THE PEOPLE OF EL SALVADOR With over 6,000,000 people, El Salvador is the most densely populated country in Central America. Females have a life expectancy of 73 years, males 66 years. 70% of adults are literate. The average educational attainment for women is third grade. The World Health Organization reports that 57% of women suffer physical abuse at home. Out of 174 nations, El Salvador ranks 115 on the U.N. Human Development Index. El Salvador's per capita income is the fifth lowest in the hemisphere. The civil war between the government and the National Liberation Front began in 1980 and 12 years of bitter fighting followed. When the government had lost the countryside and the rebels were in the Capital outskirts, peace accords were signed and elections were held in 1994. Most of the war's casualties were civilians. Only now are the wounds of war healing. Salvadorans are working hard to lift themselves out of poverty and complete the consolidation of peace and democratic processes. Katalysis Partners in El Salvador ASEI - Associación Salvadoreña de Exensionistas Empresariales PROCOMES - Corporación de Proyectos Communales de El Salvador << Back to map