History of El Salvador in Timeline

El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a Central American nation bordered by Honduras, Guatemala, and the Pacific Ocean. San Salvador serves as its capital and largest city. The population of El Salvador was estimated to be 6 million in 2024.

1903: End of Tomas Regalado's Presidency

In 1903, General Tomas Regalado's rule as president ended.

July 1906: General Tomas Regalado Killed

On July 11, 1906, General Tomas Regalado was killed at El Jicaro during a war against Guatemala.

1912: Creation of the National Guard

In 1912, the national guard was created as a rural police force.

1913: President Manuel Enrique Araujo Killed

In 1913, President Manuel Enrique Araujo was killed, and many hypotheses were advanced for the political motive of his murder.

1913: Melendez-Quinonez Dynasty

In 1913, the Melendez-Quinonez dynasty began and lasted until 1927.

1915: El Salvador Official Name

In 1915, the Legislative Assembly passed a law which officially stated that the country's name should be rendered as the definite form El Salvador ('The Savior').

1919: Earthquake Damage

San Salvador suffered heavy damage in the 1919 earthquake.

1927: End of the Melendez-Quinonez Dynasty

In 1927, the Melendez-Quinonez dynasty ended.

December 1930: Martí Exiled

In December 1930, Martí was once again exiled because of his popularity among the nation's poor.

1930: Free Elections Announced

In 1930, Pio Romero Bosque announced free elections.

March 1931: Arturo Araujo Came to Power

On March 1, 1931, Arturo Araujo came to power in what was considered the country's first freely contested election.

December 1931: Coup d'état

In December 1931, a coup d'état was organized by junior officers and led by Martínez.

1931: Military Dictatorship

Carlos Humberto Romero was the final president of the country's military dictatorship which began in 1931.

1931: Martí Returned

Once Araujo was elected president in 1931, Martí returned to El Salvador.

January 1932: Brutal Suppression

Beginning in January 1932, there was brutal suppression of a rural revolt known as La Matanza.

January 1932: Peasant Revolt

On January 22, 1932, thousands of poorly armed peasants in the western part of El Salvador revolted against the government and Martínez.

1935: Martínez Ruled

In 1935, Martínez ruled from 1935 to 1939.

1939: Martínez Ruled

In 1939, Martínez ruled from 1939 to 1943.

1943: Martínez Ruled

In 1943, Martínez ruled from 1939 to 1943.

1944: Martínez Resigned

In 1944, Martínez began a fourth term but resigned in May after a general strike.

November 1950: Support for Tibetan Appeal

In November 1950, El Salvador was the only country to support the 14th Dalai Lama's appeal to the UN to stop the annexation of Tibet by China.

1950: Population in 1950

In 1950, El Salvador's population was 2,200,000.

1958: El Salvador Reaffirmed Name

In 1958, the legislature reaffirmed the country's name as El Salvador.

1960: PDC and PCN Active

From 1960, the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and the National Conciliation Party (PCN) were active in Salvadoran politics until 2011.

1964: José Napoleón Duarte Mayor of San Salvador

From 1964, José Napoleón Duarte was the mayor of San Salvador until 1970.

1969: Football War

In 1969, the Football War between El Salvador and Honduras occurred due to tensions caused by Salvadoran emigration to Honduras.

1970: FIFA World Cup Qualification

In 1970, the El Salvador national football team qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

1970: José Napoleón Duarte Mayor of San Salvador

Until 1970, José Napoleón Duarte was the mayor of San Salvador since 1964.

1972: Duarte Defeated in Elections

In 1972, Duarte ran for president but was defeated in the elections.

1973: Hurricane Emily

Hurricane Emily affected El Salvador in 1973.

1976: Estadio Cuscatlán Opened

In 1976, the Estadio Cuscatlán opened in San Salvador.

October 1979: Regime Change

By October 1979, the Carter administration decided that El Salvador needed regime change.

October 1979: Coup d'état

On 15 October 1979, a coup d'état brought the Revolutionary Government Junta (JRG) to power.

1979: Duarte Returned to Politics

In 1979, Duarte returned to the country to enter politics.

1979: Start of Salvadoran Civil War

In 1979, the Salvadoran Civil War began, fought between the military-led government backed by the United States and a coalition of left-wing guerrilla groups due to socioeconomic inequality and civil unrest.

