El Salvador
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839.
Location
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Geography
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
History
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms. El Salvador is beset by one of the world's highest homicide rates and pervasive criminal gangs.
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Government
presidential republic. Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Economy
upper-middle-income, dollarized Central American economy; reliant on remittances from US; recent growth linked to infrastructure investment, consumption, and crime reduction; $1.3 billion IMF loan to address fiscal imbalances; Bitcoin adopted as legal tender; persistent poverty and large informal sector
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
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