| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | 0.18 | 3.36 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.46 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| CPI % | 19.61 | 8.43 | 4.1 | 0.85 | 1.04 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Unemployment rate | 9.77 | 8.02 | 6.74 | 7.25 | 6.74 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| Debt/GDP % | - | 30.97 | 47.46 | 66.3 | 75.32 | 85.0 | 87.4 | 87.2 | 84.5 | 82.2 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | -0.36 | -1.88 | -4.89 | -2.35 | -3.36 | -1.1 | -1.8 | -3.9 | -3.3 | -1.9 |
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 sq km 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)
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)
Description: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea legislativa) - unicameral
upper-middle-income, dollarized Central American economy; reliant on remittances from US; recent growth linked to infrastructure investment, consumption, and crime reduction; $1.3 billion IMF loan to address fiscal imbalances; Bitcoin adopted as legal tender; persistent poverty and large informal sector
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
GDP by sector: Agriculture: 4.4% (2024 est.), Industry: 22.4% (2024 est.), Services: 61% (2024 est.)
Export partners: USA 36%, Guatemala 17%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 8%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)
Export commodities: garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, raw sugar, toilet paper (2023)
Import partners: USA 28%, China 15%, Guatemala 11%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 5% (2023)
Import commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Military expenditure: 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.