March 1980: Óscar Romero Assassinated

On 24 March 1980, Óscar Romero was assassinated by a death squad while saying Mass.

October 1980: Formed FMLN

In October 1980, several other major guerrilla groups of the Salvadoran left had formed the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, or FMLN.

1980: Salvadorans emigrated to the United States

Beginning in 1980, large numbers of Salvadorans emigrated to the United States.

1980: Violence Investigation

In 1980, the Commission on the Truth for El Salvador began investigating serious acts of violence, their nature, effects, and methods for promoting national reconciliation.

1982: FIFA World Cup Qualification

In 1982, the El Salvador national football team qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

1982: Earthquake Damage

San Salvador suffered heavy damage in the 1982 earthquake.

1983: Constitution

The 1983 constitution has the highest legal authority in the country.

1986: Earthquake

A 5.7 Mw earthquake in 1986 resulted in 1,500 deaths, 10,000 injuries, and 100,000 people left homeless.

1989: ARENA Dominance

From 1989, Salvadorans favored the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), voting in ARENA presidents in every election.

1989: Murder of Jesuit Priests

In 1989, Jesuit priests and professors Ignacio Ellacuría, Ignacio Martín-Baró, and Segundo Montes were murdered by the Salvadoran Army during the civil war.

January 1992: Peace Agreements Signed

On 16 January 1992, the government of El Salvador and the FMLN signed peace agreements ending the 12-year civil war.

September 1992: Implementation of value-added tax (IVA)

In September 1992, El Salvador implemented a 10% value-added tax (IVA).

1992: End of Salvadoran Civil War

In 1992, the Salvadoran Civil War ended with the Chapultepec Peace Accords, which established a multiparty constitutional republic.

1993: Commission Findings and Amnesty Law

In 1993, the Commission on the Truth delivered its findings, reporting human rights violations on both sides of the conflict. Five days later, the Salvadoran legislature passed an amnesty law for all acts of violence during the period in 1993.

July 1995: IVA raised to 13%

In July 1995, El Salvador raised the value-added tax (IVA) from 10% to 13%.

1996: GDP growth rate after 1996

After 1996, El Salvador's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 3.2%.

1997: Ministry of Environment Established

In 1997, the government established the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources.

1998: Hurricane Mitch

Hurricane Mitch affected El Salvador in 1998.

1999: Environmental Framework Law Approved

A general environmental framework law was approved by the National Assembly in 1999.

2000: Increase in total exports

From 2000 to 2006, El Salvador's total exports grew 19%, from $2.94 billion to $3.51 billion.

January 2001: Earthquake

On 13 January 2001, an earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale caused a landslide that killed more than 800 people.

February 2001: Earthquake

On 13 February 2001, another earthquake killed 255 people and damaged about 20% of the country's housing.

2001: US dollar replaced colón

In 2001, the United States dollar replaced the colón as the currency of El Salvador.

2001: Severe Drought

In the summer of 2001, a severe drought destroyed 80% of El Salvador's crops, causing famine.

2004: Salvadorans Living Outside

As of 2004, there were approximately 3.2 million Salvadorans living outside El Salvador.

2004: Temporary Success of "Super Mano Dura"

In 2004, the "Super Mano Dura" gang reform experienced temporary success.

2004: Gang-related Homicides

In 2004, there were 41 intentional homicides per 100,000 citizens, with 60% being gang-related.

2004: 2004 Election

In the 2004 El Salvador election, President Antonio Saca was elected, and his opponent, Schafik Handal, was also of Palestinian descent.

2004: ARENA Dominance Ends

Until 2004, Salvadorans favored the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), voting in ARENA presidents in every election.

October 2005: Santa Ana Volcano Eruption

On 1 October 2005, the Santa Ana Volcano spewed a cloud of ash, hot mud and rocks that fell on nearby villages and caused two deaths.

October 2005: Severe Rains and Landslides

On 4 October 2005, severe rains resulted in dangerous flooding and landslides, which caused at least 50 deaths.

2005: Rise in Crime After "Super Mano Dura"

After 2005, there was a rise in crime after the temporary success of "Super Mano Dura".

