Latin American Studies 87Q-Film Series

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, and the only country without access to the Caribben Sea.

Total Population: 5,839,079 (July 1999 Est) from: CIA website
Urban Population: 55% (3,211,493) from: United Nations Publications; Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean, 1997 Edition, p.14
Rural Population: 45% (2,627,586) derived from Urban Population stats.

Interesting Population Trend
Please note the difference in San Salvador's population between the 1985 and the 1996 totals. If these totals are accurate, it represent a three hundred percent increase in the population of San Salvador in the 11 year period from 1985 - 1996. Since the population in the country actually decreased from 5.8 Million in 1985 to 5.78 Million in 1996 this represents a dramatic shift in population concentration. San Salvador went from being the 'home' for 7.88% of the population, to being the 'home' for 24% of the population. The dramatic change can be directly linked to the war. People were simply safer in the urban area than in their rural communities.

Cities: Capital--San Salvador (pop. 1.4 million) [23.98% of total population].
I assume this is 1996 data, since the BTS (see link below) date the total country's population as 5.8 Million with a date of 1996)
Other cities - San Miguel, Ahuachapan, Santa Ana, and Sonsonate.
From US Department of Transportation: Bureau of Transportation Statistics: http://www.bts.gov/itt/latin/central/elsalv.html

Predominantly agricultural
rapid industrial expansion in the 1960s and '70s
The country must import food

disproportionate distribution of land in favour of commercial crops
many peasants landless and unable to grow subsistence crops.

Important agricultural products:

coffee

biggest part of total agricultural production
more than half of the value of exports
Biggest buyers are the United States, Germany, The Netherlands, and Japan

cotton
corn
sugarcane

Cattle raising
Commercial fishing

Mostly crustaceans (including lobster and shrimp)
also: mullet, snappers, jacks, groupers, sharks, and anchovies

No heavy mineral exploitation
Main power sources are Lempa River hydroelectric projects 35 miles NE of San Salvador
Tourism declined after 1979 but still significant
In 1980 commercial banks, export marketing agencies nationalized
For sea commerce, El Salvador relies on three ports--Acajutla, La Libertad, and Cutuco (near La Unión).

Click on chart for bigger view

Detailed information of Age Distribution obtained from UN Economic Commission for latin America web site: http://www.eclac.org but in particular, the "poblacion.pdf" document.

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