Country
El Salvador
Leader
Population
9,598,787 6,090,646
Life Expectancy
60.260 years 73.690 years
Capital City
San Salvador
Largest city
Cotonou (population: 690,584) San Salvador (population: 525,990)
Human Development Index
0.459 0.747 GDP per capita $7,600 US
Literacy Rate
34.7% 80.2%
Corruption Perception Index
3.1 3.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
10.8% 16.7% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 7.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice Abolished except for special circumstances
Political System
republic republic
Independence date
15 September 1821 (from Spain) Religions Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census) Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.) Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians) Exports offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity External Debt $12,950,000,000 US Exchange Rate the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001 Military Budget as percentage of GDP 0.600% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras Area 112,622 km sq 21,041 km sq Coastline 121 km 307 km Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
