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 presidentelections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 5-year term; election last held on 4 February 2024 (next to be held in 2029)election 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%note: 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/"