Country Summary: El Salvador (Republic of El Salvador)

Country Name: El Salvador (Republic of El Salvador)

Capital: San Salvador

Government Type: presidential republic

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.

Continent: Central America

Population: 6,602,370 (2023 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.)

Economic Overview: growth-challenged Central American economy buttressed via remittances; dense labor force; fairly aggressive COVID-19 stimulus plan; new and lower banking reserve requirements; earthquake, tropical storm, and crime disruptions; widespread corruption

Currency: United States Dollar (USD)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $3.426 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $59.537 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 2.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $9,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $10.129 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 111

Export Commodities: clothing, electrical capacitors, plastic lids, sugar, packaged medicines, toilet paper (2021)

Export Partners: United States 40%, Guatemala 15%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 6% (2019)

Imports: 

• $18.07 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 99

Import Commodities: refined petroleum, packaged medicines, clothing, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2019)

Import Partners: United States 30%, China 14%, Guatemala 13%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 6% (2019)

Natural Resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Agricultural Products: sugar cane, maize, milk, poultry, sorghum, beans, coconuts, eggs, apples, oranges

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

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• 2.82% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 120

Labor Force: 2.835 million (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Natural Hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

• Volcanism: 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 most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana

Geography:

• Total: 21,041 sq km

• Land: 20,721 sq km

• Water: 320 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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