130 Facts of El Salvador Everyone Should Know

(Last Updated On: April 16, 2021)

The facts of El Salvador are really interesting. El Salvador is a Central American country, with a rich culture, long history, and abundance of learning. With these 130 fascinating facts about El Salvador, let’s explore more about its history, economy, people, tourism, volcanoes, culture, and more facts of el Salvador.

Facts of El Salvador

1. El Salvador was liberated from Spain on September 15, 1821.

2. The territory was once occupied by the Olmecs, followed by the Mayans. At the end of Mayan rule, the Toltec Empire took control of the country. Later, this area was dominated by the Peoples in the eleventh century and the Spaniards conquered the area until the end. After gaining control of the country, the Spaniards forced the locals to become slaves.

3. El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America

4. “Torogos” is the national bird of El Salvador.

5. Blue trees were the most important crop during the colonial period.

6. Chronic political and economic instability plagued the nation in the late 19th and mid-20th centuries.

7. The largest earthquake in the country was experienced on January 7, 2007. It was measured on a Richter scale of 7.6.

8. The Salvadorans are also called guanacos.

9. Cerro El Patil is the highest point in the country, 8,957 feet in height.

10. The country shares borders with two other countries: Guatemala and Honduras.

11. The US dollar replaces “colon” as the official currency of El Salvador

12. “El Himeno Nacional de El Salvadori” is the national anthem of El Salvador.

13. El Salvador has four countries, with only two seasons. The wet season lasts from May to October and the dry season runs from November to April.

14. Education up to ninth grade in the country is free.

15. If we compare the regions, it is smaller than the state of Massachusetts.

16. The country does not have people of African descent.

17. The country has never won an Olympic medal.

18. It is the only country in Central America without the Caribbean coastline.

19. The Santa Ana Volcano in El Salvador’s highest volcano. It is 760০ feet high, above sea level.

20. The only commercially navigable – and most important – river in El Salvador is “Rio Lempa”. Its river basin covers the country’s capital city – San Salvador.

21. Barra de Santiago in El Salvador is a beautiful beach where you can find endangered species like a sea turtle and red macaw.

22. El Salvador is the only Latin American country with troops in Iraq.

23. Interestingly, there is a beach called Water in the country, it is a city called Society, a river called Big River and some islands called the island.

24. The country is also on the list of the highest countries in the murder rate.

25. Did you know that El Salvador is about 20 times more deadly than the US and 90 times more deadly than the UK. El Salvador had a record-breaking 1,2 h killings record in the first eight months of the year.

26. El Salvador is also known for the production of Anil, which is a plant producing a blue color. The dye is removed by pressing the plant on the barefoot (please note that the Spanish word for anil blue)

27. The country suffers from high rates of crime, poverty, and discrimination.

28. The name of the country translates to “savior” in Spanish.

29. El Salvador is the largest country in Central America with a size of just 21,000 square kilometers, which is roughly equal to Wales.

30. El Salvador is the most populous country in the United States of America with a population of about 7 million people.

31. It is the only country in Central America without a Caribbean coastline.

32. Spanish is the official language.

33. El Salvador The weather is tropical. The monsoon season is from May to October and the dry season is from November to April.

34. El Salvador was liberated from Spain on September 15, 1821.

35. 1% of the population lives in the city.

36. It is the third-largest economy in Central America behind Costa Rica and Panama.

37. Despite this, 19% of the population lives on less than $ 1.25 a day.

38 In 1979, the country experienced a bloody civil war from 1992 to 1992.

39. Some believe that 5,3 people died during the war.

40. Coffee grown in the western part of the country is famous all over the world.

41. Cerro El Brass is the highest point in the country, 2,730 meters in height.

42. The largest earthquake in the country occurred on January 7, 2007. It had a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale and caused tsunamis.

43. Volcano The highest volcano in Santa Ana El Salvador stands 2,381 meters above sea level.

44. Tourism is the fastest-growing sector of the Salvadoran economy.

45. In western El Salvador, there is a large reservoir called Lake Ctepecque.

46. The currency used in El Salvador is the United States dollar.

47. The country has a UNESCO Herb site – Joya de Siren. It was buried beneath the ashes of a pre-Hispanic peasant community when the volcano of the Laguna Caldera spread.

48. El Salvador has five archaeological gardens: Sihuan, Joo de Siren, San Andres, Casa Blanca, and Taj Mahal.

49. All five parks have the same opening hours and fees. Tuesday to Sunday 9.00 am – 4.00 p.m. Entrance fee of foreigners 1.3.

50. In 2014 El Salvador International Airport ranked third in the World America Awards as the best airport in Central America and the Caribbean region.

51. The airport is known as both Kamalapp International Airport and Cuscatlan International Airport and is the third busiest place in Central America.

52. The country is a popular surfing destination.

53. This is known as “volcanic land” because there are more than twenty volcanoes in the area. Two of which are active.

54. It is a deadly destination not affected by tourism

55. A budget backpacker can get $ 35.00 a day.

56. Dorm rooms cost around .00 15.00 per night.

57. Chicken buses spend about $ 1.00 per hour traveling.

58. It is a Costa Rica half-yearly visitor.

59. The country is becoming one of the focal points of eco-tourism.

60. The country is one of the most popular surfing destinations in the world. There are many surfing competitions held every year.

61. Cerro Verde, a national park in El Salvador, has 500 different species of birds and a rare species of black bass-ag gull. In the 505-hectare area of the national park, you can find three volcanoes.

62. There are five national parks in the country. Their names are Monteistro, El Bocer ।n, Kancagua, El Impossible, and Cerro Verde.

63. Most of El Salvador’s poor population lives in rural areas. These people face challenges related to the availability of running water and electricity in their homes. But the rich people of the country live in apartments and houses.

