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, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
    Flag descriptionthree 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 - overviewThe smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest economy, but growth has been modest in recent years. Economic growth will decelerate in 2009 due to the global slowdown and to El Salvador's dependence on exports to the US and remittances from the US. El Salvador leads the region in remittances per capita with inflows equivalent to nearly all export income. In 2006 El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the maquila sector. The SACA administration has sought to diversify the economy, focusing on regional transportation and tourism. 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 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 and must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy.
    GDP (purchasing power parity)$43.73 billion (2008 est.)
    $42.66 billion (2007 est.)
    $40.75 billion (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP (official exchange rate)$22.12 billion (2008 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate(%)2.5% (2008 est.)
    4.7% (2007 est.)
    4.2% (2006 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP)$6,200 (2008 est.)
    $6,100 (2007 est.)
    $6,000 (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP - composition by sector(%)agriculture: 10.7%
    industry: 28.8%
    services: 60.6% (2008 est.)
    Labor force2.947 million (2008 est.)

    Labor force - by occupation(%)agriculture: 19%
    industry: 23%
    services: 58% (2006 est.)
    Unemployment rate(%)6.9% (2008 est.)
    6.2% (2007 est.)
    note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment
    Population below poverty line(%)30.7% (2006 est.)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share(%)lowest 10%: 1%
    highest 10%: 37% (2005)
    Distribution of family income - Gini index52.4 (2002)
    52.5 (2001)
    Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP)14.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
    Budgetrevenues: $4.016 billion
    expenditures: $4.242 billion (2008 est.)
    Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%)7.3% (2008 est.)
    4.6% (2007 est.)

    Stock of money$213.7 million (31 December 2008)
    $209.7 million (31 December 2007)
    Stock of quasi money$788.7 million (31 December 2008)
    $797.1 million (31 December 2007)
    Stock of domestic credit$1.19 billion (31 December 2008)
    $1.15 billion (31 December 2007)
    Market value of publicly traded shares$NA (31 December 2008)
    $6.743 billion (31 December 2007)
    $5.465 billion (31 December 2006)
    Economic aid - recipient$267.6 million of which $55 million from US (2005)

    Public debt(% of GDP)44.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
    41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
    Agriculture - productscoffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products
    Industriesfood processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals

    Industrial production growth rate(%)1.5% (2008 est.)

    Current account balance-$1.595 billion (2008 est.)
    -$1.119 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports$4.611 billion (2008 est.)
    $4.035 billion (2007 est.)

    Exports - commodities(%)offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
    Exports - partners(%)US 47.5%, Guatemala 14.2%, Honduras 11.5%, Nicaragua 4.6% (2008)
    Imports$9.003 billion (2008 est.)
    $8.108 billion (2007 est.)

    Imports - commodities(%)raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
    Imports - partners(%)US 29.9%, Guatemala 11.8%, Mexico 9.7%, China 4.5%, France 4.4% (2008)

    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$2.545 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $2.199 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Debt - external$10.69 billion (31 December 2008)
    $9.808 billion (31 December 2007)

    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home$6.702 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $5.918 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad$440 million (31 December 2008 est.)
    $384 million (31 December 2007 est.)
    Exchange ratesthe US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001

    Currency (code)US dollar (USD)

    Telephones - main lines in use1.077 million (2008)
    Telephones - mobile cellular6.951 million (2008)
    Telephone systemgeneral assessment: multiple mobile-cellular service providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2008 mobile-cellular density stood at nearly 100 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition
    domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
    international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2008)
    Internet country code.sv
    Internet users826,000 (2008)
    Airports65 (2009)
    Roadways(km)total: 10,886 km
    paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways)
    unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)

    Ports and terminalsAcajutla, Puerto Cutuco
    Military branchesSalvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)
    Military service age and obligation(years of age)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 servicemales age 16-49: 1,634,816
    females age 16-49: 1,775,474 (2008 est.)
    Manpower fit for military servicemales age 16-49: 1,201,290
    females age 16-49: 1,547,278 (2009 est.)
    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annuallymale: 77,473
    female: 74,655 (2009 est.)
    Military expenditures(% of GDP)5% of GDP (2006)
    Disputes - internationalInternational 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

    Electricity - production(kWh)5.559 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - production by source(%)fossil fuel: 44%
    hydro: 30.9%
    nuclear: 0%
    other: 25.1% (2001)
    Electricity - consumption(kWh)4.676 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - exports(kWh)7 million kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - imports(kWh)38 million kWh (2007 est.)
    Oil - production(bbl/day)0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - consumption(bbl/day)45,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - exports(bbl/day)1,927 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - imports(bbl/day)46,310 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - proved reserves(bbl)0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
    Natural gas - production(cu m)0 cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - consumption(cu m)0 cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - exports(cu m)0 cu m (2008)
    Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m)0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%)0.8% (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS35,000 (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deaths1,700 (2007 est.)
    Major infectious diseasesdegree of risk: high
    food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
    vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
    water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
    Literacy(%)definition: age 10 and over can read and write
    total population: 80.2%
    male: 82.8%
    female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years)total: 12 years
    male: 12 years
    female: 12 years (2006)
    Education expenditures(% of GDP)3.1% of GDP (2006)








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