CapitalSan Salvador
Population6,334,723
Area21,041 km²
GDP per capita$11,700
LanguagesSpanish , Nawat
Life Expectancy75.9 yr
Governmenta presidential republic.
Introduction
Background
In 1821, El Salvador gained its independence from Spain, and in 1839, it separated from the Central American Federation. A civil conflict lasting 12 years, resulting in approximately 75,000 fatalities, concluded in 1992 with the signing of a treaty between the government and leftist insurgents, which included provisions for military and political reforms. Currently, El Salvador faces one of the highest homicide rates globally, alongside widespread issues related to criminal gangs.
Geography
Area
land
20,721 sq km
water
320 sq km
total
21,041 sq km
Climate
tropical; rainy period from May to October; dry period from November to April; tropical along the coast; temperate in the highlands
Terrain
predominantly mountainous, featuring a narrow coastal strip and a central plateau
Land use
other
9.3% (2023 est.)
forest
33% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
57.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 34.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Central America, bordered by the North Pacific Ocean, positioned between Guatemala and Honduras
Coastline
307 km
Elevation
lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point
Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
mean elevation
442 m
Irrigated land
240 sq km (2022)
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
590 km
border countries
Guatemala 199 km; Honduras 391 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
referred to as the Land of Volcanoes; experiences frequent and at times devastating earthquakes and volcanic eruptions; highly vulnerable to hurricanes
volcanism: notable volcanic activity; San Salvador (1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, poses a significant risk to the capital situated directly below its slopes; San Miguel (2,130 m) ranks among the most active volcanoes in the nation; other historically significant volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana
Geography - note
the smallest nation in Central America and the only one lacking a coastline on the Caribbean Sea
Natural resources
hydropower, geothermal energy, petroleum, cultivable land
Area - comparative
approximately the same size as the state of New Jersey
Geographic coordinates
13 50 N, 88 55 W
Population distribution
exhibits a high population density across the country, with particular concentration in the vicinity of the capital, San Salvador
People & Society
Literacy
male
91.6% (2024 est.)
female
88.2% (2024 est.)
total population
89.8% (2024 est.)
Languages
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 estimate)
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
total population
0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.74 male(s)/female
Birth rate
12.46 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
28.2 years
total
31.2 years (2025 est.)
female
31.2 years
Population
male
3,026,645
total
6,334,723 (2025 est.)
female
3,308,078
Nationality
noun
Salvadoran(s)
adjective
Salvadoran
Tobacco use
male
14.7% (2025 est.)
total
7.8% (2025 est.)
female
1.7% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
75.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
Ethnic groups
Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Indigenous 0.2% (including Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 estimate)
Child marriage
women married by age 15
4.3% (2021)
women married by age 18
19.7% (2021)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
43 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
29.9 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
7.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
13.1 (2025 est.)
Physician density
1.62 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
21.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-3.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.4 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 94.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
15.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
13.3 deaths/1,000 live births
total
10 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
10 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.34% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.68 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
characterized by high population density throughout the country, particularly concentrated in the vicinity of the capital, San Salvador
Life expectancy at birth
male
72.4 years
female
79.5 years
total population
75.9 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
39 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
1.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
2.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.116 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
24.6% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.8 years (2008 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
50.7% (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
5% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
11 years (2023 est.)
total
11 years (2023 est.)
female
12 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical; wet season (May through October); dry season (November through April); tropical along the coast; temperate in highland areas
Land use
other
9.3% (2023 est.)
forest
33% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
57.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 34.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
75.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1.649 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
15.2% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation; erosion of soil; pollution of water; soil contamination from the disposal of hazardous waste
Total water withdrawal
municipal
433.229 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial
94.316 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural
1.411 billion cubic meters (2022)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
8.694 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
948,000 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.)
