El Salvador vs. Honduras
Introduction
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | 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. | Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion in damage. Since then, the economy has slowly rebounded. |
Geography
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras | Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua |
| Geographic coordinates | 13 50 N, 88 55 W | 15 00 N, 86 30 W |
| Map references | Central America and the Caribbean | Central America and the Caribbean |
| Area | total: 21,041 sq km land: 20,721 sq km water: 320 sq km | total: 112,090 sq km land: 111,890 sq km water: 200 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about the same size as New Jersey | slightly larger than Tennessee |
| Land boundaries | total: 590 km border countries (2): Guatemala 199 km, Honduras 391 km | total: 1,575 km border countries (3): Guatemala 244 km, El Salvador 391 km, Nicaragua 940 km |
| Coastline | 307 km | 823 km (Caribbean Sea 669 km, Gulf of Fonseca 163 km) |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm |
| Climate | tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands | subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains |
| Terrain | mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau | mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 442 m | highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 684 m |
| Natural resources | hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land | timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower |
| Land use | agricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 33.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.7% (2018 est.) forest: 13.6% (2018 est.) other: 11.7% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.) forest: 45.3% (2018 est.) other: 25.9% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 452 sq km (2012) | 900 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes volcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital, which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (2,130 m), which last erupted in 2002, is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana | frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast |
| Environment - current issues | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes | urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea | has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast |
| Total renewable water resources | 26.27 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 92.164 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | athough it is the smallest country in land area in Central America, El Salvador has a population that is 18 times larger than Belize; at least 20% of the population lives abroad; high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador | most residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; unlike other Central American nations, Honduras is the only one with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers - the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland area |
Demographics
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,528,135 (July 2021 est.) | 9,346,277 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 25.83% (male 857,003/female 817,336) 15-24 years: 18.82% (male 619,368/female 600,501) 25-54 years: 40.51% (male 1,221,545/female 1,404,163) 55-64 years: 7.23% (male 198,029/female 270,461) 65 years and over: 7.6% (male 214,717/female 277,979) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 30.2% (male 1,411,537/female 1,377,319) 15-24 years: 21.03% (male 969,302/female 972,843) 25-54 years: 37.79% (male 1,657,260/female 1,832,780) 55-64 years: 5.58% (male 233,735/female 281,525) 65 years and over: 5.4% (male 221,779/female 277,260) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 27.7 years male: 26.2 years female: 29.3 years (2020 est.) | total: 24.4 years male: 23.5 years female: 25.2 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 0.67% (2021 est.) | 1.22% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 18.22 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 18.19 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 5.91 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 4.67 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.73 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 12.38 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 15.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.52 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 75.11 years male: 71.6 years female: 78.79 years (2021 est.) | total population: 74.9 years male: 71.34 years female: 78.58 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 2.07 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 2.05 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.5% (2020 est.) | 0.2% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran | noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran |
| Ethnic groups | Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Amerindian 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.) | Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, African descent 2%, White 1% |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 25,000 (2020 est.) | 22,000 (2020 est.) |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 36%, other 2%, none 12% (2014 est.) | Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 41%, atheist 1%, other 2%, none 9% (2014 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <1000 (2020 est.) | <1000 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | Spanish (official), Nawat (among some Amerindians) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.5% male: 90.6% female: 86.7% (2017) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.2% male: 87.1% female: 87.3% (2016) |
| Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever | degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2018) | total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 11 years (2017) |
