World Factbook
El Salvador
República de El Salvador
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of cobalt blue (top), white, and cobalt blue, with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has a round emblem with the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL around it meaning: the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and the white for the land, as well as peace and prosperity history: the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America
note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an "X" pattern and centered in the white band
Capital
name
San Salvador
etymology
Spanish colonists founded the city in 1526 on the feast day of the Transfiguration of the Savior (Jesus Christ), and the name means "Holy Savior" in Spanish
time difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
13 42 N, 89 12 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983
amendment process
proposals require agreement by absolute majority of the Legislative Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on basic principles, and citizen rights and freedoms cannot be amended
Country name
etymology
means "the Savior" in Spanish and is a shortened form of "the Divine Savior of the World" (el Divino Salvador del Mundo), referring to Jesus Christ; 16th-century Spanish colonists gave the name "San Salvador" to the fort located where the country's capital of San Salvador now stands, and the name was later used for the city and the surrounding region; the country was officially named El Salvador in 1824
local long form
República de El Salvador
local short form
El Salvador
conventional long form
Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form
El Salvador
Independence
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Legal system
civil law system with minor common law influence; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 15 judges, including its president, and 15 substitute judges organized into Constitutional, Civil, Penal, and Administrative Conflict Chambers)
subordinate courts
Appellate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace
judge selection and term of office
judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of both the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly, and the Bar Association; judges elected for 9-year terms, with renewal of one third of membership every 3 years; consecutive reelection is allowed
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Council of Ministers selected by the president
chief of state
President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
election results
2024: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez reelected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (Nuevas Ideas) 84.7%, Manuel FLORES (FMLN) 6.4%, Joel SANCHEZ (ARENA) 5.6%, Luis PARADA (NT) 2%, other 1.3% 2019: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.7%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.4%, other 0.8%
head of government
President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
most recent election date
4 February 2024
election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
expected date of next election
28 February 2027; note - on 31 July 2025, the Legislative Assembly voted to move the date of the next presidential election from 2029 to 2027 to bring the presidential election cycle in line with the three-year legislative and municipal election cycle
National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
National color(s)
blue, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site
Political parties
Christian Democratic Party or PDC Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA National Coalition Party or PCN Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA New Ideas (Nuevas Ideas) or NI Our Time (Nuestro Tiempo) or NT Vamos or V
Legislative branch
term in office
3 years
number of seats
60 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea legislativa)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
2/4/2024
expected date of next election
February 2027
percentage of women in chamber
31.7%
parties elected and seats per party
New Ideas (N) (54); Other (6)
National anthem(s)
title
"Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El Salvador)
history
officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; at four minutes and 20 seconds, the anthem is one of the world's longest
lyrics/music
Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
National symbol(s)
turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
Administrative divisions
14 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Ahuachapán, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlán, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazán, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulután
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 232-3763
chancery
1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 595-7500
chief of mission
Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020)
consulate(s) general
Aurora (CO), Boston, Charlotte (NC), Chicago, Dallas, Doral (FL), Duluth (GA), El Paso (TX), Elizabeth (NJ), Fresno (CA), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Laredo (TX), Long Island (NY), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New York, Omaha (NE), San Bernardino (CA), San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Silver Spring (MD), Springdale (AR), St. Paul (MN), Tucson (AZ), Woodbridge (VA)
email address and website
infoEEUU@rree.gob.sv https://rree.gob.sv/embajadas-consulados-y-misiones-permanentes-de-la-republica-de-el-salvador/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[503] 2501-2150
embassy
Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
telephone
[503] 2501-2999
mailing address
3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Naomi C. FELLOWS (since August 2025)
email address and website
ACSSanSal@state.gov https://sv.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt