| |
El Salvador, also known officially as the Republic of El Salvador, is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It is also the only country in the region that does not have a coastline on the Caribbean side. In the last decade, El Salvador has grown economically, through free trade, economic liberalization and privatization which has allowed for rapid improvements in infrastructure and outside investment. The country enjoys one of the freest economies in the region, and also boasts an ever expanding tourism industry, with more visitors arriving to El Salvador now than ever before.
Whenever you travel to a new place it can be intimidating and because of this it is essential to have some background information on where you travel. This is why we have provided below a basic overview of El Salvador. Please keep in mind that the overview shown in this page is subject to revision without prior knowledge or notice, thus you should also consult with an expert for the most relevant and recent information.
Official Name: Known as the Republic of El Salvador or more commonly as El Salvador.
Capital: The capital city of El Salvador is San Salvador, which is located in a valley in the central portion of the country. It is the second most populous city in Central America.
Location: El Salvador is located on the Central American isthmus and borders the Pacific Ocean. It is situated between Guatemala and Honduras, as well as the Gulf of Fonseca to the southeast.
Size: The total land area of El Salvador is 21,000 square kilometers, and this ranks 159th globally. The country compares in size to the U.S. state of Massachusetts.
Climate: El Salvador’s climate is tropical, with a well defined rainy season (from May through October) and dry season (from November through April). While most of the coastal regions can be described as tropical, the highlands enjoy a more temperate climate.
Population: El Salvador has a population of 7.19 million inhabitants, ranking 100th worldwide. It is important to note that another 3.2 million Salvadorans live in the United States, many of which left the country during the civil war, or for greater economic opportunity.
Life expectancy at birth: The average life expectancy at birth for El Salvador is 72.33, placing 118th worldwide. There is a large gap between the averages of males to females, with males averaging 68.72, close to 8 years less than females at 76.11 years.
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in El Salvador is 0.8%, and this ranks 62nd globally. There are around 35,000 people living with the illness in the country, with 1,700 dying from the disease every year.
Major illnesses: The risk of major infectious diseases in El Salvador is high. Major illnesses include food or waterborne diseases such as bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. Vectorborne and water contact diseases include dengue fever, which is endemic to all of Latin America, and leptospirosis.
Ethnic Groups: El Salvador’s main ethnicity is Mestizo (a mixture of native and european ancestry) which makes up 90% of the population. The rest of the country is composed of white (9%), and Amerindian ethnicities (1%).
Languages: El Salvador’s main language is Spanish, and this is spoken almost universally by the all Salvadorans. There are small pockets of people who still speak Nahua, the old native dialects of Mayan ancestry, but these dialects are rarely spoken in present times.
Religion:El Salvador is predominantly Roman Catholic, with 57.1% of Salvadorans practicing the religion. While this majority has existed since the creation of the country, Protestantism is growing and expanding with 21.2% of people practicing some form of Christianity. Other religions include Jehovah’s Witnesses (1.9%), Mormon (0.7%), other religions (2.3%) and none (16.8%).
Government: El Salvador is a republic, which means the government remains in power in accordance with the wishes of its population. It can more specifically be called a presidential representative democratic republic, with a multiform multi-party system. The president is both the head of state and the head of government of the country. Executive power is held by the government, while legislative power is vested to both the President and the Legislative Assembly. The judiciary branch is separate of both the legislative and executive branches of government.
Head of State: The Head of State in El Salvador is President Mauricio Funes. It is important to note that the President, like in the United States, is both the head of state and the head government. The president is elected through a fixed-date general election and is required to win an absolute majority of 51% to win the presidency.
Head of Government: The Head of Government is President Mauricio Funes. The presidential term in El Salvador is 5 years, with no re-election permitted.
Military: El Salvador’s military forces are split up into three distinct branches, the Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadora Navy (FNES) and Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS). There is conscription at 18 years of age for selective compulsory military service, while voluntary service is possible at 16 years of age. The service obligation is 8 months, but 11 months for officers. The country spends about 5% of its GDP on its military, ranking 18th globally.
Economy: El Salvador’s economy is the third largest economy in Central America, despite being the smallest country in the region. El Salvador’s economy has grown and transformed greatly in the years following the Civil War. The country has had close ties with the United States and was the first nation to ratify the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). This has increased the export of processed foods, sugar, ethanol, and supported investment in the industrial garments sector of the country. A greater diversification and liberalization has led to a greater emphasis on transport, infrastructure, and tourism. There has also been privatization in many sectors of business including telecom, electricity, banking, and pension funds. In 2001, El Salvador became the first country in the region to adopt the US dollar as its currency, phasing out the old colon currency for a fixed exchange rate of 8.75 colons to 1 US dollar. El Salvador’s economy will continue to grow as one of the region’s most dynamic and fiscally free countries.
GDP: El Salvador has purchasing power parity GDP of US$ 43.94 billion, and this ranks 91st worldwide. Its official growth rate is 3.2%, which ranks 134th globally. The per capita GDP stands at US$6,200, ranking 129th globally. It is important to note that the capital of San Salvador is home to half of the country’s wealth, and the per capita GDP there is over US $12,000 in contrast with the national average.
We can offer quality international health insurance products and services to expatriates and families in El Salvador.
For more information about travel within El Salvador, the international health insurance plans and programs that we can provide there, or to receive a free quote, please contact contact our friendly experts for advice today. |
|