| Education expenditures | 3.6% of GDP (2018) | 6.1% of GDP (2018) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 74.1% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 59% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 2.48% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 92.2% of population total: 97.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 7.8% of population total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.) | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 88.9% of population total: 94.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 11.1% of population total: 5.2% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 94.7% of population total: 98.3% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 5.3% of population total: 1.7% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 95.4% of population rural: 83.5% of population total: 90.2% of population unimproved: urban: 4.6% of population rural: 16.5% of population total: 9.8% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 1.107 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2021) | 1.485 million TEGUCIGALPA (capital), 929,000 San Pedro Sula (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 46 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 65 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 5% (2014) | 7.1% (2011/12) |
| Health expenditures | 7.1% (2018) | 7.1% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 1.57 physicians/1,000 population (2016) | 0.31 physicians/1,000 population (2017) |
| Hospital bed density | 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 0.6 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 24.6% (2016) | 21.4% (2016) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 20.8 years (2008 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 | 20.3 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age a first birth among women 25-49 |
| Demographic profile | El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It is well into its demographic transition, experiencing slower population growth, a decline in its number of youths, and the gradual aging of its population. The increased use of family planning has substantially lowered El Salvador's fertility rate, from approximately 6 children per woman in the 1970s to replacement level today. A 2008 national family planning survey showed that female sterilization remained the most common contraception method in El Salvador - its sterilization rate is among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean - but that the use of injectable contraceptives is growing. Fertility differences between rich and poor and urban and rural women are narrowing. Salvadorans fled during the 1979 to 1992 civil war mainly to the United States but also to Canada and to neighboring Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Emigration to the United States increased again in the 1990s and 2000s as a result of deteriorating economic conditions, natural disasters (Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and earthquakes in 2001), and family reunification. At least 20% of El Salvador's population lives abroad. The remittances they send home account for close to 20% of GDP, are the second largest source of external income after exports, and have helped reduce poverty. | Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has one of the world's highest murder rates. More than half of the population lives in poverty and per capita income is one of the lowest in the region. Poverty rates are higher among rural and indigenous people and in the south, west, and along the eastern border than in the north and central areas where most of Honduras' industries and infrastructure are concentrated. The increased productivity needed to break Honduras' persistent high poverty rate depends, in part, on further improvements in educational attainment. Although primary-school enrollment is near 100%, educational quality is poor, the drop-out rate and grade repetition remain high, and teacher and school accountability is low. Honduras' population growth rate has slowed since the 1990s and is now 1.2% annually with a birth rate that averages 2.1 children per woman and more among rural, indigenous, and poor women. Honduras' young adult population - ages 15 to 29 - is projected to continue growing rapidly for the next three decades and then stabilize or slowly shrink. Population growth and limited job prospects outside of agriculture will continue to drive emigration. Remittances represent about a fifth of GDP. |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 71.9% (2014) | 73.2% (2011/12) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 54.4 youth dependency ratio: 41.1 elderly dependency ratio: 13.4 potential support ratio: 7.5 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 55.2 youth dependency ratio: 47.5 elderly dependency ratio: 7.7 potential support ratio: 13 (2020 est.) |
Government
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador etymology: name is an abbreviation of the original Spanish conquistador designation for the area "Provincia de Nuestro Senor Jesus Cristo, el Salvador del Mundo" (Province of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World), which became simply "El Salvador" (The Savior) | conventional long form: Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Honduras local long form: Republica de Honduras local short form: Honduras etymology: the name means "depths" in Spanish and refers to the deep anchorage in the northern Bay of Trujillo |
| Government type | presidential republic | presidential republic |
| Capital | name: San Salvador geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Spanish for "Holy Savior" (referring to Jesus Christ) | name: Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) etymology: while most sources agree that Tegucigalpa is of Nahuatl derivation, there is no consensus on its original meaning |
| Administrative divisions | 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulutan | 18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro |
| Independence | 15 September 1821 (from Spain) | 15 September 1821 (from Spain) |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 15 September (1821) | Independence Day, 15 September (1821) |
| Constitution | history: many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983 amendments: proposals require agreement by absolute majority of the Legislative Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on basic principles, and citizen rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003, 2009, 2014 | history: several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982 amendments: proposed by the National Congress with at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Congress in its next annual session; constitutional articles, such as the form of government, national sovereignty, the presidential term, and the procedure for amending the constitution, cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2021 |