Particulate matter emissions
23.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
26.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental 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
Government
Flag
description: consisting of three equal horizontal stripes of cobalt blue (top), white, and cobalt blue, with the national coat of arms placed in the center of the white band; the coat of arms features a circular emblem inscribed with the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL around it.
meaning: the blue stripes symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white represents the land, along with notions of peace and prosperity.
history: this flag draws inspiration from the previous blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.
Capital
name
San Salvador
etymology
Spanish settlers established the city in 1526 on the feast day commemorating the Transfiguration of the Savior (Jesus Christ), and its name translates to "Holy Savior" in Spanish.
time difference
UTC-6 (one hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time).
geographic coordinates
13 42 N, 89 12 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
numerous previous versions; the most recent drafted on 16 December 1983 and enacted on 23 December 1983.
amendment process
proposals must receive the consensus of an absolute majority of the Legislative Assembly members; for passage, a minimum of two-thirds majority vote is required from the Assembly; constitutional articles concerning fundamental principles and citizen rights and freedoms are not subject to amendment.
Country name
etymology
translates to "the Savior" in Spanish and is a shortened version of "the Divine Savior of the World" (el Divino Salvador del Mundo), referring to Jesus Christ; the 16th-century Spanish colonists named the fort situated where the capital, San Salvador, is now located "San Salvador," and this name was subsequently applied to the city and the surrounding area; the nation was officially designated El Salvador in 1824.
local long form
República de El Salvador
local short form
El Salvador
conventional long form
Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form
El Salvador
Independence
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Legal system
a civil law system with some influence from common law; the Supreme Court has the authority to review legislative actions.
Government type
a presidential republic.
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
the Supreme Court, or Corte Suprema de Justicia (comprising 15 judges, including a president, and 15 substitute judges organized into Chambers for Constitutional, Civil, Penal, and Administrative Conflict matters).
subordinate courts
Appellate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace.
judge selection and term of office
judges are appointed by the Legislative Assembly upon the recommendation of both the National Council of the Judicature, an independent entity elected by the Legislative Assembly, and the Bar Association; judges serve nine-year terms, with one-third of the membership renewed every three years; consecutive reelection is permitted.
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers selected by the president
chief of state
President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
election results
2024: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez reelected as president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (Nuevas Ideas) 84.7%, Manuel FLORES (FMLN) 6.4%, Joel SANCHEZ (ARENA) 5.6%, Luis PARADA (NT) 2%, others 1.3%
2019: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected as president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.7%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.4%, others 0.8%.
head of government
President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
most recent election date
4 February 2024
election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
expected date of next election
scheduled for 28 February 2027; note - on 31 July 2025, the Legislative Assembly voted to advance the date of the upcoming presidential election from 2029 to 2027, aligning it with the three-year cycle of legislative and municipal elections.
National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
National color(s)
blue, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site
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
Legislative branch
term in office
3 years
number of seats
60 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea legislativa)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
2/4/2024
expected date of next election
February 2027
percentage of women in chamber
31.7%
parties elected and seats per party
New Ideas (N) (54); Other (6)
National anthem(s)
title
"Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El Salvador)
history
officially adopted in 1953, in use since 1879; at four minutes and 20 seconds long, the anthem ranks among the longest in the world.
lyrics/music
Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
National symbol(s)
turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
Administrative divisions
comprises 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); namely Ahuachapán, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlán, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazán, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulután.
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 232-3763
chancery
1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036.
telephone
[1] (202) 595-7500
chief of mission
Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020)
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)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://rree.gob.sv/embajadas-consulados-y-misiones-permanentes-de-la-republica-de-el-salvador/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[503] 2501-2150
embassy
Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador.
telephone
[503] 2501-2999
mailing address
3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
chief of mission
Ambassador (currently vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Naomi C. FELLOWS (since August 2025).
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
International law organization participation
has yet to submit a declaration of ICJ jurisdiction; is a non-party state to the ICCt.