2005: Expiration of the Multi Fibre Arrangement

In 2005, El Salvador faced Asian competition in the apparel sector with the expiration of the Multi Fibre Arrangement.

2006: Rise in total imports

From 2000 to 2006, El Salvador's total imports rose 54%, from $4.95 billion to $7.63 billion.

2006: Ratification of CAFTA

In 2006, El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States.

2006: Gay Marriage Proposal Rejection

In 2006, gay marriage is legally not recognized, as proposals were rejected twice.

2006: Remittances as percentage of GDP

In 2006, remittances to El Salvador grew to $3.32 billion, approximately 16.2% of GDP.

2007: Government committed to free market initiatives

In 2007, the government of El Salvador committed to free market initiatives, resulting in a real GDP growth rate of 4.7%.

2008: Salvadorans Immigrated to the United States

By 2008, Salvadorans were the sixth largest immigrant group in the United States.

2008: International Arbitration Sought Against Enel Green Power

In 2008, El Salvador sought international arbitration against Italy's Enel Green Power regarding a geothermal project.

2008: Service sector component of GDP

In 2008, the service sector was the largest component of El Salvador's GDP, accounting for 64.1%.

March 2009: Mauricio Funes Elected President

In March 2009, Mauricio Funes of the FMLN was elected as president.

June 2009: Funes Inauguration

On June 1, 2009, Mauricio Funes was inaugurated as president.

December 2009: Saca Expelled from ARENA

In December 2009, ARENA formally expelled Saca from the party. Saca then established his own party, the Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA).

2009: US Embassy warned about government's policies

In 2009, The U.S. Embassy warned that the Salvadoran government's populist policies of mandating artificially low electricity prices were damaging private sector profitability.

2009: Gay Marriage Proposal Rejection

In 2009, gay marriage is legally not recognized, as proposals were rejected once again.

2009: ARENA's electoral defeat

In 2009, the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador pointed to official corruption under the Saca administration as a significant reason for public rejection of continued ARENA government.

2010: Contribution of metallic mining to GDP

According to the Central American Institute for Fiscal Studies, the contribution of metallic mining was a minuscule 0.3% of El Salvador's GDP between 2010 and 2015.

2010: Age Demographics

In 2010, 32.1% of El Salvador's population was below the age of 15.

2010: Agriculture represents 11.2% of GDP

In 2010, agriculture represented 11.2% of El Salvador's GDP.

2011: PDC and PCN Disbanded

In 2011, the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and the National Conciliation Party (PCN) were disbanded by the Supreme Court.

2011: Gang Members at Large

In 2011, there were an estimated 25,000 gang members at large in El Salvador.

April 2012: IMF Loan Suspended

In April 2012, the International Monetary Fund suspended a $750 million loan to the central government due to problems with economic subsidies.

2012: Salvadoran Immigrants in the U.S.

By 2012, there were about 2.0 million Salvadoran immigrants and Americans of Salvadoran descent in the U.S., making them the sixth largest immigrant group in the country.

2012: Highest Murder Rate

In 2012, El Salvador had the highest murder rate in the world.

2012: Homicide Rate Increase

In 2012, the homicide rate increased to 66 per 100,000 inhabitants.

2013: Survey on Homosexuality

According to a 2013 survey by Pew Research, 53% of Salvadorans believe that homosexuality should not be accepted by society.

2013: Influx of FDI Increased

In 2013, the influx of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into El Salvador increased.

2013: Tourism Directly Supported Jobs

In 2013, tourism directly supported 80,500 jobs in El Salvador, representing 3.1% of total employment.

March 2014: Cerén Wins Election

In March 2014, former FMLN guerrilla leader Cerén narrowly won the election.

May 2014: Cerén Sworn In

On May 31, 2014, Cerén was sworn in as president, becoming the first former guerrilla to hold the office.

December 2014: Settlement Reached in Geothermal Project Dispute

In December 2014, El Salvador and Enel Green Power reached a settlement in their dispute over a geothermal project.

2014: Corruption Perception Index Rank

In 2014, El Salvador ranked 80 out of 175 countries as per the Corruption Perception Index.

2014: World Bank Rating

In 2014, the World Bank rated El Salvador 109 in the annual "Ease of doing business" index.

2014: International Tourist Visits

It was estimated that 1,394,000 international tourists visited El Salvador in 2014.

