| Official Name | Republic of El Salvador |
| Continent | North America |
| Lat Long of El Salvador | 13 to 15 N and 88 to 90W |
| Area | 8,124 sq Mi (21,040 sq Km) |
| Population | 6.55 million estimate |
| Capital of El Salvador | San Salvador |
| Largest City | San Salvador |
| Official Languages | Castilian |
| Major Religion | Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah’s Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.) |
| National Day | September 15, 1821 (From Spain) |
| Form of Government | The unitary presidential constitutional republic |
| President | Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez |
| Vice President | Felix Augusto Antonio Ulloa Garay |
| Prime Minister | NA |
| Currency | NA |
| GDP | $29.60 billion estimate |
| Calling Code | 503 |
| Time Zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| Internet TLD | .sv |
Where is El Salvador?
The Republic of El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. The easternmost region of the country lies on the Gulf of Fonesca. It borders the Pacific Ocean to the west, Guatemala to the north, and Honduras to the east. It is the most densely populated country in Central America.
What is the capital of El Salvador?
San Salvador is the capital of the country. San Salvador means “Holy Savior”. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador (The City of the Great Holy Savior). It is also called The Valley of the Hammocks because it is surrounded by volcanoes and is prone to earthquakes. The major landmarks of the city are the Metropolitan Cathedral, The Presidential Mansion, The National Palace, and the National Theatre of El Salvador.
What is the currency of El Salvador?
The Salvadoran colon was the currency of El Salvador from 1892 to 2001. Its ISO 4217 code was SVC. It was substituted by the US Dollar in 2001. The ISO 4217 code of US Dollar is USD.
Which is the largest city in El Salvador?
San Salvador is the largest city in El Salvador. The city has the third largest population in Central America. Greater San Salvador is the second-most-populated metropolitan area in the region. The estimated population of the metropolitan area is 2,290,790, and it covers an area of 239.7 square miles.
What is the official language of El Salvador?
Central American Spanish is the official language. It is spoken by a majority of the inhabitants. However, there are some indigenous people who speak their mother tongues. English is also spoken, while German, Dutch and French are taught as second languages in private international schools.
What is the religion of El Salvador?
Christianity is the dominant religion in the country. Mormonism and Pentecostalism are other notable non-catholic faiths. Islam, Judaism, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are the minority religions.
What is the literacy rate of El Salvador?
The literacy rate in El-Salvador is 82%. Education is free up to high school.
Who is the political leader of El Salvador?
El Salvador is a presidential representative democratic republic. The president of the country is both the head of the government and the head of the state. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the Legislative Assembly and the government. Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez is the current President of El Salvador. He won the presidential elections in 2019 and assumed office on June 1, 2019. Felix Augusto Antonio Ulloa Garay is the vice president of the country. He assumed office on June 1, 2019.
What is the emblem of El Salvador?
The Emblem of El Salvador consists of a triangle at the center. The triangle depicts five volcanoes on the sea. Above the volcanoes is a red Phrygian cap on staff before a golden sun, and the independence date of the country: September 15, 1821. Over the sun is a rainbow. Behind the emblem are five flags and under it is a scroll that has the national motto of the country: Dios, Union, Libertad ( God, Union, Liberty). All of this is surrounded by a laurel garland tied together beneath the national flag. The emblem was adopted on September 15, 1912.
When is the National Day of El Salvador celebrated?
The national day of El Salvador is celebrated on September 15. El Salvador claimed its freedom on September 15, 1821, ending 300 years of Spanish rule. Parades are part of the Independence Day celebration.
What is the economy of El Salvador like?
El Salvador has the third-largest economy in Central America. It has been the most industrialized country in the region. The service sector, at 60.1%, is the major component of GDP. The largest trade flows are with the United States of America, Guatemala, China, and Honduras. El Salvador exports coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, and electricity. It imports raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, petroleum, and electricity.
Interesting facts about El Salvador |
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| Fact 1 | It has the third largest economy in Central America (behind Costa Rica and Panama). |
| Fact 2 | It is known as the “Land of the Volcanoes” because of the more than 20 volcanoes in the territory. Two of them are currently active. |
| Fact 3 | It has a population of almost 7 million in an area slightly smaller than the state of Massachusetts (or Wales). This fact makes El Salvador the most densely populated country in the Americas. |
| Spanish is the official language but Nahuatl is still spoken in some regions. | |
| Fact 4 | Salvadorans are extremely friendly, warm, and hospitable. |
| Fact 5 | 64% of the population lives in urban areas. |
| Fact 6 | The national bird is known as the torogoz (turquoise-browed motmot). |
| Fact 7 | Tourism is the fastest-growing sector of the Salvadoran economy. |
| Fact 8 | Coffee is considered an important pillar of the economy. |
| Fact 9 | Four species of sea turtles make the coasts of El Salvador their home. |
| Fact 10 | The country has declared five national parks: El Imposible, Cerro Verde, El Boqueron, Conchagua and Montecristo. |
| Fact 11 | The national soccer team has attended the FIFA World Cup two times. |
| Fact 12 | International surfing competitions have taken place in El Salvador because of its beaches. It is common to see people with surfing boards at the international airport. |
| Fact 13 | There is one UNESCO World Heritage Site in the country: Joya de Ceren. This site was buried in ashes by a volcanic eruption and it is considered the “Pompeii of the Americas.” |
| Fact 14 | It has the largest mall and airport in Central America. |
| Fact 15 | The national dish is the famous pupusa (which dates from pre-Columbian times). |
| Fact 16 | El Salvador is one of the world’s most famous surfing destinations on the Pacific coast |
| Fact 17 | El Salvador is the smallest and the most populated country in Central America. |
| Fact 18 | Metrocentro Mall the largest shopping center in Central America is located in San Salvador the capital of El Salvador. |
| Fact 19 | El Salvador is a country with the lowest birth rate in Central America but also suffers from the highest death rate. |
| Fact 20 | El Salvador is one of the countries with the highest murder rate in the world |
| Fact 21 | The cell phone density is one of the largest in the world (125 per 100 persons). |
| Fact 22 | The football war also known as the 100 Hour War was broken out between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. |
| Fact 23 | The Santa Ana volcano is at an altitude of 2,381 meters, it is the highest point in El Salvador. |
| Fact 24 | Izalco volcano has the reputation as the “lighthouse of El Salvador”, it can direct the course of ships sailing on the Pacific Ocean |
| Fact 25 | El Salvador is the only country with no Caribbean coastline in Central America. |
| Fact 26 | Alegria is a small mountain city in El Salvador, it is the floral heart of Salvador, also famous for its handmade craft. |
| Fact 27 | The leatherback turtle, the olive ridley, the hawksbill, and the green sea turtle are the four species of sea turtle nesting on the coast of El Salvador. |
| Fact 28 | Salvadoran women usually don’t shake hands when they meet each other, they often pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder. |