| Legal system | civil law system with minor common law influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court | civil law system |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019); Vice President Felix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (since 1 June 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019); Vice President Felix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (since 1 June 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 5-year term; election last held on 3 February 2019 (next to be held on February 2024) election results: 2019: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.72%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.41%, other 0.77% 2014: Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (FMLN) 48.9%, Norman QUIJANO (ARENA) 39%, Antonio SACA (CN) 11.4%, other 0.7%; percent of vote in second round - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN 50.1%, Norman QUIJANO 49.9% | chief of state: President Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (since 27 January 2014); Vice Presidents Ricardo ALVAREZ, Maria RIVERA, and Olga ALVARADO (since 26 January 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (since 27 January 2014); Vice Presidents Ricardo ALVAREZ, Maria RIVERA, and Olga ALVARADO (since 26 January 2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term; election last held on 26 November 2017 (next to be held in November 2021); note - in 2015, the Constitutional Chamber of the Honduran Supreme Court struck down the constitutional provisions on presidential term limits election results: 2017: Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 43%, Salvador NASRALLA (Alianza de Oposicion conta la Dictadura) 41.4%, Luis Orlando ZELAYA Medrano (PL) 14.7%, other .9% 2013: Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado elected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 36.9%, Xiomara CASTRO (LIBRE) 28.8%, Mauricio VILLEDA (PL) 20.3%, Salvador NASRALLA (PAC) 13.4%, other 0.6% |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies and a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 3-year terms) elections: last held on 28 February 2021 (next to be held in 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - NI 66.46%, ARENA 12.18%, FMLN 6.91%, GANA 5.29%, PCN 4.08%, NT 1.7%, PDC 1.7%, V 1.01%; seats by party - NI 56, ARENA 14, GANA 5, FMLN 4, PCN 2, PDC 1, NT 1, V 1; composition - men 61, women 23, percent of women 27.4% | description: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members directly elected in 18 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 27 November 2017 (next to be held on 27 November 2021) election results: percent of vote by party - PNH 47.7%, LIBRE 23.4%, PL 20.3%, AP 3.1%, PINU 3.1%, DC 0.8%, PAC 0.8%, UD 0.8%; seats by party - PNH 61, LIBRE 30, PL 26, AP 4, PINU 4, DC 1, PAC 1, UD 1; composition - men 101, women 27, percent of women 21.1% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges and 16 substitutes judges organized into Constitutional, Civil, Penal, and Administrative Conflict Chambers) judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of both the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly, and the Bar Association; judges elected for 9-year terms, with renewal of one-third of membership every 3 years; consecutive reelection is allowed subordinate courts: Appellate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace | highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (15 principal judges, including the court president, and 7 alternates; court organized into civil, criminal, constitutional, and labor chambers); note - the court has both judicial and constitutional jurisdiction judge selection and term of office: court president elected by his peers; judges elected by the National Congress from candidates proposed by the Nominating Board, a diverse 7-member group of judicial officials and other government and non-government officials nominated by each of their organizations; judges elected by Congress for renewable, 7-year terms subordinate courts: courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace |
| Political parties and leaders | Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo Antonio PARKER Soto] Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Oscar ORTIZ] Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Nelson GUARDADO] National Coalition Party or PCN [Manuel RODRIGUEZ] Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Erick SALGUERO] New Ideas (Nuevas Ideas) or NI [Xavier Zablah BUKELE] Our Time (Nuestro Tiempo) or NT [Juan VALIENTE] Vamos or V [Josue ALVARADO Flores] | Alliance against the Dictatorship or Alianza de Oposicion conta la Dictadura [Salvador NASRALLA] (electoral coalition) Anti-Corruption Party or PAC [Marlene ALVARENGA] Christian Democratic Party or DC [Lucas AGUILERA] Democratic Unification Party or UD [Alfonso DIAZ] Freedom and Refoundation Party or LIBRE [Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales] Honduran Patriotic Alliance or AP [Romeo VASQUEZ Velasquez] Liberal Party or PL [Luis Orlando ZELAYA Medrano] National Party of Honduras or PNH [Reinaldo SANCHEZ Rivera] Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Guillermo VALLE] |
| International organization participation | BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC (suspended), IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO (suspended), WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 595-7500 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3763 email address and website: correo@elsalvador.org consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Brentwood (NY), Chicago, Dallas, Doral (FL), Doraville (GA), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New York, Nogales (AZ), San Francisco, Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ), Washington, DC, Woodbridge (VA) consulate(s): Elizabeth (NJ), Newark (NJ), Seattle, Woodbridge (VA) | chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Fernando SUAZO BARAHONA (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 1220 19th Street NW, Suite #320, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751 email address and website: https://hondurasembusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Dallas, McAllen (TX) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jean MANES (since 1 June 2021) embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador mailing address: 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450 telephone: [503] 2501-2999 FAX: [503] 2501-2150 email address and website: ACSSanSal@state.gov https://sv.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Colleen A. HOEY (since August 2019) embassy: Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa M.D.C. mailing address: 3480 Tegucigalpa Place, Washington DC 20521-3480 telephone: [504] 2236-9320, FAX: [504] 2236-9037 email address and website: usahonduras@state.gov https://hn.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | three equal horizontal bands of cobalt blue (top), white, and cobalt blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperity note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band | three equal horizontal bands of cerulean blue (top), white, and cerulean blue, with five cerulean, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water and the peace and prosperity of its people note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band |
