El Salvador flag
Central America · North America

El Salvador

El Salvador
Capital
San Salvador
Population
6.5M
Area
21,041 km²
Language
Spanish

El Salvador is a country in Central America, North America. Its capital is San Salvador, with a population of approximately 6.5M and a total area of 21,041 km². The official language is Spanish and the currency is the US Dollar (USD).

📊 Quick Facts about El Salvador

👥
Population
6.5M
total residents
📐
Total Area
21,041 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
309/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$32.5B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$5,000
per person
💱
Currency
US Dollar (USD)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
Spanish
official
🌊
Coastline
307 km
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC-6
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1821
established
🕐
Local Time in San Salvador

El Salvador covers an area of 21,041 km² with a population density of 309/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $32.5B ($5,000 per capita) and gained independence in 1821. It has a coastline of 307 km.

Did You Know?

El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021. It is also the birthplace of the pupusa, a thick corn tortilla stuffed with cheese, beans or meat, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

See all 14+ facts about El Salvador

✈️ Travel Information for El Salvador

📅
Best Time to Visit
November–April
Tropical, dry season November–April
💸
Cost of Travel
Budget
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa-free for most Western nationalities
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full El Salvador travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 El Salvador on the Map

Street-level photo from El Tunco
📍 El Tunco · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 El Salvador World Rankings

1st
Bitcoin
First country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender (2021)
1st
Density
Most densely populated country in Central America
1st
Surfing
El Tunco, one of Central America's top surf destinations
1st
Pupusas
Birthplace of the pupusa, UNESCO intangible food heritage

🏛 Must-See Places in El Salvador

🗺️ Countries Bordering El Salvador

Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala City
Honduras
Honduras
Tegucigalpa

⚖️ Compare El Salvador with another country

See how El Salvador stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

El SalvadorvsGuatemala
El Salvador vs Guatemala
El SalvadorvsHonduras
El Salvador vs Honduras
El SalvadorvsBelize
El Salvador vs Belize
El SalvadorvsCosta Rica
El Salvador vs Costa Rica
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about El Salvador

What is the capital of El Salvador?

The capital of El Salvador is San Salvador.

What continent is El Salvador in?

El Salvador is located in North America, in the Central America region.

What currency does El Salvador use?

El Salvador uses the US Dollar (USD). The international calling code is +503.

What is the GDP of El Salvador?

El Salvador has a GDP of $32.5B, with a GDP per capita of $5,000.

🌍 Explore More Countries in Central America

Belize
Belize
Belmopan
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
San José
Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala City
Honduras
Honduras
Tegucigalpa

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