64. Rural people suffer from malnutrition, which is also one of the leading causes of death among the poor of the country.

65. Sadly, the country has the lowest birth rates and the highest mortality rate in Central America as a whole.

66. The minimum wage in the country is one hundred US dollars a month

67. The white flag stripes of the country’s flag symbolize peace, and the blue stripes are the symbol of unity. In 8, the country officially accepted its flag.

68. There are about three million Salvadorans in the United States. These people live in the US for work and send money back home to help their families.

69. In the early 20th century, coffee exports accounted for 90% of the country’s income. However, the region has diversified its source of income by establishing a manufacturing sector in its region and establishing trade and financial connections with other countries.

70. It should not be surprising that this is the third-largest economy in Central America, published only by Costa Rica and Panama.

71. The parents of Tennis Hall of Famer Rosie Castells have moved to the United States from El Salvador.

72. American supermodel Christie Tarlington also has roots in El Salvador.

73. Pope John Paul II also visited the country long before his illness.

74. Civil war in the country – took place from 1980 to 1. About 75,000 people lost their lives during this time. Economic inequality was the cause of the war.

75. San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, has the largest shopping center in the United States of America. It is also famous for its many museums and cultural sites.

76. The country establishes the largest airport in all of Central America.

77. The Salvadoran countryman engaged in a notorious “100-hour war” with neighboring Honduras in 1969 after a football game.

78. It is estimated that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will take the lives of more than 9/11 people in dire work conditions to build stadiums and infrastructure for migrant workers.

79. El Salvador is also known as the “volcano country.” It has more than 20 volcanoes, and Chaparastic is considered the most active volcano in the region. It has grown 26 times in the last 500 years.

80. Joa de Seren is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in El Salvador. The ruins of a prehistoric farmland covered with volcanic eruptions can be found on the site in the seventh century AD. It is also called “American Pompeii.”

81. The image of Salvador was also released on the subject of the 12-year civil war. Interestingly, the movie was also nominated for an Oscar.

82. The people of El Salvador are friendly, warm, and hospitable.

83. The women of El Salvador often insist that women often push each other in the right hand or shoulders rather than shaking hands.

84. They thus greet each other by day: “Buenos Aires” (Good Morning), “Buenos Aires” (Good afternoon), or “Buenos Aires” (Good evening).

85. The use of a first name is usually reserved for family and friends.

86. A young girl’s 15th birthday is widely celebrated and it is her and her family’s – an important event in life.

87. One of El Salvador’s most notable dishes is “Pupusa,” a dense handmade Corn Flower or rice flour tortilla.

88. Tortillas, rice, and beans are the main dishes of El Salvador.

89. Salvadorans like to receive perfume as a gift.

90. Food is always eaten in containers. Yes, they even use a fork to eat fruit!

91. The Salvadorans have a strong sense of personal pride, honor, and dignity

92. Hitchhiking is common and payments are often declined. Just be aware of the dangers inherent in this mode of transportation.

93. Shuttle buses are available at all major tourist spots.

94. Chicken, rice, and bean sprouts cost only a few dollars to the local commander.

95. The Salvadorans are known as “Guanacos”.

96. Tortillas, rice, and beans are the main dishes of El Salvador.

97. Metrocentro is the largest shopping center in Central America. It is based in San Salvador and was built in 1970.

98. Even though the country has tropical climates, the snow has been seen on top of Cerro El Peatal.

99. El Salvador’s cell phone density is the largest in the world – 125 per 1 person!

100. Playa El Tunko’s beach destination has the best sunsets in the world!

101. El Salvador has a conservative society.

102. Salvadorans use first names only with family and friends.

103. Having a small amount of food left on your plate after you finish eating is considered gentle.

104. Close friends hug and kiss on the right cheek.

105. Guests are first served. They are hospitable.

106. Salvadoran people enjoy socializing and are warm and hospitable people.

107. The national football team has participated in the FIFA World Cup twice. First in 1970 and again in 1982.

108. International surfing competition has been held in the country for its great beaches.

109. Many Salvadoran soccer players consider Magico Gonzales the best soccer player in history.

110. El Salvador has never won an Olympic medal.

111. About 85% of El Salvador’s forest has been lost since the 1960s.

112. It contains less than 6,000 hectares of primary forest.

113. In the worst case, more than 50% of the country’s food is inappropriate for farming.

114. The Turgoose or Turquoise Broad Marmot is the national bird of El Salvador. We saw a lot of birds in Belize but we didn’t see El Salvador at all.

115. Four different species of sea turtles live on the coast of El Salvador.

116. Chicken buses play music at full throttle. It can be so loud that you have to shout to hear it by the person sitting next to you!

117. El Salvador launched a military offensive against Honduras in 1969. That coincided with the riots between the two countries during the FIFA World Cup qualification. The war ended quickly and the conflict became known as the 100 Hour War. It is also known as the soccer war, though it has absolutely nothing to do with soccer!

118. The name El Salvador translates to “savior” in Spanish.

119. The white flag stripe of the country’s flag symbolizes peace and the blue stripes represent the sea.

120. Education up to ninth grade is free.

121. The official name of the country is the Republic of El Salvador.

123. San Salvador is the capital city of El Salvador

124. It is one of the few countries in the world that still cultivates blue.

125. It is estimated that about three million Salvadoran people live in the United States.

126. El Salvador shares Guatemala and Honduras borders.

127. El Salvador is primarily Roman Catholic.

128. It is one of the highest murder rates in the world.

129. Papusa is the national food of El Salvador. It is a thick corn tortilla filled with plenty of filling, eaten with pickled cabbage and tomato sauce. But they can also be made with rice flour and some people think they are more delicious.

130. The people of Salvador are friendly and simple.

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