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Central America and Caribbean :: El Salvador

- ## Introduction :: EL SALVADOR

- Background:
  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.

- ## Geography :: EL SALVADOR

- 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
  country comparison to the world: 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 extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
  Natural resources:
  hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 74.7%
  arable land 33.1%; permanent crops 10.9%; permanent pasture 30.7%
  forest: 13.6%
  other: 11.7% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  449.9 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  25.23 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 1.84 cu km/yr (22%/14%/64%)
  per capita: 301.9 cu m/yr (2007)
  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 (elev. 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 (elev. 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
  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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
  Geography - note:
  smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

- ## People and Society :: EL SALVADOR

- Nationality:
  noun: Salvadoran(s)
  adjective: Salvadoran
  Ethnic groups:
  mestizo 86.3%, white 12.7%, Amerindian 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)
  Languages:
  Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)
  Demographic profile:
  El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It is well into its demographic transition, experiencing slower population growth, a decline in its number of youths, and the gradual aging of its population. The increased use of family planning has substantially lowered El Salvador's fertility rate, from approximately 6 children per woman in the 1970s to replacement level today. A 2008 national family planning survey showed that female sterilization remained the most common contraception method in El Salvador - its sterilization rate is among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean - but that the use of injectable contraceptives is growing. Fertility differences between rich and poor and urban and rural women are narrowing.
  Salvadorans fled during the 1979 to 1992 civil war mainly to the United States but also to Canada and to neighboring Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Emigration to the United States increased again in the 1990s and 2000s as a result of deteriorating economic conditions, natural disasters (Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and earthquakes in 2001), and family reunification. At least 20% of El Salvador's population lives abroad. The remittances they send home account for close to 20% of GDP, are the second largest source of external income after exports, and have helped reduce poverty.
  Population:
  6,141,350 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27.31% (male 860,122/female 816,855)
  15-24 years: 20.71% (male 638,989/female 632,741)
  25-54 years: 38.1% (male 1,077,378/female 1,262,585)
  55-64 years: 6.8% (male 186,570/female 230,839)
  65 years and over: 7.09% (male 192,713/female 242,558) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 54.3%
  youth dependency ratio: 41.7%
  elderly dependency ratio: 12.6%
  potential support ratio: 7.9% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 26.1 years
  male: 24.6 years
  female: 27.6 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.25% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Birth rate:
  16.46 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Death rate:
  5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Net migration rate:
  -8.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 66.7% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  SAN SALVADOR (capital) 1.098 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 17.86 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 19.94 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 15.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 74.42 years
  male: 71.14 years
  female: 77.86 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Total fertility rate:
  1.91 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  72.3%
  note: percent of women aged 15-44 (2008)
  Health expenditures:
  6.9% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Physicians density:
  1.6 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.1 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 97.5% of population
  rural: 86.5% of population
  total: 93.8% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.5% of population
  rural: 13.5% of population
  total: 6.2% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 82.4% of population
  rural: 60% of population
  total: 75% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 17.6% of population
  rural: 40% of population
  total: 25% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.53% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  20,900 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  400 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea
  vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  20.1% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  6.6% (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Education expenditures:
  3.4% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 88%
  male: 90.4%
  female: 86% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 12 years
  male: 12 years
  female: 12 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 179,303
  percentage: 4%
  note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2007 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 12.4%
  male: 12.8%
  female: 11.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89

- ## Government :: EL SALVADOR

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
  conventional short form: El Salvador
  local long form: Republica de El Salvador
  local short form: El Salvador
  note: name is an abbreviation of the original Spanish conquistador designation for the area "Provincia de Nuestro Senor Jesus Cristo, el Salvador del Mundo" (Province of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World), which became simply "El Salvador" (The Savior)
  Government type:
  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)
  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
  Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
  Constitution:
  many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983; amended many times, last on 12 June 2014 to recognize indigenous communities (2012)
  Legal system:
  civil law system with minor common law influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2014); Vice President Salvador Oscar ORTIZ (since 1 June 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2014); Vice President Salvador Oscar ORTIZ (since 1 June 2014)
  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 2 February 2014, with a runoff on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in February 2019)
  election results: percent of vote - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN elected president; first-round results - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (FMLN) 48.9%, Norman QUIJANO (ARENA) 39%, Antonio SACA (CN) 11.4%, other 0.7%; second-round results - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN 50.1%, Norman QUIJANO 49.9%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies and a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 3-year terms)
  elections: last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held in March 2018)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ARENA 35, FMLN 31, GANA 11, PCN 6, PDC 1
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (CSJ) (consists of 15 judges assigned to constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict divisions)
  judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly; judges elected for a 9-year term, with renewal of one-third of judges every 3 years; consecutive re-election is allowed
  subordinate courts: Appellate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace
  Political parties and leaders:
  Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo Antonio PARKER Soto]
  Democratic Change (Cambio Democratico) or CD [Douglas AVILES] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU)
  Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]
  Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Jose Andres ROVIRA Caneles]
  National Conciliation Party or PCN [Manuel RODRIGUEZ]
  Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Jorge VELADO]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  labor organizations:
  Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES
  Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS
  National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS
  National Trade Union Federation of Salvadoran Workers or FENASTRAS
  National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS
  Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES
  Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS
  Union of Judiciary Workers or SITTOJ
  Union of Workers of the Ministry of Treasury or SITRAMI
  Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL
  business organizations:
  American Chamber of Commerce in El Salvador
  National Association of Private Enterprise or ANEP
  Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce
  Salvadoran Chamber of the Construction Industry or CASALCO
  Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI
  International organization participation:
  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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Roberto ALTSCHUL Fuentes (since 18 September 2014)
  chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 595-7517
  FAX: [1] (202) 232-1928
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Brentwood (NY), Chicago, Coral Gables (FL), Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New Orleans, New York, Nogales (AZ), San Francisco, Santa Ana (CA), Seattle, Tucson (AZ), Woodbridge (VA), Woodstock (GA)
  consulate(s): Costa Mesa (CA), Elizabeth (NJ), Kansas City (MO), Newark (NJ), Philadelphia (PA), Phoenix (AZ), San Diego (CA), St. Louis (MO)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Mari Carmen APONTE (since 22 September 2010)
  embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
  mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
  telephone: [503] 2501-2999
  FAX: [503] 2501-2150
  Flag description:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and 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 symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, 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 - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern 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

