Chief
of State: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez
(since 1 June 2004)
Head of Government: President
Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June 2004)
Government Type: republic |
Population:
6,822,378 (July 2006 est.)
Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among
some Amerindians)
Religion: Roman Catholic 83%,
other 17%
note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups
throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were
an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Life Expectancy: 71.49 |
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
GDP(per capita): $4,700 (2005
est.)
Overview: The smallest country
in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest
economy, but growth has been minimal in recent years.
Hoping to stimulate the sluggish economy, the government
is striving to open new export markets, encourage foreign
investment, and modernize the tax and healthcare systems.
Implementation in 2006 of the Central America-Dominican
Republic Free Trade Agreement, which El Salvador was
the first to ratify, is viewed as a key policy to help
achieve these objectives. The trade deficit has been
offset by annual remittances from Salvadorans living
abroad - 16.6% of GDP in 2005 - and external aid. With
the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001,
El Salvador has lost control over monetary policy and
must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal
policy.
Exports: offshore assembly
exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals,
electricity
Import: raw materials, consumer
goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum,
electricity |
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Location:
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Guatemala and Honduras
Area: total: 21,040 sq km
land: 20,720 sq km
water: 320 sq km |
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.
Independence Day: 15 September
1821 (from Spain)
Capital City: San Salvador
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 |
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