El Salvador

People

El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It is well into its demographic transition, experiencing slower population growth, a decline in its number of youths, and the gradual aging of its population. The increased use of family planning has substantially lowered El Salvador's fertility rate, from approximately 6 children per woman in the 1970s to replacement level today. A 2008 national family planning survey showed that female sterilization remained the most common contraception method in El Salvador - its sterilization rate is among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean - but that the use of injectable contraceptives is growing. Fertility differences between rich and poor and urban and rural women are narrowing.

Salvadorans fled during the 1979 to 1992 civil war mainly to the United States but also to Canada and to neighboring Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Emigration to the United States increased again in the 1990s and 2000s as a result of deteriorating economic conditions, natural disasters (Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and earthquakes in 2001), and family reunification. At least 20% of El Salvador's population lives abroad. The remittances they send home account for close to 20% of GDP, are the second largest source of external income after exports, and have helped reduce poverty.

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Population, total 5270074 5887930 6325121 6486201
Population growth (annual %) 1.326886237 0.734629859 0.475379939 0.504663023
Surface area (sq. km) 21040 21040 21040 ..
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) 254.3472008 284.1665058 305.2664575 313.0405888
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) .. .. .. 26.2
Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) .. 12.4 2 ..
Income share held by lowest 20% .. 3.2 6.1 ..
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 64 68.875 72.412 ..
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 3.964 3.022 2.101 ..
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) 103.9888 91.262 71.0814 ..
Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) .. .. .. ..
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) .. .. 99.9 ..
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 59.6 32.8 15.3 ..
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) .. .. .. ..
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) 98 97 95 ..
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) .. 91.04666138 96.26837921 ..
School enrollment, primary (% gross) .. 112.1352692 102.6575699 ..
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) .. 58.32695007 75.33540344 ..
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) .. 0.950020015 0.978330016 ..
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.5
Forest area (sq. km) 7188.8 6738.8 6063.8 5838.8
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) .. .. .. ..
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) .. .. .. ..
Urban population growth (annual %) 2.387824174 1.68116284 1.667522408 1.459592538
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) 468.4395323 673.7741447 .. ..
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) 0.451606562 0.956193433 1.106698196 ..
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) 352.3669687 614.9869309 .. ..