Discover Fascinating El Salvador Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about El Salvador.

El Salvador

Background

๐ŸŒŸ El Salvador is a country with a rich history! It gained its independence from Spain in the year 1821. ๐ŸŽ‰ But that wasn't the end of its journey! It also separated from the Central American Federation in 1839. The country faced a tough time during a 12-year civil war that lasted until 1992, when peace was finally achieved through a treaty that brought military and political changes. โœŒ๏ธ

Year of Independence from Spain

1821

Year of Independence from Central American Federation

1839

Duration of Civil War

12 years

Year Civil War Ended

1992

Exports - commodities

El Salvador has a variety of exports that are super important for its economy! ๐ŸŒโœˆ๏ธ In 2022, the country primarily exported garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, fabric, and raw sugar. These products showcase the country's manufacturing capabilities and its role in international trade. Let's dive in and see how these exports contribute to the nation! ๐Ÿ“Š

Top Exports of El Salvador (2022)

garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, fabric, raw sugar

Exports - partners

๐ŸŒ Let's take a closer look at El Salvador's export partners! In 2022, a huge chunk of El Salvador's exports went to the United States, making it the biggest partner by far. Here's how the pie breaks down:

  • United States: 38% ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
  • Guatemala: 16% ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡น
  • Honduras: 16% ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Nicaragua: 7% ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฎ
  • Costa Rica: 4% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ท

As you can see, the U.S. takes the lead, but El Salvador also trades a fair bit with its Central American neighbors! This shows how connected countries are when it comes to business. ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Total Export Percentage to Top Partner

38%

Percentage to Guatemala

16%

Percentage to Honduras

16%

Percentage to Nicaragua

7%

Percentage to Costa Rica

4%

Export Partners of El Salvador (2022)

Capital

๐ŸŒ The capital of El Salvador is San Salvador! This vibrant city is known for its rich culture, history, and beautiful landscapes. San Salvador serves as the political, cultural, and economic center of the country. From stunning churches to lively markets, there's always something happening in San Salvador! ๐ŸŽ‰

Imports - commodities

Let's dive into the world of imports for El Salvador! ๐ŸŽ‰ The country imports a variety of essential commodities that keep its economy ticking. Hereโ€™s a list of some significant imports:

  • Refined Petroleum ๐Ÿ”ฅ
  • Garments ๐Ÿ‘—
  • Natural Gas ๐Ÿ’จ
  • Plastic Products ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
  • Plastics โ™ป๏ธ

These commodities play a crucial role in everyday life and business in El Salvador. Each item on this list contributes to the vibrant mix of products that fuel the economy and meet the demands of the people. ๐ŸŒŽโœจ

Climate

๐ŸŒž El Salvador has a tropical climate, making it a warm and inviting destination! The country experiences two distinct seasons: the rainy season that lasts from May to October โ˜”, and the dry season which goes from November to April ๐ŸŒค๏ธ. Interestingly, while the coastal areas enjoy a tropical climate, the uplands are a bit cooler and more temperate. So, whether you prefer sunny beaches or cooler mountains, El Salvador has something for everyone! ๐Ÿ–๏ธ๐Ÿ”๏ธ

Executive branch

In El Salvador, the chief of state and the head of government is the same person! ๐ŸŽ‰ That's right, it's President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez, who has been leading the country since June 1, 2019. This means that for over four years, he has been at the forefront, shaping the future of this beautiful nation! ๐ŸŒโœจ

Duration in office

4 years

Current Chief of State

President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez

Legislative branch

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ป The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador is unicameral, meaning it has only one chamber. ๐Ÿ“œ It is made up of 84 seats where diverse ideas and laws are debated and passed to help shape the country! ๐Ÿ›๏ธ This assembly plays a crucial role in representing the people and their needs in the government.

