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El Salvador
Central America and Caribbean • Countries
Population
6.3M
Area (km²)
21.0K
GDP
$35.4B
Capital
San Salvador
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.