| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | 0.18 | 3.37 | 1.99 | 0.01 | 1.47 | 11.91 | 2.8 | 3.51 | 2.6 | 2.48 |
| CPI % | 19.62 | 8.44 | 4.09 | 0.86 | 1.04 | 3.47 | 7.2 | 4.05 | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| Unemployment rate | 9.74 | 8.06 | 6.76 | 7.29 | 6.77 | 6.32 | 5.05 | 5.22 | 5.22 | 5.22 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | -0.38 | -1.88 | -4.89 | -2.33 | -3.35 | -4.31 | -6.82 | -1.37 | -1.39 | -0.87 |
| Debt/GDP % | - | 30.97 | 47.46 | 66.29 | 75.31 | 87.95 | 83.35 | 84.68 | 87.58 | 87.87 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
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.
Area: 21,041 km2
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
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)major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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.)
Capital: San Salvador
Government type: presidential republic
Chief of state: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
Head of government: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the presidentelection/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)most recent election date: 4 February 2024election results: 2024: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez reelected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (Nuevas Ideas) 84.7%, Manuel FLORES (FMLN) 6.4%, Joel SANCHEZ (ARENA) 5.6%, Luis PARADA (NT) 2%, other 1.3%2019: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.7%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.4%, other 0.8%expected date of next election: 28 February 2027; note - on 31 July 2025, the Legislative Assembly voted to move the date of the next presidential election from 2029 to 2027 to bring the presidential election cycle in line with the three-year legislative and municipal election cyclenote: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Description: legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea legislativa)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 60 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 3 yearsmost recent election date: 2/4/2024parties elected and seats per party: New Ideas (N) (54); Other (6)percentage of women in chamber: 31.7%expected date of next election: February 2027
Information derived by "The World Factbook 2021. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/"