| National anthem | name: "Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El Salvador) lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE note: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; at 4:20 minutes, the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest | name: "Himno Nacional de Honduras" (National Anthem of Honduras) lyrics/music: Augusto Constancio COELLO/Carlos HARTLING note: adopted 1915; the anthem's seven verses chronicle Honduran history; on official occasions, only the chorus and last verse are sung |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | turquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white | scarlet macaw, white-tailed deer; national colors: blue, white |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 1 to 3 years |
Economy
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | The smallest country in Central America geographically, El Salvador has the fourth largest economy in the region. With the global recession, real GDP contracted in 2009 and economic growth has since remained low, averaging less than 2% from 2010 to 2014, but recovered somewhat in 2015-17 with an average annual growth rate of 2.4%. Remittances accounted for approximately 18% of GDP in 2017 and were received by about a third of all households. In 2006, El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement, which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition. In September 2015, El Salvador kicked off a five-year $277 million second compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation - a US Government agency aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty - to improve El Salvador's competitiveness and productivity in international markets. The Salvadoran Government maintained fiscal discipline during reconstruction and rebuilding following earthquakes in 2001 and hurricanes in 1998 and 2005, but El Salvador's public debt, estimated at 59.3% of GDP in 2017, has been growing over the last several years. | Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, suffers from extraordinarily unequal distribution of income, as well as high underemployment. While historically dependent on the export of bananas and coffee, Honduras has diversified its export base to include apparel and automobile wire harnessing. Honduras's economy depends heavily on US trade and remittances. The US-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2006 and has helped foster foreign direct investment, but physical and political insecurity, as well as crime and perceptions of corruption, may deter potential investors; about 15% of foreign direct investment is from US firms. The economy registered modest economic growth of 3.1%-4.0% from 2010 to 2017, insufficient to improve living standards for the nearly 65% of the population in poverty. In 2017, Honduras faced rising public debt, but its economy has performed better than expected due to low oil prices and improved investor confidence. Honduras signed a three-year standby arrangement with the IMF in December 2014, aimed at easing Honduras's poor fiscal position. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $56.636 billion (2019 est.) $55.318 billion (2018 est.) $54.005 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $55.825 billion (2019 est.) $54.382 billion (2018 est.) $52.444 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 2.3% (2017 est.) 2.6% (2016 est.) 2.4% (2015 est.) | 4.8% (2017 est.) 3.8% (2016 est.) 3.8% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $8,776 (2019 est.) $8,616 (2018 est.) $8,454 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $5,728 (2019 est.) $5,672 (2018 est.) $5,562 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 12% (2017 est.) industry: 27.7% (2017 est.) services: 60.3% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 14.2% (2017 est.) industry: 28.8% (2017 est.) services: 57% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 22.8% (2019 est.) | 48.3% (2018 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 32.3% (2014 est.) | lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 38.4% (2014) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 0% (2019 est.) 1% (2018 est.) 1% (2017 est.) | 4.3% (2019 est.) 4.3% (2018 est.) 3.9% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 2.908 million (2019 est.) | 3.735 million (2017 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 21% industry: 20% services: 58% (2011 est.) | agriculture: 39.2% industry: 20.9% services: 39.8% (2005 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 7% (2017 est.) 6.9% (2016 est.) note: data are official rates; but underemployment is high | 5.6% (2017 est.) 6.3% (2016 est.) note: about one-third of the people are underemployed |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 38.6 (2018 est.) 38 (2014) | 52.1 (2018 est.) 45.7 (2009) |
| Budget | revenues: 5.886 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 6.517 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 4.658 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 5.283 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals | sugar processing, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars |
| Industrial production growth rate | 3.6% (2017 est.) | 4.5% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | sugar cane, maize, milk, poultry, sorghum, beans, coconuts, eggs, apples, oranges | sugar cane, oil palm fruit, milk, bananas, maize, coffee, melons, oranges, poultry, beans |
| Exports | $4.662 billion (2017 est.) $5.42 billion (2016 est.) | $8.675 billion (2017 est.) $7.841 billion (2016 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | textiles and apparel, electrical capacitors, plastic lids, raw sugar, toilet paper (2019) | clothing and apparel, coffee, insulated wiring, bananas, palm oil (2019) |