2014: Funes Social Liberal Wing

The FMLN Party is leftist in ideology, and is split between the dominant Marxist-Leninist faction in the legislature, and the social liberal wing led by Mauricio Funes until 2014.

2015: Progress in water and sanitation access

A 2015 study by the University of North Carolina called El Salvador the country that has achieved the greatest progress in the world in terms of increased access to water supply and sanitation and the reduction of inequity in access between urban and rural areas.

2015: Homicides Recorded

In 2015, there were 6,650 homicides recorded in El Salvador.

2016: Funes Seeks Asylum

In 2016, Funes had sought asylum in Nicaragua.

2016: Murders Recorded

In 2016, at least 5,728 people were murdered in El Salvador.

October 2017: Court Ruling Against Funes

In October 2017, an El Salvador court ruled that former president Funes and one of his sons had illegally enriched themselves.

December 2017: Net international reserves

As of December 2017, El Salvador's net international reserves stood at $3.57 billion.

2017: Homicides Recorded

In 2017, there were 3,962 homicides recorded in El Salvador.

September 2018: Saca Sentenced

In September 2018, former president Saca was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to diverting more than US$300 million in state funds.

October 2018: Óscar Romero canonized as saint

Óscar Romero, the first Salvadoran saint, was canonized by Pope Francis on 14 October 2018.

2018: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2018, El Salvador had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.06/10.

2018: Transition to digital transmission

In 2018, El Salvador transitioned to digital transmission of TV/radio networks with the adaptation of the ISDB-T standard.

2018: Deaths Recorded

In 2018, there were 3,348 deaths recorded in El Salvador.

February 2019: Bukele Wins Election

In February 2019 presidential election, Nayib Bukele won.

June 2019: Bukele Becomes President

On June 1, 2019, Nayib Bukele became the new president of El Salvador.

June 2019: Bukele Takes Office, Homicide Rate Drops

Since Bukele became president in June 2019, the homicide rate in El Salvador dropped by as much as 60 percent.

2019: Lowest Level of Income Inequality

As of 2019 economic improvements had led to El Salvador experiencing the lowest level of income inequality among nearby countries.

2019: Sharp Decline in Murder Rate

In 2019, El Salvador experienced a sharp decline in murder rate with a new conservative government in power.

2019: Remittances per capita

In 2019, El Salvador led the region in remittances per capita, with inflows equivalent to nearly all export income.

2019: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2019, El Salvador was ranked 108th in the Global Innovation Index.

2019: Homicides Reported

In 2019, authorities reported a total of 2,365 homicides in El Salvador.

2019: Contribution of Tourism to GDP

In 2019, tourism contributed US$2970.1 million to El Salvador's GDP, representing 11% of total GDP.

2019: One Year Without Homicides

On 10 May 2023, Bukele stated that El Salvador had completed one full year or 365 days since 2019 without a single homicide occurring.

2019: Nayib Bukele win the presidential election

The two-party dominance was broken after Nayib Bukele, a candidate from GANA won the 2019 Salvadoran presidential election.

June 2020: Hospital El Salvador Inaugurated

In June 2020, El Salvador inaugurated Hospital El Salvador, converted from the country's main convention center, as the largest hospital in Latin America.

2020: Homicide Rate Drop Reported

According to a 2020 report, the homicide rate in El Salvador had dropped by as much as 60 percent since Bukele became president.

2020: 5G Coverage Testing Began

In 2020, El Salvador began testing 5G coverage as part of its efforts to promote mobile penetration over fixed lines.

January 2021: Sources of Total Injections

According to the National Energy Commission, 94.4% of total injections during January 2021 came from hydroelectric plants (28.5%), geothermal (27.3%), biomass (24.4%), photovoltaic solar (10.6%) and wind (3.6%).

February 2021: Legislative Election Changes Politics

In February 2021, the results of legislative election caused a major change in the politics of El Salvador. The new allied party of president Nayib Bukele, Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas) won the biggest congressional majority in the country's history.

February 2021: Nuevas Ideas Wins Legislative Elections

In the February 2021 legislative elections, Nuevas Ideas (NI), founded by Bukele, won around 63% of the vote.