Number of seats in Legislative Assembly

84

Natural resources

El Salvador is blessed with some amazing natural resources! ๐ŸŒ Hereโ€™s a quick look at what the country has:

  • Hydropower: A significant resource that plays an essential role in energy production. โšก
  • Geothermal Power: With volcanic activity, geothermal energy is harnessed from the earthโ€™s heat, providing clean energy. ๐ŸŒ‹
  • Petroleum: Though not a major player in oil production, it remains an important resource in the mix. ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธ
  • Arable Land: This is vital for agriculture, allowing crops to grow and sustain the population. ๐ŸŒพ

Together, these resources help shape El Salvador's economy and energy landscape!

Economic overview

El Salvador's economy faces several challenges. ๐Ÿ“‰ Despite these hurdles, remittances from abroad play a significant role in supporting the economy. ๐ŸŒ People contribute to the economy through their hard work! The labor force is dense, meaning there are many people available for jobs. ๐Ÿ’ผ The country also implemented an aggressive stimulus plan during the COVID-19 pandemic to help boost the economy. ๐Ÿ’ช Recently, new and lower banking reserve requirements were introduced to further support economic activity. However, the economy faces disruptions from natural disasters like earthquakes and tropical storms, as well as issues like crime and widespread corruption. ๐ŸŒช๏ธ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Challenges faced by the economy

remittances, COVID-19 stimulus, lower banking reserve requirements, natural disasters, crime, corruption

Government type

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ป El Salvador is a presidential republic! This means that the President is both the head of state and the head of government. ๐Ÿค The people vote to choose their president, and this official is responsible for the country's executive functions. In a presidential republic like El Salvador, there is usually a clear separation of powers among the branches of government, allowing for checks and balances. Isn't that fascinating? ๐ŸŒŸ

Ethnic groups

In El Salvador, the population is made up of several distinct ethnic groups, each contributing to the countryโ€™s rich cultural tapestry. ๐ŸŽจ Hereโ€™s a breakdown of the major ethnicities:

  • Mestizo: 86.3%
  • White: 12.7%
  • Indigenous: 0.2%
  • Black: 0.1%
  • Other: 0.6%

This diversity showcases a blend of heritage, with most people identifying as Mestizo, followed by White individuals. ๐ŸŒ Let's visualize this ethnic composition through a pie chart! ๐Ÿฐ

Percentage of Mestizo

86.3%

Percentage of White

12.7%

Percentage of Indigenous

0.2%

Percentage of Black

0.1%

Percentage of Other

0.6%

Ethnic Composition of El Salvador

Religions

In El Salvador, the religious landscape is quite diverse! ๐ŸŒ Here's a breakdown of the various religions practiced in the country according to the latest estimates from 2023:

  • Roman Catholic: 43.9% โ›ช
  • Protestant: 39.6% (This includes Evangelicals and other Protestant groups)
    • Evangelical (unspecified): 38.2%
    • Evangelical - Methodist: 1.3%
    • Evangelical - Baptist: 0.1%
  • None: 16.3% ๐Ÿšซ
  • Unspecified: 0.2% โ“

Overall, we can see that a large portion of the population identifies with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism! The religious mix provides a vibrant cultural fabric for this beautiful Central American country. ๐ŸŒˆ

Percentage of Roman Catholics

43.9%

Percentage of Protestants

39.6%

Percentage of people with no religion

16.3%

Percentage of unspecified religion

0.2%

Percentage of Evangelical (unspecified)

38.2%

Percentage of Evangelical - Methodist

1.3%

Percentage of Evangelical - Baptist

0.1%

Religious Distribution in El Salvador (2023)

Languages

In El Salvador, the official language is Spanish! ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ It's spoken by almost everyone in the country. Additionally, there is Nawat, a beautiful language spoken among some indigenous communities. ๐ŸŒณ This rich diversity in languages reflects the culture and history of the people of El Salvador!

