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El Salvador: Quick Facts

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Last updated
Dominican president says he backs Bukele and Salvadoran troops in Haiti • Nov. 10, 2026, 5:53 PM ET (AP)
Haitian leader to visit El Salvador to discuss future of Salvadoran troops' offensive in Haiti • Nov. 9, 2026, 8:07 PM ET (AP)
Haiti's prime minister Fils-Aimé speaks out as concerns over El Salvador's troops deepen • Nov. 3, 2026, 3:35 PM ET (AP)
El Salvador deploys special forces to Haiti to help find 4 missing soldiers who came under attack • Oct. 22, 2026, 8:51 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As República de El Salvador • Republic of El Salvador
Head Of State And Government President: Nayib Bukele
Capital San Salvador
Population (2026 est.) 6,384,000
Form Of Government republic with one legislative house (Legislative Assembly [60])
Official Language Spanish
Official Religion none1
Official Name República de El Salvador (Republic of El Salvador)
Total Area (Sq Km) 21,040
Total Area (Sq Mi) 8,124
Monetary Unit dollar (U.S.$)2
Population Rank (2026) 112
Population Projection 2030 6,882,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 785.8
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 303.4
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2024) 76% • Rural: (2024) 24%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2021) 66.8 years • Female: (2021) 76.2 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2024) 32,453
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2024) 5,120
1Roman Catholicism, although not official, enjoys special recognition in the constitution. 2The U.S. dollar has been legal tender in El Salvador from January 1, 2001.

Did You Know?

  • Although El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, it is the most densely populated.
  • The U.S. dollar is El Salvador's official currency.

Photos

El Salvador
Map of Central America highlighting El Salvador in yellow, with surrounding countries labeled, including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Cuba, and the United States. The capital city, San Salvador, is marked within El Salvador. Major bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Atlantic Ocean are also labeled.
Lake Ilopango and Ilopango Volcano, El Salvador
Map of El Salvador highlighting its physical features, including major volcanoes such as Santa Ana, San Miguel, and Chingo, as well as lakes like Lake Coatepeque and Lake Ilopango. The map shows national parks, rivers, and neighboring countries Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with the Pacific Ocean to the south. An inset locator map shows El Salvador's position in Central America.
Izalco Volcano rises with a steep, dark cone behind green trees and pink flowers in western El Salvador.
Large blue lake surrounded by forested hills.
Map of El Salvador showing its national boundaries with Guatemala, Honduras, and the Pacific Ocean, as well as major cities including San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Miguel, and others. A small inset locator map highlights El Salvador's position within Central America.
El Salvador
Flag of El Salvador with three horizontal stripes—blue, white, and blue—and the national coat of arms centered on the white stripe.
National anthem of El Salvador
See All Images, Audio and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Nayib Bukele
Nayib Bukele
president of El Salvador
Mauricio Funes
Mauricio Funes
president of El Salvador
Saca, Antonio
Antonio Saca
president of El Salvador
American poet Carolyn Forché, 1989
Carolyn Forché
American poet
José Napoleon Duarte
José Napoleon Duarte
president of El Salvador
default image
Carlos Humberto Romero
president of El Salvador

Related Places

Map of Latin America showing countries, major cities, and key physical features such as mountain ranges, highlands, and rivers. The map includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, with labeled regions like the Andes, Brazilian Highlands, and Gran Chaco, as well as an inset highlighting the West Indies. Surrounding bodies of water, including the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea, are also labeled.
history of Latin America
Map of North America showing international boundaries, country names, and capital cities. The map includes Canada, the United States, Mexico, Greenland, Central American countries, and Caribbean nations, with a locator inset at the bottom left for global context. Major bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea are labeled.
North America
continent
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Map of Central America showing country borders, capital cities, major lakes, and the Panama Canal, with shaded relief indicating elevation changes across the region.
Central America
San Salvador: National Palace of El Salvador
San Salvador
national capital, El Salvador
Santa Ana: Municipal Palace
Santa Ana
El Salvador
The cathedral at San Miguel, El Salvador
San Miguel
El Salvador
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Chalatenango
El Salvador
El Pilar Church, San Vicente city, El Salvador
San Vicente
El Salvador
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La Unión
El Salvador
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Cojutepeque
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Jutiapa
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La Libertad
La Libertad
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Ilobasco
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Acajutla port
Acajutla
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