El Salvador is located in Central America. The country is bordered by Guatemala and Honduras to the northwest and northeast respectively. The Pacific Ocean borders the country to the south. It is the most densely populated nation of Central America. The developing economy of the nation is sometimes handicapped by natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic activity. The capital San Salvador is situated at 13 42 N, 89 12 W.
HISTORY:- The region was inhabited by the Pipil Indians in the 11th century. The Spanish conquistadors tried to conquer the land by overpowering the Pipils. Pedro de Alvarado, a lieutenant of Hernán Cortés conquered El Salvador in 1525. From 1810, struggle for independence from Spain began. On 15th September 1821, the nation achieved independence and joined into the federation of Central American states. After the federation was disunited in 1838, the country became a republic. The history of the post independence period is marked by numerous revolutions and wars against other Central American republics. In 1931 Gen. Maximiliano Hernández Martínez came into power and ruled until 1944. In 1969, El Salvador engaged in the ‘football war’ against Honduras. Until 1979, the government was handled by the military officers. From 1979 to 1981, 30,000 people were brutally slaughtered by military right-wing death squads. A civilian, Jose Napoleón Duarte governed the country from 1984 to 1989. In 1989, Alfredo Cristiani became the President and 12-year civil war was ended by signing a peace treaty with the guerrilla forces.
GEOGRAPHY:- El Salvador is located at 13 50 N, 88 55 W in the Central America. The total area of the country is 21,040 sq km in which 320 sq km comprises the water sources. The coastline spans across 307 km bordering the North Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Cerro El Pital (2,730 m). The nation is mostly mountainous with narrow coastal belt. The central region is formed of undulating plateau. The largest river is the Lempa River.
CLIMATE:- The climate of El Salvador is mainly tropical with a rainy season (May to October) and a dry season (November to April). The coastal area is tropical and the central plateau is temperate.
GOVERNMENT:- El Salvador is a republic. The constitution was adopted on 20th December 1983. The legal system is based on Roman law and civil codes. The governmental duties are distributed among the three major branches of the government:
Executive branch is consists of the President (chief of state, head of government), Vice President, and cabinet. President and vice President are elected by a popular vote and on the same ticket. The council of ministers is appointed by the President.
Legislative branch consists of the unicameral Legislative Assembly (84 seats).
Judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court.
Prominent political parties include Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), National Conciliation Party (PCN), Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Democratic Revolutionary Front (FDR), and the United Democratic Center (CDU). Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.
Executive branch is consists of the President (chief of state, head of government), Vice President, and cabinet. President and vice President are elected by a popular vote and on the same ticket. The council of ministers is appointed by the President.
Legislative branch consists of the unicameral Legislative Assembly (84 seats).
Judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court.
Prominent political parties include Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), National Conciliation Party (PCN), Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Democratic Revolutionary Front (FDR), and the United Democratic Center (CDU). Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.
President Antonio Saca
Vice President Ana Vilma Albanez De Escobar
Vice President Ana Vilma Albanez De Escobar
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- El Salvador is divided into 14 departments. These departments are further sub-divided into 267 municipalities.
The 14 departments are : Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate and Usulutan.
The 14 departments are : Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate and Usulutan.
CULTURE:- Francisco Gavidia, Salarrué, Claudia Lars, Alfredo Espino, Pedro Geoffroy Rivas, Manlio Argueta, José Roberto Cea, and poet Roque Dalton are the prominent literary figures of El Salvador. Noe Canjura, Carlos Cañas, Julia Díaz, Camilo Minero, Ricardo Carbonell, Roberto Huezo, Miguel Angel Cerna are the famous painters of the land. Pupusa is the most famous dish of the country. Pipil and Spanish influences are prominent in the music of El Salvador.
ECONOMY:- El Salvador has the 3rd largest economy in Central America according to the IMF and CIA World Factbook. It is a developing nation which faces some social barriers. It is one of the 10 poorest nations of Latin America. About 35.2% of the population lives below poverty line. Presently the country is observing a rapid industrialization.
GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $33.68 billion; per capita $4,900.
Real growth rate: 4.9%.
Inflation: 4.3%.
Unemployment: 6.0%.
Arable land: 32%.
Agriculture: Coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp.
Budget:
Revenues: $3.659 billion
Expenditures: $3.716 billion (2007 est.)
Revenues: $3.659 billion
Expenditures: $3.716 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: 37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Debt - external: $9.574 billion (December 2007)
Labor force: 2.86 million; agriculture 9.7%, industry 29.6%, services 60.7% (2006 est.).
Industries: Food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals.
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land.
Exports: $3.686 billion (2006 est.): Offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity.
Imports: $7.326 billion (2006 est.): Raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity.
Major trading partners: U.S., Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico (2004).
Monetary units: Colón; U.S. dollar
LANGUAGE:- Spanish is the official language. Nahua is widely spoken by the Amerindians.
CITIES:- The capital San Salvador is the largest city. Other major cities are Santa Ana, San Miguel, Soyapango, and Apopa.
POPULATION:- The estimated population of El Salvador is 6,939,688 with a growth rate of 1.7%.
Density per sq mi: 867
Literacy rate: 80% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 867
Literacy rate: 80% (2003 est.)
RACE:-
Mestizo 90%
White 9%
Amerindian 1%
Mestizo 90%
White 9%
Amerindian 1%
RELIGION:-
Roman Catholic 83%
Other 17%
Roman Catholic 83%
Other 17%
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 25.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 22.19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.06 years
Total fertility rate: 3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,200 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 364
Birth rate: 25.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 22.19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.06 years
Total fertility rate: 3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,200 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 364
UNICEF:- A draft bill to protect children and adolescents rights had been written with the help of the Executive Technical Unit of the Judiciary and UNICEF supports the bill. The University of Barcelona, the Supreme Court and UNICEF jointly conducted a survey to improve the juvenile justice system and social policies to eliminate violence from the society.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: 562 km; (2007).
Highways: total: 10,866 km; paved: 2,827 km (including 327 km of expressways); unpaved: 8,059 km (2000 est.).
Waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable (2004).
Ports and harbors: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco.
Airports: 75 (2006 est.).
Railways: total: 562 km; (2007).
Highways: total: 10,866 km; paved: 2,827 km (including 327 km of expressways); unpaved: 8,059 km (2000 est.).
Waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable (2004).
Ports and harbors: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco.
Airports: 75 (2006 est.).
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