Source: MAPS IN MINUTES™ © RH Publications (1997)

The smallest Central American country, situated on the Pacific coast. Only some 80 km (50 miles) wide, it is bounded on three sides by Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua and has a 258-km (160-mile) southward-facing coastline.

Physical

It comprises a hot, very wet coastal plain with wooded inland slopes, above which rise volcanic mountains with cratered lakes; as the country is at a junction of two crustal plates, earthquakes occasionally occur.

Economy

Products assembled from imported parts, coffee, and sugar are the principal exports. Other industries include food processing, oil, and chemicals. Tourism, financial services, and remittances from expatriates are important.

History

After it was conquered by Pedro de Alvarado, a lieutenant of Hernan Cortés, El Salvador formed part of the viceroyalty of New Spain, but was subject to the jurisdiction of the captain-general sitting in Guatemala City.

The country gained independence from Spain in 1821, joined (1824) the United Provinces of Central America, and with the break-up of that entity in 1838, became an independent republic (1839). Internal struggles between liberals and conservatives and a series of border clashes with neighbours retarded development in the 19th century. By the early 20th century the conservatives had gained ascendancy and the presidency remained within a handful of élite families as if it were their personal patrimony. El Salvador’s 20th-century history has been dominated by a series of military presidents. While some of them, such as Oscar Osorio (1950–56) and José M. Lemus (1956–60), appeared mildly sympathetic to badly needed social reform, they were held in check by their more conservative military colleagues in concert with the civilian oligarchy. Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution and leftist guerrilla activity in other Central American countries pushed the Salvadoran army steadily to the right. Repressive measures and violations of human rights by the army during the 1970s and 1980s were documented by a number of international agencies, and posed a large refugee problem. Under President Felix Cristiani (elected 1989) negotiations began with the extreme left-wing guerrilla group Frente Farabundo Marti de Liberación (FMLN), and a peace agreement was reached in 1992. The FMLN was recognized as a political party and took part in the 1994 elections. The Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA), under President Armando Calderón Sol, won the majority of seats and held power for the next 15 years. In 1995 the government announced plans for economic reform. El Salvador was devastated by hurricanes in 1998 and 1999, and then by two earthquakes in 2001. The 2009 elections were won by the FMLN and Mauricio Funes was elected President. In 2014 FMLN again won the elections and Salvador Sánchez Cerén became President. By 2015 El Salvador had the highest murder rate in the world; over 6,600 people were murdered that year, and the violence drove emigration from the country, primarily to the USA.