February 2021: El Salvador Certified for Malaria Elimination

On 25 February 2021, El Salvador became the first Central American country to be awarded certification for the elimination of malaria by the WHO.

June 2021: President Bukele Announces Bitcoin Legislation

In June 2021, President Nayib Bukele announced he would introduce legislation to make Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador.

June 2021: Bitcoin Legal Tender

On June 8, 2021, pro-government deputies voted legislation to make bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador.

September 2021: Supreme Court Allows Bukele to Run Again

In September 2021, El Salvador's Supreme Court ruled to allow Bukele to run for a second term in 2024, despite constitutional prohibitions.

September 2021: Bitcoin Becomes Legal Tender

On 7 September 2021, Bitcoin officially became a legal tender in El Salvador.

2021: El Salvador Economy

Among 77 countries included in a 2021 study, El Salvador had one of the least complex economies for doing business.

2021: Homicides Recorded

In 2021, El Salvador recorded 1,140 homicides, the lowest since the end of the civil war.

2021: GDP in purchasing power parity estimate

In 2021, El Salvador's gross domestic product in purchasing power parity was estimated to be US$57.95 billion, with a real GDP growth of 4.2%.

2021: Population

In 2021, El Salvador's population was 6,314,167.

January 2022: IMF Urges Reversal of Bitcoin Decision

In January 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged El Salvador to reverse its decision to make cryptocurrency legal tender.

March 2022: Bitcoin transaction data

According to a survey conducted by the Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce, as of March 2022 only 14% of merchants in El Salvador processed at least one Bitcoin transaction.

March 2022: Gang-Related Violence

Beginning on 25 March 2022, three days of gang-related violence occurred, leaving 87 people dead, prompting President Bukele to request a state of emergency and order mass arrests.

May 2022: Prospect of Sovereign Default

As of May 2022, with government bonds trading at 40% of their original value, there was a prospect of a looming sovereign default.

2022: Homicide Rate

By 2022, El Salvador had a homicide rate of 7.8 per 100,000 individuals.

2022: Gang Membership Estimates

In 2022, the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gangs were estimated to have around 70,000 members.

2022: Crackdown on Gangs

In 2022, the Salvadoran government initiated a massive fight against criminal gangs and gang-related violence, leading to a state of emergency.

May 2023: One Year Without Homicides

On 10 May 2023, Bukele stated that El Salvador had completed one full year since 2019 without a single homicide occurring.

August 2023: Government Crackdown on Gangs

As of August 2023, around 72,000 suspected gang members have been sent to prison as part of the government crackdown on gangs.

November 2023: Bukele Takes Leave for Re-election Campaign

On 30 November 2023, the Legislative Assembly granted Bukele and Vice President Felix Ulloa a leave of absence to focus on their 2024 re-election campaign.

2023: Homicide Rate

In 2023 there were 154 homicides.

2023: V-Dem Democracy Report Ranking

It was ranked the 5th least electoral democratic country in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2023 by V-Dem Democracy Report.

January 2024: Homicide Rate Drops

In January 2024, it was announced that the homicide rate dropped nearly 70% year over year, with 154 homicides in 2023 compared to 495 in 2022.

February 2024: Bukele Wins Re-election

On 4 February 2024, Bukele won re-election with 83% of the vote in general election.

May 2024: Government holds bitcoin

Since May 2024, the Bitcoin Office of El Salvador reports that the government holds 5,750 bitcoin, with nearly 474 bitcoin mined since September 2021 using geothermal energy.

June 2024: Bukele Sworn In for Second Term

On 1 June 2024, he was sworn in for his second five-year term.

December 2024: Government purchased more bitcoin

In December 2024, Nayib Bukele's government purchased 11 new BTC for over a million dollars.

2024: Lowest Homicide Rate

In 2024, El Salvador reported a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 people.

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2024, El Salvador was ranked 98th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Country's Population

In 2024, El Salvador's population was estimated to be 6 million according to a government census.

2024: Bukele Allowed to Run for Second Term

In September 2021, El Salvador's Supreme Court ruled to allow Bukele to run for a second term in 2024, despite constitutional prohibitions.

2024: Bukele Re-election Campaign

On 30 November 2023, the Legislative Assembly granted Bukele and Vice President Felix Ulloa a leave of absence to focus on their 2024 re-election campaign.