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.
Geography
Location
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates
13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total : 21,041 sq km
land: 20,721 sq km
water: 320 sq km
comparison ranking: total 153
Area – comparative
about the same size as New Jersey
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 590 km
border countries (2): Guatemala 199 km; Honduras 391 km
Coastline
307 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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
Elevation
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 442 m
Natural resources
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 57.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 34.8% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 7.7% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 15.2% (2022 est.)
forest: 27.7% (2022 est.)
other: 14.5% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
240 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador
Natural hazards
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
volcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country’s capital, which lies just below the volcano’s slopes; San Miguel (2,130 m), which last erupted in 2002, is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana
Geography – note
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea
People and Society
Population
total: 6,628,702 (2024 est.)
male: 3,172,244
female: 3,456,458
comparison rankings: total 110; female 107; male 110
Nationality
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic 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.
Spanish audio sample:
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.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 25.3% (male 855,841/female 818,642)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,077,745/female 2,317,416)
65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 238,658/female 320,400)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 47.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 35 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 12.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 8 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 29.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 28.2 years
female: 31.2 years
comparison ranking: total 143
Population growth rate
0.34% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 163
Birth rate
17.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 90
Death rate
5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 161
Net migration rate
-7.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 219
Population distribution
high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador
Urbanization
urban population: 75.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
1.116 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
20.8 years (2008 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio
43 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 100
Infant mortality rate
total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 112
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.4 years
female: 79.5 years
comparison ranking: total population 121
Total fertility rate
2.02 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 105
Gross reproduction rate
0.98 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
71.9% (2014)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 99.6% of population
rural: 94.2% of population
total: 98.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.4% of population
rural: 5.8% of population
total: 1.8% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
9.7% of GDP (2021)
21.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.62 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 97.1% of population
total: 99.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 2.9% of population
total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
24.6% (2016)
comparison ranking: 57
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 2.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 116
Tobacco use
total: 7.8% (2025 est.)
male: 14.7% (2025 est.)
female: 1.7% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 145
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 4.3% (2021)
women married by age 18: 19.7% (2021)
Education expenditure
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
12.5% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 144
Literacy
total population: 90% (2023 est.)
male: 92% (2023 est.)
female: 88% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2018)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment – international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Land use
agricultural land: 57.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 34.8% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 7.7% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 15.2% (2022 est.)
forest: 27.7% (2022 est.)
other: 14.5% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 75.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 22.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 7.17 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 4.71 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,648,996 tons (2010 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 470 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 210 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 1.43 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
26.27 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: República de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
etymology: means “the Savior” in Spanish and is a shortened form of “the Divine Savior of the World” (el Divino Salvador del Mundo), referring to Jesus Christ; 16th-century Spanish colonists gave the name “San Salvador” to the fort located where the country’s capital of San Salvador now stands, and the name was later used for the city and the surrounding region; the country was officially named El Salvador in 1824
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Spanish colonists founded the city in 1526 on the feast day of the Transfiguration of the Savior (Jesus Christ), and the name means “Holy Savior” in Spanish
Administrative divisions
14 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Legal system
civil law system with minor common law influence; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution
history: many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983
amendment process: proposals require agreement by absolute majority of the Legislative Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on basic principles, and citizen rights and freedoms cannot be amended
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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 president
elections/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
Legislative branch
legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea legislativa)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 60 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 3 years
most recent election date: 2/4/2024
parties 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
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 15 judges, including its president, and 15 substitute judges organized into Constitutional, Civil, Penal, and Administrative Conflict Chambers)
judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of both the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly, and the Bar Association; judges elected for 9-year terms, with renewal of one third of membership every 3 years; consecutive reelection is allowed
subordinate courts: Appellate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace
Political parties
Christian Democratic Party or PDC
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN
Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA
National Coalition Party or PCN
Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA
New Ideas (Nuevas Ideas) or NI
Our Time (Nuestro Tiempo) or NT
Vamos or V
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020)
chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 595-7500
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3763
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://rree.gob.sv/embajadas-consulados-y-misiones-permanentes-de-la-republica-de-el-salvador/
consulate(s) general: Aurora (CO), Boston, Charlotte (NC), Chicago, Dallas, Doral (FL), Duluth (GA), El Paso (TX), Elizabeth (NJ), Fresno (CA), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Laredo (TX), Long Island (NY), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New York, Omaha (NE), San Bernardino (CA), San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Silver Spring (MD), Springdale (AR), St. Paul (MN), Tucson (AZ), Woodbridge (VA)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador William H. DUNCAN (since 24 January 2023)
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
telephone: [503] 2501-2999
FAX: [503] 2501-2150
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://sv.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of cobalt blue (top), white, and cobalt blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and the white for the land, as well as peace and prosperity
note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern and centered in the white band
National symbol(s)
turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
National colors
blue, white
National anthem
name: “Himno Nacional de El Salvador” (National Anthem of El Salvador)
lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
note: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; at 4:20 minutes, the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world’s longest
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site
Economy
Economic overview
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$71.957 billion (2023 est.)
