Country Profile: El Salvador

El Salvador, located in Central America, is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the south and shares land borders with Guatemala and Honduras. With a population of approximately 6.3 million, it is the smallest country in Central America and has high population density, especially around the capital, San Salvador. The economy is characterized as upper-middle-income, heavily reliant on remittances from abroad and impacted by high crime rates. Governed as a presidential republic, it faces ongoing challenges, including social issues stemming from a history of civil conflict and pervasive criminal gangs.

Geography

El Salvador is situated in Central America, bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, and Honduras. It covers an area of 21,041 square kilometers, making it roughly comparable in size to New Jersey. The country features a tropical climate, with a landscape dominated by mountains and a central plateau. Known as the "Land of Volcanoes," it experiences significant seismic activity, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

21,041 sq km total area
307 km of coastline
2,730 m highest point (Cerro El Pital)
33% forested land (2023)
57.7% of land used for agriculture

People and Society

El Salvador has an estimated population of 6,334,723 as of 2025, with a diverse demographic primarily composed of Mestizos (86.3%). The nation is predominantly Roman Catholic (43.9%) and Protestant (39.6%). The urbanization rate is 75.4%, with a majority of the population concentrated in urban areas like San Salvador. While literacy rates are relatively high at 89.8%, the country faces social issues such as high crime rates and poverty.

31.2 years median age (2025)
75.9 years life expectancy at birth (2024)
12.46 births/1,000 population birth rate (2025)
2.9% unemployment rate (2024)
2.94 liters per capita alcohol consumption (2019)

Economy

As an upper-middle-income country, El Salvador's economy is dollarized and largely dependent on remittances, comprising 24% of GDP as of 2024. Its economic growth has been bolstered by infrastructure investments and consumption, but poverty remains widespread. The economy has seen recent fluctuations in GDP growth rates and inflation, with a real GDP per capita of $11,700 projected for 2024.

$35.365 billion GDP (2024 est.)
2.6% real GDP growth rate (2024 est.)
26.6% population living below the poverty line (2022)
4.4% agriculture sector contribution to GDP (2024)
$11.586 billion in exports (2024 est.)

Government

El Salvador operates as a presidential republic, with the President serving as both chief of state and head of government. Nayib Armando Bukele has been in office since June 2019. The country has a unicameral Legislative Assembly comprising 60 directly elected members. The legal framework is based on a civil law system, and recent elections have indicated a shift in political dynamics.

14 administrative departments
18 years is the minimum voting age
9 justices on the Supreme Court
3 years term for Legislative Assembly members
84.7% of votes for President Nayib Bukele in 2024 election

Military and Security

The Armed Forces of El Salvador comprise the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with approximately 25,000 active personnel as of 2025. The military is involved in both national defense and internal security, particularly in combating gang violence. Military expenditures account for 1.2% of GDP.

18-30 years age range for voluntary military service
2.9% military expenditures of GDP (2024)
Aiming to increase military personnel to 40,000 by 2026
The government has utilized the military for domestic security since 2019
MS-13 identified as a significant terrorist group

Energy

El Salvador has made significant investments in renewable energy, with 100% of the population having access to electricity as of 2022. The country's energy mix includes substantial geothermal, hydroelectric, and solar contributions.

6.335 billion kWh electricity consumption (2023)
2.803 million kW installed generating capacity (2023)
31% of installed capacity from hydroelectric sources (2023)
100% electrification rate (2022)
770.613 million kWh transmission and distribution losses (2023)

Environment

El Salvador faces various environmental challenges, including deforestation and soil erosion. The country actively participates in several international environmental agreements. Its climate can be characterized as tropical, with significant biodiversity.

8.694 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (2023)
57.7% of land utilized for agriculture (2023)
15.2% of municipal solid waste recycled (2022)
1.649 million tons of municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.)
22.4% of total area under permanent pasture (2023)

Transportation

El Salvador's transportation infrastructure includes 27 airports and 12.5 km of railways, though the railway system is limited. The country has a network of roads and is actively involved in enhancing its transportation capabilities.

3 ports in total (2024)
5 vessels in the merchant marine (2023)
177 subscriptions of mobile cellular phones per 100 inhabitants (2024)
The YS civil aircraft registration country code prefix
12.5 km of narrow gauge railways (2014)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	6,334,723	2025 est.
Area	21,041 sq km	Smallest country in Central America
GDP	$35.365 billion	2024 est.
Energy consumption	6.335 billion kWh	2023
Birth rate	12.46 births/1,000 population	2025 est.
Unemployment rate	2.9%	2024 est.
Life expectancy	75.9 years	2024 est.
Literacy rate	89.8%	2024 est.
Military expenditures	1.2% of GDP	2024 est.
Percentage of population below poverty line	26.6%	2022 est.