El Salvador Guide and Resources

Check for available hotels in El Salvador

Location
Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

Size Comparison To U.S-located Area
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Geographic Coordinates
13 50 N, 88 55 W

Capital
San Salvador

Nationality
Salvadoran(s)

Currency
Salvadoran colon (SVC); US dollar (USD)

Languages Spoken
Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Population
6,353,681 (July 2002 est.)

Total Population Ratio Based On Gender
0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Migrant Ratio
-3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic Groups
mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9%

Religion Demographics
Roman Catholic 83%

Geographic Areas
Total :: 21,040 sq km
Land :: 20,720 sq km
Water :: 320 sq km
Coastline :: 307 km

Bordered By
Guatemala, Honduras

Argentina Climate
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands

Terrain
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Natural Resources
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Natural Hazards
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Brief Geography Notes
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

Government
republic

Administrative Districts
14 departments