$69.516 billion (2022 est.)
$67.623 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 108
Real GDP growth rate
3.51% (2023 est.)
2.8% (2022 est.)
11.9% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 96
Real GDP per capita
$11,400 (2023 est.)
$11,100 (2022 est.)
$10,800 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 141
GDP (official exchange rate)
$34.016 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.9% (2024 est.)
4% (2023 est.)
7.2% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 20
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 4.6% (2023 est.)
industry: 25% (2023 est.)
services: 59.8% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 91; industry 94; agriculture 120
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 81.4% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 18% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -2.7% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 31.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -49.8% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, maize, milk, chicken, sorghum, beans, oranges, coconuts, eggs, mangoes/guavas (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate
4.12% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 77
Labor force
2.89 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 113
Unemployment rate
2.8% (2024 est.)
3% (2023 est.)
3% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 38
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 6.7% (2024 est.)
male: 5.2% (2024 est.)
female: 9.5% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 159
Population below poverty line
26.6% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
38.8 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 48
Average household expenditures
on food: 26.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 0.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.9% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 28.7% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
24.09% of GDP (2023 est.)
24.54% of GDP (2022 est.)
26.25% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $9.359 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $9.371 billion (2023 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
101.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 21
Taxes and other revenues
20.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 81
Current account balance
-$465.688 million (2023 est.)
-$2.182 billion (2022 est.)
-$1.25 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 118
Exports
$10.629 billion (2023 est.)
$10.164 billion (2022 est.)
$8.351 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 115
Exports – partners
USA 36%, Guatemala 17%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 8%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, raw sugar, toilet paper (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$17.032 billion (2023 est.)
$18.184 billion (2022 est.)
$15.483 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 103
Imports – partners
USA 28%, China 15%, Guatemala 11%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 5% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.59 billion (2024 est.)
$3.079 billion (2023 est.)
$2.695 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 115
Debt – external
$12.668 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 44
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 2.803 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 6.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 140 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 750.096 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 770.613 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 90; imports 86; exports 89; consumption 123; installed generating capacity 113
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 19.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal: 24.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 14% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 500 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 3 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 56,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
8.694 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 7.745 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 948,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 113
Energy consumption per capita
24.421 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 125
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 863,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 72
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 11.5 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 88
Broadcast media
multiple privately owned national terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio stations and 2 government-owned radio stations; transition to digital transmission was set to begin in 2018, along with adoption of the Japanese-Brazilian Digital Standard (ISDB-T) (2022)
Internet country code
.sv
Internet users
percent of population: 68% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 671,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total 88
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YS
Airports
27 (2025)
comparison ranking: 126
Railways
total: 12.5 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 12.5 km (2014) 0.914-mm gauge
Merchant marine
total: 5 (2023)
by type: other 5
comparison ranking: total 169
Ports
total ports: 3 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 3
ports with oil terminals: 3
key ports: Acajutla, Acajutla Offshore Terminal, La Union
Military and Security
Military and security forces
The Armed Forces of El Salvador (La Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Army of El Salvador (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Naval Force of El Salvador (Fuerza Naval de El Salvador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña, FAS)
Ministry of Justice and Public Safety: National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil, PNC) (2025)
Military expenditures
1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 25,000 active FAES (2025)
note: El Salvador has pledged to increase the size of the military to 40,000 troops by 2026
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FAES is lightly armed with an inventory of mostly older imported arms and equipment, largely from the US (2023)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and non-commissioned officers (2023)
Military – note
the Armed Force of El Salvador (FAES) is responsible for defending national sovereignty and ensuring territorial integrity but also has considerable domestic security responsibilities; while the National Civil Police (PNC) are responsible for maintaining public security, the country’s constitution allows the president to use the FAES “in exceptional circumstances” to maintain internal peace and public security; in 2016, the government created a special joint unit of Army commandos and police to fight criminal gangs; more military personnel were devoted to internal security beginning in 2019 when President BUKELE signed a decree authorizing military involvement in police duties to combat rising gang violence, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking, as well as assisting with border security
the military led the country for much of the 20th century; from 1980 to 1992, it fought a bloody civil war against guerrillas from the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front or FMLN, the paramilitary arm of the Democratic Revolutionary Front (Frente Democrático Revolucionario), a coalition of left-wing dissident political groups backed by Cuba and the Soviet Union; the FAES received considerable US support during the conflict; significant human rights violations occurred during the war and approximately 75,000 Salvadorans, mostly civilians, were killed (2025)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 52,000 (2022)
Illicit drugs
a transit country for illicit drugs destined for the United States; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