Official Language

Spanish

Indigenous Language

Nawat

Imports - partners

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ป El Salvador loves to trade! Hereโ€™s a fun look at where they import goods from in 2022. The United States leads the pack with a whopping 30% of total imports. ๐ŸŒŽ Let's dive into some numbers:

  • US: 30%
  • China: 16%
  • Guatemala: 12%
  • Mexico: 8%
  • Honduras: 6%

This data shows how much El Salvador relies on these countries for its imports, and itโ€™s pretty clear that the US is their top partner! ๐Ÿฅณ

Top Import Partner

United States (30%)

Second Import Partner

China (16%)

Third Import Partner

Guatemala (12%)

Fourth Import Partner

Mexico (8%)

Fifth Import Partner

Honduras (6%)

El Salvador's Import Partners in 2022

Population

๐ŸŒ El Salvador's Total Population: El Salvador is home to a vibrant population of 6,628,702 people! That's a lot of smiles, cultures, and stories packed into one small country! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Total Population of El Salvador

6,628,702

Area

El Salvador is a small yet vibrant country with a total area of 21,041 sq km. ๐ŸŒŽ Let's break it down a bit: the land area covers 20,721 sq km, which is where all the action happens, and thereโ€™s a cozy 320 sq km of water! ๐ŸŒŠ Whether you're exploring the bustling cities or enjoying the beautiful coasts, there's plenty to see in this charming Central American nation!

Total Area

21041 sq km

Land Area

20721 sq km

Water Area

320 sq km

Breakdown of El Salvador's Area

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ฐ Let's take a look at the Real GDP (purchasing power parity) of El Salvador over the last few years! This is an important number as it shows how much value the economy can produce.

  • In 2021, El Salvador's GDP was $67.623 billion.
  • In 2022, it grew to $69.516 billion, showing the economy was getting stronger! ๐Ÿ’ช
  • And in 2023, it's estimated to reach $71.957 billion! ๐ŸŽ‰

Yay for growth! ๐Ÿ“ˆ This is a good sign for El Salvador's economy, and we can visualize this growth on a chart!

GDP in 2021

$67.623 billion

GDP in 2022

$69.516 billion

GDP in 2023 (estimated)

$71.957 billion

Real GDP Growth in El Salvador (PPP)

Real GDP per capita

๐Ÿ’ธ Let's talk about how much money each person in El Salvador makes! This is called the Real GDP per capita, and it's super important for understanding the economy. Hereโ€™s how it has changed over the last few years:

  • 2021: $10,700
  • 2022: $11,000
  • 2023: $11,300

You can see that El Salvador's GDP per capita has been growing steadily! ๐Ÿ“ˆ This means that on average, people are getting richer each year. Isnโ€™t that great news? ๐ŸŽ‰

Real GDP per Capita Estimated for 2023

$11,300

Real GDP per Capita Estimated for 2022

$11,000

Real GDP per Capita Estimated for 2021

$10,700

Real GDP per Capita in El Salvador (2021-2023)

Imports

๐ŸŒ El Salvador has been bustling with trade! Let's take a peek at the import numbers over the last few years. ๐Ÿ“ˆ In 2023, the country imported goods worth $17.032 billion. In 2022, that number was a bit higher at $18.184 billion. And back in 2021, imports were at $15.483 billion. It's exciting to see how these numbers change each year! ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Estimated Imports in 2023

$17.032 billion

Estimated Imports in 2022

$18.184 billion

Estimated Imports in 2021

$15.483 billion

El Salvador's Imports Over Time

Exports

El Salvador's exports have been on an interesting journey over the past few years! ๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's take a look at how much the country exported:

  • In 2021, the exports were $8.351 billion.
  • The following year, 2022, they increased to $10.164 billion.
  • And guess what? The latest estimate for 2023 is even higher at $10.629 billion!

This trend shows that El Salvador is steadily increasing its exports year after year! ๐Ÿš€

Total exports in 2023

$10.629 billion

Total exports in 2022

$10.164 billion

Total exports in 2021

$8.351 billion

El Salvador's Export Growth Over Time

Population growth rate

In El Salvador, the population is expected to grow at a rate of 0.34% in 2024! ๐ŸŒฑ This means more friends, families, and fun times as the community continues to grow! ๐ŸŽ‰

Projected Population Growth Rate for 2024

0.34%