Economy
Budget
revenues
$9.359 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$10.313 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$10.164 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$10.629 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$11.586 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$18.181 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$17.034 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$18.354 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizers, textiles, furniture, light metals
Labor force
2.89 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
102.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
24.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
24.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
24% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$12.668 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
upper-middle-income, dollarized economy in Central America; dependent on remittances from the United States; recent economic growth associated with investments in infrastructure, consumption, and decreases in crime; $1.3 billion loan from the IMF aimed at correcting fiscal imbalances; Bitcoin recognized as legal tender; ongoing poverty issues and a significant informal sector
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
2.9% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 36%, Guatemala 17%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 8%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 28%, China 15%, Guatemala 11%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$11,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$11,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$11,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
sugarcane, maize, milk, chicken, sorghum, beans, oranges, coconuts, eggs, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Exports - commodities
garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, raw sugar, toilet paper (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$2.144 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$367.831 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$632.549 million (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
20.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$35.365 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
79.6% (2024 est.)
government consumption
19.2% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
-1.9% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
22.2% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
32.8% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-51.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
26.6% (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
26.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
0.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.9% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
0.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$69.621 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$72.085 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$73.961 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
5.2% (2024 est.)
total
6.7% (2024 est.)
female
9.5% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$2.695 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$3.079 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$3.705 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
22.4% (2024 est.)
services
61% (2024 est.)
agriculture
4.4% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
1.9% (2023 est.)
highest 10%
29.7% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
39.8 (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
imports
2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
500 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
3 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
56,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
exports
140 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports
750.096 million kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
6.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
2.803 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
770.613 million kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
24.421 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
19.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal
24.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
14% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
68% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
a variety of privately held national terrestrial television networks, augmented by cable television networks that offer international programming; numerous commercial radio stations and two state-owned radio stations; the shift to digital transmission was scheduled to commence in 2018, accompanied by the implementation of the Japanese-Brazilian Digital Standard (ISDB-T) in 2022.
Internet country code
.sv
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
885,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
14 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
11.2 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
177 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
671,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2022 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
0
medium
0
key ports
Acajutla, Acajutla Offshore Terminal, La Union
very small
3
total ports
3 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
3
Airports
27 (2025)
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
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YS
Military & Security
Military - note
The Armed Force of El Salvador (FAES) is tasked with safeguarding national sovereignty and ensuring territorial integrity, and it also plays a significant role in domestic security; while the National Civil Police (PNC) are charged with upholding public safety, the constitution of the country permits the president to deploy the FAES "in exceptional circumstances" to preserve internal order and public security. In 2016, the government established a specialized joint unit comprising Army commandos and police to combat criminal gangs. Starting in 2019, more military personnel were allocated to internal security following a decree signed by President BUKELE, which authorized military participation in police functions to address escalating gang violence, organized crime, and drug trafficking, in addition to supporting border security.
The military dominated the nation for a significant portion of the 20th century; between 1980 and 1992, it engaged in a brutal civil war against guerrillas from the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), which served as the paramilitary wing of the Democratic Revolutionary Front (Frente Democrático Revolucionario), a coalition of leftist dissident political factions supported by Cuba and the Soviet Union. The FAES received substantial assistance from the United States during the conflict; numerous human rights abuses occurred during the war, resulting in approximately 75,000 Salvadorans, predominantly civilians, losing their lives (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
The Armed Forces of El Salvador (La Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES) consists of the Army of El Salvador (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), the Naval Force of El Salvador (Fuerza Naval de El Salvador, FNES), and the Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña, FAS).
Ministry of Justice and Public Safety: National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil, PNC) (2025)
Military service age and obligation
The age requirement for voluntary military service is 18-30 years for both men and women (17-22 for military academies); men are subject to selective compulsory military service; the obligation for service lasts up to 18 months (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The FAES is equipped with light armament, primarily consisting of older or secondhand weapons and equipment, mainly supplied by the United States (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 25,000 active FAES (2025)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
35,391 (2024 est.)
refugees
392 (2024 est.)
