El Salvador

El Salvador (Spanish: República de El Salvador, pronounced [reˈpuβlika ðe el salβaˈðoɾ]) is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It borders the Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and Honduras. It lies on the Gulf of Fonseca, as does Nicaragua further south. It has a population of approximately 6.8 million people (July 2008 Census) on 21,000 km². The capital city of San Salvador is the most important metropolis of the republic. El Salvador eliminated its currency, the colón, and adopted the U.S. dollar in 2001.

• 1 History
  • 1.1 Independence
  • 1.2 Twentieth century
    • 1.2.1 Civil War (1980 to 1992)
    • 1.2.2 End of the twentieth century
  • 1.3 Twenty First Century
• 2 Politics
• 3 Departments and municipalities
• 4 Geography
  • 4.1 Climate
  • 4.2 Natural disasters
• 5 Economy
• 6 Demographics
  • 6.1 Language
  • 6.2 Religion
• 7 Culture
  • 7.1 Tourism
  • 7.2 Cuisine
  • 7.3 Music
• 8 Education
• 9 See also
• 10 References
• 11 Further reading
• 12 External links

Republic of El Salvador República de El Salvador
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Dios, Unión, Libertad" (Spanish) "God, Union, Freedom"
Anthem: Himno Nacional de El Salvador
Capital (and largest city)		San Salvador 13°40′N 89°10′W / 13.667°N 89.167°W / 13.667; -89.167
Official languages		Spanish
Ethnic groups		90% Mestizo, 9% White (Spanish, Italian, French, others), 1% Amerindian (Pipil, Lenca)
Demonym		Salvadoran[1]
Government		Presidential republic
-	President	Mauricio Funes
Independence
-	from Spain	September 15, 1821
-	from the Central American Federation	1842
Area
-	Total	21,040 km2 8,124 sq mi
-	Water (%)	1.4
Population
-	estimate	6.8 million (98th)
-	2007 census	5,744,113
-	Density	273/km2 (34th) 823.6/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2008 estimate
-	Total	$43.676 billion[2]
-	Per capita	$7,551[2]
GDP (nominal)		2008 estimate
-	Total	$22.115 billion[2]
-	Per capita	$3,823[2]
Gini (2002)		52.4 (high)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.735 (medium) (103rd)
Currency		U.S. dollar 2 (USD)
Time zone		(UTC-6)
Drives on the		right
Internet TLD		.sv
Calling code		+5031