Demographics of El Salvador

Demographics of El Salvador
A contrast of Salvadoran children during the civil war and modern day Salvadoran children'
Population	6,071,774 (2011 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	73.44 years[2]
Nationality	Salvadoran
Demographic bureaus	INEC

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.

El Salvador's population numbers about 6,071,774 with 86% of Salvadorans are mixed (mixed Indigenous Native American and European Spanish origin by majority, who quickly cluster with tri-racial Pardo Salvadorans of Indigenous, Spanish and African mixed heritage, Afro-Mestizos who culturally identify themselves as Mestizo. The Salvadorans of mixed ancestry vary in their Native American Indigenous, European and even African ancestry.^[3]

Population

According to the 2012 revison of the World Population Prospects the total population was 6,218,000 in 2010, compared to only 2,200,000 in 1950.^[4] However, as shown by the chart to the right, the data are very imprecise -- in fact, the breakdown of population by gender is over a million more than the given total population. Despite a threefold increase between 1950 and 2010, the increase in population was less than in many other countries in Central America. 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, Panama, Costa Rica, Europe and Australia since the migration trend began in the early 1970s. The 2010 U.S. Census counted 1,648,968 Salvadorans in the United States, up from 655,165 in 2000.^[5] The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 32.1%, 61% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 6.9% was 65 years or older.

Population distribution

The capital city of San Salvador and the other thirteen municipalities that have joined as a metropolitan area have a population of 2.3 million people^[6]

Vital statistics

UN estimates

The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. ^[4]

Registerd data^[7]

Ethnic groups

12.7% of Salvadorans are white; population is mostly of Spanish, while there is also of French, German, Swiss, English, Irish, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch and Danish descent. The majority of Central European immigrants arrived during World War II as refugees Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Switzerland are scattered in different communities of El Salvador. About 1% is of full indigenous origin (Pipil and Lenca). Very few Amerindians have retained their customs and traditions, having over time assimilated into the dominant Mestizo/Spanish culture. In the Mestizo population, Salvadorans who are racially European, especially Mediterranean, as well as Afro-Salvadoran, and the indigenous people in El Salvador who do not speak indigenous languages or have and indigenous culture, all identify themselves as Mestizo culturally.^[8]

The low numbers of indigenous people may be partly explained by mass murder during the 1932 Salvadoran peasant uprising (or La Matanza) 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). 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.^[9]

There is a significant population of immigrants from Palestine (especially from the area of Bethlehem) and China. There is also a small community of Jews and Muslims. A small portion of Salvadorans have Arab descent not only from Palestine but also from other Middle East and North African countries like Lebanon, Syria, Morocco.

Language

Spanish is the language spoken by virtually all inhabitants.

Religion

Catholicism is the majority religion in El Salvador at 57.1%.^[2] Protestant groups compromise 21.2% of the population.^[2] Individual groups that constitute less than 5 percent of the population include Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, and Latter-day Saints 0.7%.^[2] A sizable 16.8% population claim no religious affiliation in El Salvador.^[2]

Salvadoran boy in La Union, El Salvador.

(Nuestros Angeles de El Salvador) Salvadoran women dancers from San Salvador, El Salvador,

The Current El Salvador President Mauricio Funes speaks during a ceremony to commemorate the grand opening of a new pier at La Union Port

Coffee shop in El Salvador

Salvadoran students

Salvadorans marching

Cities and metropolitan areas

Municipalities of El Salvador

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

Population growth 1961-2003.

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

Population

6,071,774 (July 2011 est.)

2013 6.3 million

^[3]

Ethnic groups

Mestizo: 86%

White: 12.7%

Native American: >1% The very low numbers of Native indigenous people may be explained by mass murder during the 1932 Salvadoran peasant uprising (or La Matanza) 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)^[10] The Native American population consists primary of Pipils and Lencas (the latter confined to the Eastern regions of the country) although smaller communities of Kakawira and Xinca also exist.

Religions

Roman Catholic: 57.1%%

Protestant: 21.2%%

No Affiliation: 16.8%

Languages

Spanish (official), Salvadoran Sign Language, Pipil (Nawat) , Kekchí. Immigrant languages include Chinese, Turkish, Poqomam, and American Sign Language.^[11]

Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write

total: 95.0%^[12]

male: 94.4%

female: 95.5%

urban: 97.2%

rural: 91.8%

Gallery

• 

  Salvadoran boy during the civil war, one of many Salvadoran children refugees.

• 

  Salvadoran boys during the civil war, of many Salvadoran children refugees.

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  Salvadoran girl during the civil war, one of many Salvadoran children refugees

• 

  Salvadoran girl during the civil war, one of many Salvadoran children refugees

• 

  Salvadoran boys and girls during the civil war, of many Salvadoran children refugees

• 

  Salvadoran boys during the civil war, of many Salvadoran children refugees

• 

  Salvadoran boys during the civil war, of many Salvadoran children refugees

• 

  Salvadoran boys during the civil war, of many Salvadoran children refugees

• 

  Salvadoran men building class bench for children

• 
• 

  Salvadoran women, beauty queen Irma Dimas

• 

See also

• El Salvador
• Ethnic groups in Central America
• History of the Jews in El Salvador
• Religion in El Salvador
  • Salvadoran Departments by HDI

References

El Salvador topics History Pre-Columbian history New Spain Captaincy General (Guatemalan) 1811 Independence Movement Federal Republic of Central America World War II History of El Salvador (1931–79) Salvadoran Civil War (1979–1992) Geography Biota Cities Islands National parks Rivers Volcanism Water resources Politics Administrative divisions Constitution Court system Elections Foreign relations Human rights Law enforcement Legislative Assembly Military Political parties Presidents Economy Central bank Coffee production Currency Energy Telecommunications Transport Society Crime Demographics Regions by HDI Education Languages Religion Water supply and sanitation Culture Anthem Coat of arms Cuisine Flag Literature Music Public holidays Sport Television Outline Index Category Portal WikiProject