| Exports - partners | United States 40%, Guatemala 15%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 6% (2019) | United States 53%, El Salvador 8%, Guatemala 5%, Nicaragua 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $9.499 billion (2017 est.) $8.954 billion (2016 est.) | $11.32 billion (2017 est.) $10.56 billion (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | refined petroleum, packaged medicines, clothing, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2019) | refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, insulated wiring (2019) |
| Imports - partners | United States 30%, China 14%, Guatemala 13%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 6% (2019) | United States 42%, China 10%, Guatemala 8%, El Salvador 8%, Mexico 6% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $17.24 billion (2019 est.) $16.712 billion (2018 est.) | $9.137 billion (2019 est.) $8.722 billion (2018 est.) |
| Exchange rates | note: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy 1 (2017 est.) | lempiras (HNL) per US dollar - 23.74 (2017 est.) 22.995 (2016 est.) 22.995 (2015 est.) 22.098 (2014 est.) 21.137 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 67.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 66.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt | 39.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 38.5% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $3.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.238 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.708 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.814 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$501 million (2017 est.) -$500 million (2016 est.) | -$380 million (2017 est.) -$587 million (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $27.023 billion (2019 est.) | $25.145 billion (2019 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: B- (2017) Moody's rating: B3 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2018) | Moody's rating: B1 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2017) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 65.3 (2020) Starting a Business score: 78.6 (2020) Trading score: 89.8 (2020) Enforcement score: 51.9 (2020) | Overall score: 56.3 (2020) Starting a Business score: 71.4 (2020) Trading score: 64.3 (2020) Enforcement score: 44.2 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 23.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -2.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 9.9% male: 8.3% female: 12.8% (2019) | total: 10.9% male: 7.6% female: 17.6% (2019 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 84.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 15.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 27.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -44.9% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 77.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 13.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -58.9% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 17% of GDP (2019 est.) 15.6% of GDP (2018 est.) 15% of GDP (2017 est.) | 22% of GDP (2019 est.) 20.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 23.6% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 5.83 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 8.501 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 5.928 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 7.22 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 89.6 million kWh (2017 est.) | 536 million kWh (2015 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 1.066 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 195 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2017 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 1.983 million kW (2016 est.) | 2.546 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 49% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 40% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 29% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 34% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 52,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 59,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 347 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 12,870 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 49,280 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 56,120 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 97% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 93% (2019) | electrification - total population: 81% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 91% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 68% (2019) |
Telecommunications
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 882,498 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13.73 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 490,103 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5.38 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 9,442,667 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 146.91 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 7,559,829 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 82.92 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .sv | .hn |
| Internet users | total: 2,153,776 percent of population: 33.82% (July 2018 est.) | total: 2,853,505 percent of population: 31.7% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: El Salvador's telecom sector is challenged by low population, poor infrastructure, and unequal income distribution compounded by corruption and criminal influence; liberal regulation promotes mobile penetration in replacement of fixed-line density; operators testing 5G in 2020 (2020) (2020)domestic: growth in fixed-line services 14 per 100, has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition at 147 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: among the poorest countries in Central America, Honduras has a neglected telecom sector complicated by political stalemate and geographic challenges; mobile subscribership is growing; DSL and cable Internet available in urban areas but expensive; government proposed ICT master plan to boost e-government and business, including free Internet to households; US based network ready to deploy 5G (2021) (2020)domestic: private sub-operators allowed to provide fixed lines in order to expand telephone coverage contributing to a small increase in fixed-line teledensity 5 per 100; mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 73 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 504; landing points for both the ARCOS and the MAYA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable systems that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 492,265 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2018 est.) | total: 390,377 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4.28 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | multiple privately owned national terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio broadcast stations and 1 government-owned radio broadcast station; transition to digital transmission to begin in 2018 along with adaptation of the Japanese-Brazilian Digital Standard (ISDB-T) | multiple privately owned terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by multiple cable TV networks; Radio Honduras is the lone government-owned radio network; roughly 300 privately owned radio stations |
