Demographics of El Salvador

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This article is about the demographic features of the population of El Salvador, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Demographics of El Salvador
San Salvador, capital and largest city of El Salvador
Population	7,066,403 (2008 est.)[1]
Male population	3,440,918
Female population	3,625,485
Population growth	1.68%
Birth rate	25.72/1,000
Death rate	5.53/1,000
Infant mortality rate	22.19/1,000
Life expectancy	72.1 years
Nationality	Salvadoran
Demographic bureaus	INEC

El Salvador's population numbers about 7,066,403 with 90% identifying as Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European).^[2] 9% of the Salvadoran population are White including Spanish, French, Lebanese, Syrian, Turkish, Swiss, German, and Italian descendants. About 1% is of indigenous origin (Pipil). Very few Amerindians have retained their customs and traditions, having over time assimilated into the dominant Mestizo/Spanish culture.^[3]

The low numbers of indigenous people may be partly explained by La Matanza in 1938 which saw (estimates of) up to 30,000 peasants killed in a short period of time (nowadays this would be considered a genocide by the army's methods to exterminate a certain racial group). They were not necessarily killed because they were indigenous, one of the identifying features of the peasants was their indigenous dress. Many authors note that since La Matanza the indigenous in El Salvador have been very reluctant to describe themselves as such (in census declarations for example) or to wear indigenous dress or be seen to be taking part in any cultural activities or customs that might be understood as indigenous.^[4]

There is a significant population of Palestinian Christian and Chinese immigrants. There is also a small community of Jews and Muslims.

While the plurality of country's population is Roman Catholic, it no longer constitutes a majority. According to an October 2006 survey by the Technological University Public Opinion Center, 48% of the population was Roman Catholic, while some 28.2% are members of Protestant churches. Groups that constitute less than 5 percent of the population include Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons; 14.6 percent are not affiliated with any religious group.^[5]

Spanish is the language spoken by virtually all inhabitants. The capital city of San Salvador has about 316,090 people; an estimated 37% of El Salvador's population live in rural areas. The total impact of civil wars, dictatorships and socioeconomics drove over a million Salvadorans (both as immigrants and refugees) into the US; in addition small Salvadoran communities sprung up in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Europe and Australia since the migration trend began in the early 1970s.

Contents 1 Cities and metropolitan areas 2 CIA World Factbook demographic statistics 2.1 Population 2.2 Age structure 2.3 Population growth rate 2.4 Birth rate 2.5 Death rate 2.6 Net migration rate 2.7 Sex ratio 2.8 Infant mortality rate 2.9 Life expectancy at birth 2.10 Total fertility rate 2.11 Nationality 2.12 Ethnic groups 2.13 Religions 2.14 Languages 2.15 Literacy 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Cities and metropolitan areas

Municipalities of El Salvador

[edit] CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

Ethnic groups
Salvadoran Women
Group	Number
Mestizo (86%)	4,210,000
White (12%)	621,000
Amerindian (2%)	69,000
Source: CDI (2006)

Ethnic groups
group			percent
Mestizo			90%
White			9%
Amerindian			1%

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

[edit] Population

7,066,403 (July 2009 est.)

^[2]

[edit] Age structure

0-14 years: 36% (male 1,291,147; female 1,237,453)

15-64 years: 59% (male 1,987,671; female 2,179,620)

65 years and over: 5% (male 162,100; female 208,412) (2008 est.)

[edit] Population growth rate

1.68% (2008 est.)

[edit] Birth rate

29.02 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

25.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

[edit] Death rate

6.27 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

[edit] Net migration rate

-4.0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

-3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

[edit] Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

[edit] Infant mortality rate

29.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

22.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

[edit] Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.1 years

male: 68.5 years

female: 75.8 years (2008 est.)

[edit] Total fertility rate

3.38 children born/woman (2000 est.)

3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)

[edit] Nationality

noun: Salvadoran(s)

adjective: Salvadoran

[edit] Ethnic groups

Mestizo: 86%

White:2%

Amerindian: 10-12% The Ameridian population could actually reach higher numbers due to the repression people are reluctant to call themselves "Indian" in public^[6]

[edit] Religions

Roman Catholic: 52.5%

Protestant: 27.6%

Other: 11.1%

[edit] Languages

Spanish, Nahuat (among some Amerindians/ not to be confused with Nahuatl a related language)

[edit] Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write

total population: 80.2%

male: 82.8%

female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

[edit] See also

• El Salvador
• Ethnic groups in Central America
• History of the Jews in El Salvador
• Religion in El Salvador

[edit] References

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