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Geography
Area: 21,476 sq. km. (8,260 sq. mi.); about the size of Massachusetts.
Cities: Capital--San Salvador (pop. 1.7 million). Other cities--Santa Ana San Miguel, Soyapango, and La Union.
Terrain: Mountains separate country into three distinct regions--southern coastal belt, central valleys and plateaus, and northern mountains.
Climate: Semitropical, distinct wet and dry seasons.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Salvadoran(s).
Population (2003): 6.6 million.
Annual growth rate (2003): 2%.
Ethnic groups: Mestizo 90%, indigenous 1%, Caucasian 9%.
Religion: About 55% Roman Catholic, with significant and growing numbers of Protestant groups.
Language: Spanish.
Work force (about 2.7 million, 2003): Agriculture--17.1%; services--19.8%; commerce--28.8%; manufacturing--17.8%; construction--6.5%; transportation and communication--4.5%; other--4.4%.

Government
Type: Republic.

Economy
GDP (2004): Purchasing Power Parity $32.28 billion.
Annual growth rate (2003): 1.8%.
Per capita income (2003): $2,258. (PPP $4,800).
Agriculture (11% of GDP, 2003): Products--coffee, sugar, livestock, corn, poultry, and sorghum. Arable, cultivated, or pasture land--64%.
Industry (24% of GDP, 2003): Types--textiles, food and beverage processing, footwear and clothing, chemical products, petroleum products, electronics.

Trade (2004): Exports--$3.3 billion: textiles, diverse manufactures, coffee, sugar, and shrimp. Major markets--U.S. 65.4%, Central American Common Market (CACM) 24.9%. Imports--$6.3 billion: consumer goods, foodstuffs, capital goods, raw industrial materials, and petroleum. Major suppliers--U.S. 46.3%, CACM 15.1%, Mexico 6.0%.
The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador is located at Final Blvd. Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatl�n, La Libertad (phone: 011-503-278-4444; fax: 011-503-278-6011).

Caribbean/Latin American Action
1818 N Street, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-466-7464
Fax: 202-822-0075