- ## Economy :: EL SALVADOR

- Economy - overview:
  The smallest country in Central America geographically, El Salvador has the fourth largest economy in the region. With the global recession, real GDP contracted in 2009 and economic growth has since remained low, averaging less than 2% from 2010 to 2014. Remittances accounted for 17% of GDP in 2014 and were received by about a third of all households. In 2006, El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition. The Salvadoran Government maintained fiscal discipline during post-war reconstruction and reconstruction following earthquakes in 2001 and hurricanes in 1998 and 2005, but El Salvador's public debt has been growing over the last several years, amounting to some 59% of GDP in 2014. External debt was below 30% of GDP in 2014. In September 2014, El Salvador signed a five-year $277 million second compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - a United States Government agency aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty - to improve El Salvador's competitiveness and productivity in international markets. In November 2014 along with his counterparts from Guatemala and Honduras, President SANCHEZ CEREN announced the “Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle.” This plan seeks to address the challenges facing the three Northern Triangle countries, including steps the governments will take to stimulate economic growth, increase transparency and fiscal responsibility, reduce violence, modernize the justice system, improve infrastructure, and promote educational opportunities over the next several years.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $50.94 billion (2014 est.)
  $49.95 billion (2013 est.)
  $49.12 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 107
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $25.33 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  2% (2014 est.)
  1.7% (2013 est.)
  1.9% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $8,000 (2014 est.)
  $7,900 (2013 est.)
  $7,700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Gross national saving:
  9.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  8.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  8.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 92.8%
  government consumption: 12.1%
  investment in fixed capital: 15.4%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 26.6%
  imports of goods and services: -46.9%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 10%
  industry: 25.1%
  services: 64.9% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products
  Industries:
  food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Labor force:
  2.752 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 21%
  industry: 20%
  services: 58% (2011 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  5.5% (2014 est.)
  6.3% (2013 est.)
  note: data are official rates; but underemployment is high
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Population below poverty line:
  36.5% (2010 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1%
  highest 10%: 37% (2009 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  46.9 (2007)
  52.5 (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Budget:
  revenues: $5.098 billion
  expenditures: $5.977 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  20.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -3.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Public debt:
  63.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  59% of GDP (2013 est.)
  note: El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.1% (2014 est.)
  0.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  6% (31 December 2014 est.)
  5.74% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Stock of narrow money:
  $3.057 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.892 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Stock of broad money:
  $11.45 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $10.87 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $13.07 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $11.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $10.74 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $5.474 billion (31 December 2011)
  $4.227 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Current account balance:
  -$1.272 billion (2014 est.)
  -$1.577 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Exports:
  $4.521 billion (2014 est.)
  $4.334 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Exports - commodities:
  offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
  Exports - partners:
  US 46.5%, Honduras 14.2%, Guatemala 13.4%, Nicaragua 6.4%, Costa Rica 4.6% (2014)
  Imports:
  $10.11 billion (2014 est.)
  $9.629 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Imports - commodities:
  raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
  Imports - partners:
  US 41%, Guatemala 9.5%, China 7.3%, Mexico 7%, Honduras 5.3% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $2.773 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.745 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Debt - external:
  $15.46 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $14.01 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $9.124 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $8.873 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $650.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $650.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Exchange rates:
  note: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy

- ## Energy :: EL SALVADOR

- Electricity - production:
  5.992 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Electricity - consumption:
  5.412 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Electricity - exports:
  78 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Electricity - imports:
  163 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  1.507 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  53.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  31.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  15.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Crude oil - production:
  3 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Crude oil - imports:
  16,160 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  16,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  46,210 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  2,425 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  29,020 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  6.375 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120

- ## Communications :: EL SALVADOR

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 950,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 9.2 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 150 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2011 teledensity exceeded 135 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition
  domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
  international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  multiple privately owned national terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio broadcast stations and 1 government-owned radio broadcast station (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 52, FM 144, shortwave 0 (2005)
  Television broadcast stations:
  5 (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .sv
  Internet users:
  total: 1.7 million
  percent of population: 27.3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102

- ## Transportation :: EL SALVADOR

- Airports:
  68 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 5
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 63
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 11
  under 914 m:
  51 (2013)
  Heliports:
  2 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 12.5 km
  narrow gauge: 12.5 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Roadways:
  total: 6,918 km
  paved: 3,247 km (includes 341 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 3,671 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Waterways:
  (Rio Lempa is partially navigable by small craft) (2011)
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Puerto Cutuco
  oil terminal(s): Acajutla offshore terminal

- ## Military :: EL SALVADOR

- Military branches:
  Salvadoran Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Salvadoran Army (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Salvadoran Navy (Fuerza Naval de El Slavador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,449,214
  females age 16-49: 1,611,248 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,079,038
  females age 16-49: 1,373,368 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 71,530
  female: 68,971 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  0.99% of GDP (2012)
  1.11% of GDP (2011)
  0.99% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 101

- ## Transnational Issues :: EL SALVADOR

- Disputes - international:
  International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca
  Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine

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