El Salvador flag

Country in North America

El Salvador

El Salvador belongs to North America. The capital city is San Salvador.

CapitalSan Salvador
LanguageSpanish
CurrencyUnited States dollar
Population6M

Key Facts

RegionCentral America
GovernmentPresidential republic
Independence1821
Area21,041 km2
Population density316/km2
Time zoneCST (UTC-6)
Calling code+503
Drives onRight

Quick View

HDI
0.675
Safety index
39.0
Internet access
55%
Life expectancy
74.0

Sources: World Bank, Numbeo, UN.

Top 3 Highest Mountains

El Pital2,730 m
Santa Ana2,381 m
San Miguel (Chaparrastique)2,130 m

Religion (est.)

  • Christianity90%
  • No religion8%
  • Other2%
  • Islam0%

Why Visit

Surf BeachesEl Tunco and El Zonte draw world-ranked surfers to Pacific breaks.
Ruta de las FloresA scenic route through colonial towns, coffee farms and flower markets.
Santa Ana VolcanoA short hike leads to an active crater with a turquoise acidic lake inside.
PupusasThe national dish — thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans or chicharron.
Joya de CerenA Maya village preserved under volcanic ash, the Pompeii of the Americas, UNESCO listed.

Top 3 Cities by Population

San Salvador
568k
Soyapango
290k
Santa Ana
245k

Climate Overview

24CJan avg.
23CJul avg.
1,800 mmYearly rainfall
Tropical (dry/wet seasons)Climate

Other Quick Info

CurrencyUnited States dollar
Official languageSpanish
National day15 September
Electricity115V, Type A/B