Demographics of El Salvador

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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 Spanish).[1] 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. [2]

The low numbers of indigenous people may be partly explained by La Matanza in 1932 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.[3]

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

The country's population are mostly Roman Catholic, with sizable Protestant minority. 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

[edit] Cities and metropolitan areas

Municipalities of El Salvador

[edit] Statistics

Ethnic groups
Salvadoran Women
Group Number
Mestizo (86%) 4,210,000
White (12%) 621,000
Amerindian (2%) 69,000
Source: CDI (2006) [http:]
Ethnic groups
group percent
Mestizo
  
 90%
White
  
 9%
Amerindian
  
 1%


Population growth 1961-2003.
Population growth 1961-2003.

Population: 7,066,403 (July 2008 est.) [4]

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.)

Population growth rate: 1.68% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 29.02 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) 25.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)


Death rate: 6.27 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: -4.0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) -3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

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.)

Infant mortality rate: 29.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) 22.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.1 years
male: 68.5 years
female: 75.8 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.38 children born/woman (2000 est.) 3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran

Ethnic groups:

  • Mestizo 86%,
  • White 12%,
  • Amerindian 2%,

Religions: Roman Catholic 83% Other 17%

Languages: Spanish, Nahuatl (among some Amerindians)

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

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Cia World Factbook 2008: El Salvador". Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
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Demographics of North America
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1 Territories also in or commonly reckoned elsewhere in the Americas (South America). 2 Territories also in or commonly reckoned to be in the Pacific basin.
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