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El Salvador
Physical. El Salvador is
located in Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala
and Honduras. It covers an area slightly smaller than Massachusetts. The climate
is tropical with a rainy season (May to October) and a dry season (November to
April). The terrain consists mostly of mountains with a narrow coastal belt and
central plateau. Some of El Salvador's prominent natural resources include
hydropower, geothermal power, and petroleum.
People. Almost 6.6 million
people live in El Salvador. Primary languages include Spanish and
Nahua (among a few Amerindians). Three main ethnic
groups can be found: Mestizo (90%)
Amerindian (1%) and white (9%). Roman Catholicism
composes 83% of the country's religious make-up, but a substantial upsurge in
Evangelical Protestants has occurred in recent years.
Government. The country is
officially known as the Republic of El Salvador. Along with other Central
American countries, El Salvador gained its independence from Spain on September
15, 1821. Its current constitution was ratified on December 20, 1983. It was
engaged in civil war (beginning in the early 1970s) until 1992, the latest in a
long series of violent eruptions. Massive corruption and widespread human rights
violations occurred during the war, which severely damaged the social and
economic fabric of the nation.
There are many political
parties, many of which are very small and disappear quickly. The 267
municipalities, each governed by a mayor and a city council, have significantly
more power and resources in recent years, although they historically have not
received the financial resources constitutionally mandated for them in the
national budget.
Economy. El Salvador’s economy
has been dependent on the unpredictable cycles of export commodities. Coffee
exports have dominated Salvadoran economic life, leading to profound
socio-economic changes. From the beginning of the twentieth century until the
mid 1980’s, the economic elite ruled the country in conjunction with the
military, and the power structure was controlled by a relatively small number of
wealthy landowners, known as the 14 families. Failed land reform, rather than
helping the peasants, has resulted in desperate economic conditions for many of
the people of El Salvador. Since 1991 the government has attracted investment
for duty-free assembly plants. Economic difficulties result in the emigration of
700 people daily.
Areas of Concern. Human rights
abuses and corruption in the military and bureaucracy are pressing issues.
Alleviation of poverty (with 48% of the population living below the poverty
line) is also of concern. Environmental concerns include extensive
deforestation, soil erosion and inadequate potable water.
El Salvador statistics
Geography
Area: 8,292 square miles
Capital: San Salvador (pop 1.24 million)
Environmental concerns: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; soil
contamination
Geographical features: hot coastal plain in south rises to a cooler plateau and
valley region; mountainous in north, including many volcanoes
Climate: tropical; distinct wet and dry seasons
People
6,587,541; mestizo (94%), Amerindian (1%); white (5%)
Annual growth rate: 1.78%
55% urban; 45% rural
Major language: Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic (75%); Protestant (25%)
Health and social issues
Life expectancy: Men, 67 years; women, 74 years
Infant mortality: 25.93 deaths per 1000 live births
50 % of the population lives in poverty
1 physician per 1,219 people
80.2% of adults are literate
Compulsory education: 7-16 years
Communication and transportation
483,000 land-line telephones
550,000 Internet users
6,196 miles of highway
374 miles of railroad
85 airfields
80,000 motor vehicles
Government
El Salvador is a republic that became independent on September 15, 1821
President Tony Saca is head of state and government
5+ political parties
Universal suffrage at 18
Military
Military expenditures are 1.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Current disputes: border disputes
Economy
Currency: U.S. dollar
Per capita income: $4,800
GDP: $30.99 billion
GDP growth rate: 1.4%
Inflation rate: 2.1%
Labor force: 2.35 million people
Resources and industry
Natural resources: hydropower; geothermal power; petroleum; arable land.
Agriculture: coffee; sugarcane; corn; rice; beans; oilseed; cotton; sorghum;
beef; dairy products; shrimp
Industry: food processing; beverages; petroleum; chemicals; fertilizer;
textiles; furniture; light metals
Exports: $3.2 billion
Imports: $5.5 billion
Suggested web sites
Search ‘El Salvador’ at www.dmoz.org
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