El Salvador
sovereign state in Central America
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World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
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
Natural resources
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
People & Society
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.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Independence
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Legal system
civil law system with minor common law influence; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$73.961 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$11,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
2.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.9% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 36%, Guatemala 17%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 8%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 28%, China 15%, Guatemala 11%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 5% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Summary
El Salvador is a sovereign state[1]. It draws 55,787 Wikipedia views per month (sovereign state category, ranking #92 of 197).[2]
Key Facts
- Member of: United Nations[3], World Trade Organization[4], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[5], International Development Association[6], International Finance Corporation[7], Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency[8], International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes[9], Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean[10], Central American Bank for Economic Integration[11], Central American Common Market[12], Interpol[13], Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons[14], UNESCO[15], Universal Postal Union UPU[16]
- Country: El Salvador[17]
- Head of government: Nayib Bukele[18]
- Continent: North America[19]
- Instance of: country[20]
- Head of state: Nayib Bukele[21]
- Capital: San Salvador[22]
- Official language: Spanish[23]
- Currency: United States dollar[24], Bitcoin[25]
- Shares border with: Honduras[26], Guatemala[27]
- Top-level Internet domain: .sv[28]
- Anthem: National anthem of El Salvador[29]
- Basic form of government: republic[30], representative democracy[31], presidential system[32]
- Named after: Redeemer[33]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Ahuachapán Department[34], Cabañas Department[35], Chalatenango Department[36], Cuscatlán Department[37], La Libertad Department[38], La Paz Department[39], La Unión Department[40], Morazán Department[41], San Miguel Department[42], San Salvador Department[43], San Vicente Department[44], Santa Ana Department[45], Sonsonate Department[46], Usulután Department[47]
- Flag: flag of El Salvador[48]
- Legislative body: Legislative Assembly of El Salvador[49]
- Executive body: Government of El Salvador[50]
- Coat of arms: coat of arms of El Salvador[51]
- Part of: Latin America[52]
- Commons category: El Salvador[53]
- Licence plate code: ES[54]
- Located in time zone: UTC−06:00[55], America/El_Salvador[56]
Body
Cultural Significance
Things named for El Salvador include El Salvador International Airport[57], an international airport[58], founded in 1979[59]; Salvadorans[60], a human population[61]; and Cultural Center of Spain in it[62], a government agency[63], founded in 1997[64].
Why It Matters
El Salvador has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[65] It is known by 36 alternative names across languages and contexts.[66]
Entities named for it include El Salvador International Airport[57], an international airport[58], founded in 1979[59]; Salvadorans[60], a human population[61]; and Cultural Center of Spain in it[62], a government agency[63], founded in 1997[64].