Transportation
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 13 km (2014) narrow gauge: 12.5 km 0.914-m gauge (2014) | total: 699 km (2014) narrow gauge: 164 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) 115 km 1.057-m gauge 420 km 0.914-m gauge |
| Roadways | total: 9,012 km (2017) paved: 5,341 km (2017) unpaved: 3,671 km (2017) | total: 14,742 km (2012) paved: 3,367 km (2012) unpaved: 11,375 km (1,543 km summer only) (2012) note: an additional 8,951 km of non-official roads used by the coffee industry |
| Waterways | (Rio Lempa River is partially navigable by small craft) (2011) | 465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2012) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Puerto Cutuco oil terminal(s): Acajutla offshore terminal | major seaport(s): La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela |
| Merchant marine | total: 2 by type: other 2 (2020) | total: 514 by type: general cargo 246, oil tanker 83, other 185 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 68 (2013) | total: 103 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 5 (2017) over 3,047 m: 1 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017) under 914 m: 1 (2017) | total: 13 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017) under 914 m: 3 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 63 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 11 (2013) under 914 m: 51 (2013) | total: 90 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 16 (2013) under 914 m: 73 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,545,105 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10.73 million mt-km (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 26 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 251,149 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 450,000 mt-km (2018) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | YS | HR |
Military
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | the Armed Force of El Salvador (La Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Army of El Salvador (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Navy of El Salvador (Fuerza Naval de El Salvador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS); Ministry of Justice and Public Security: National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil, PNC) (2021) | Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army (Ejercito), Honduran Naval Force (FNH; includes marines), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH), Honduran Public Order Military Police (PMOP); Security Secretariat: Public Security Forces (includes Honduran National Police paramilitary units) (2021) note - the PMOP reports to military authorities, but conducts operations sanctioned by civilian security officials as well as by military leaders |
| Military service age and obligation | 18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2012) | 18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service; no conscription (2019) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 1.2% of GDP (2019) 1.1% of GDP (2018) 1% of GDP (2017) 1% of GDP (2016) 1% of GDP (2015) | 1.6% of GDP (2019) 1.6% of GDP (2018) 1.7% of GDP (2017) 1.7% of GDP (2016) 1.7% of GDP (2015) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | the Armed Force of El Salvador (FAES) has approximately 21,000 active troops (17,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2021) | the Honduran Armed Forces (FFAA) have approximately 16,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,500 Navy, including about 1,000 marines; 2,000 Air Force; 5,000 Public Order Military Police); approximately 18,000 National Police (2021) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the FAES is dependent on a mix of mostly older imported platforms, largely from the US; since 2010, the FAES has received small amounts of equipment from Chile, Israel, Spain, and the US (2020) | the FFAA's inventory is comprised of mostly older imported equipment from Israel, the UK, and the US; since 2010, Honduras has received limited amounts of military equipment from Colombia, Israel, Netherlands, Taiwan, and the US (2020) |
Transnational Issues
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca | International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum |
| Illicit drugs | transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine | transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering activity |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons | IDPs: 71,500 (2018) | IDPs: 247,000 (violence, extortion, threats, forced recruitment by urban gangs between 2004 and 2018) (2020) |
Environment
| El Salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 23.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.17 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.71 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 20.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9.81 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 7.72 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 474 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 213 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.431 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 315 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 114 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.178 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.6% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.91% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,648,996 tons (2010 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,162,028 tons (2016 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
