The population in figures
In El Salvador, the birth rate was 16.03 ‰ in 2021, the average number of children per woman was 1.8 and life expectancy was 70.75 years.
The literacy rate is 90% of the population and 98.50% among young people under 20.
The Salvadoran diaspora represents around 1.6 million emigrants, or 25.5% of the country's population, if only legal Salvadorans are taken into account, but there are more than three million Salvadorans in the United States, most of them illegal. Canada, Italy, Sweden, Australia and Spain also have large Salvadoran communities. A large proportion of the foreign currency entering El Salvador comes from remittances sent home by migrants. They account for over 17% of GDP.
According to Barometro de las Américas, 32% of Salvadorans wish to emigrate within the next three years. Among young people, the phenomenon is even more significant. The main motivation for emigration is economic, but experts believe that state violence and persecution cannot be ruled out.
El Salvador has 43,000 immigrants, representing 0.68% of the country's population. Immigration to El Salvador comes mainly from Honduras (28%), Guatemala (22%) and Nicaragua (19%).
El Salvador's native populations
El Salvador's indigenous population represents less than 1% of the country's population, or between 60,000 and 15,000 people. The culture of El Salvador's indigenous peoples is faced with a situation of survival, as cultural values and norms are often regarded as mere folkloric aspects, without being valued or maintained as part of the richness of Salvadoran society.
Among the various indigenous peoples of El Salvador are:
The Cacaoperas. The Cacaoperas are distinguished by their own mother tongue, now extinct. This language belonged to the Misumalpa language family. They arrived in El Salvador between the5th and 7th centuries A.D. and settled in the eastern part of the country. Unfortunately, their language disappeared in 1974, with the death of the last Cuspeño dialect speaker. Archaeological sites, however, provide a better understanding of their way of life and customs.
The Lencas. Considered one of El Salvador's most important civilizations, the Lencas speak a language belonging to the Lenca group. They prospered as early as the pre-Classical era, between 2500 BC and 200 AD, organized as an empire divided into seigneuries. The archaeological site of Quelepa is today considered the main Lenca settlement.
The Pipils. Arriving in El Salvador in the mid-10th century following a mass migration of indigenous Nahuatl peoples from Mexico, the Pipils built their settlements in Izalco, in the Sierra Apaneca, and on the Costa del Balsamo. They formed a politically and socially organized ethnic group, preserving their customs, including the Nahuatl language, which some Pipils still speak today. The archaeological site of Cihuatán bears witness to their ancient heritage.
The Xinca people. The Xinca people, the smallest of El Salvador's indigenous peoples, are known for their distinct language, which belongs to no single linguistic group. Although they have a small presence in El Salvador, history refers to their resistance to the conquest of Pedro de Alvarado. Today, the Xinca language is spoken by around 200 people, mainly in Guatemala.
The Chorotegas. Less present and less numerous among El Salvador's indigenous peoples, the Chorotegas arrived in the country at the end of the 6th century, settled in the east, and spoke Chorotega, related to Nahuatl. Their numbers dwindled, with the loss of their dialect and many of their customs.
The Maya Chortís. Divided between the municipalities of Tejutla, Citalá and Nueva Concepción, the Chortís Mayas share certain customs with the Pipils. Although the Chortí dialect is known to members of their ethnic group, it is not generally spoken in public and is considered a domestic language.
The Maya Poqomanes or Poqomam. Spread between Guatemala and El Salvador, the Poqomanes or Poqomam Mayas speak Poqomam. Before the arrival of the Spanish, they were prosperous, building vast settlements of sugarcane, adobe and straw. However, after the Pipil invasion, they were forced to abandon their lands over time. Their economy was based on the production of handicrafts, pottery, clay and agriculture, among other things. These indigenous peoples of El Salvador, while facing challenges, have made a significant contribution to the country's history and cultural diversity.
