History of El Salvador in Timeline

El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a Central American nation. It is bordered by Honduras to the northeast, Guatemala to the northwest, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. San Salvador serves as its capital and largest city. According to a 2024 government census, the country's population is estimated to be 6 million.

1903: End of Tomas Regalado's Presidency

In 1903, General Tomas Regalado's term as president of El Salvador ended.

July 1906: Death of General Tomas Regalado

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 in El Salvador.

1913: Assassination of President Manuel Enrique Araujo

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

1913: Start of the Melendez-Quinonez dynasty

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

1915: Country Name Officially Changed to El Salvador

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 Saviour').

1919: San Salvador suffers heavy damage from tremors

The capital San Salvador suffered heavy damage from tremors in 1919.

1927: End of the Melendez-Quinonez dynasty

The Melendez-Quinonez dynasty ended in 1927.

December 1930: Exile of Farabundo Martí

In December 1930, Farabundo 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 Comes to Power

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

December 1931: Military Coup d'État Led by Martínez

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

1931: Military Dictatorship

In 1931, El Salvador's military dictatorship began.

1931: Return of Farabundo Martí

Once Araujo was elected president in 1931, Martí returned to El Salvador and began a movement.

January 1932: Brutal Suppression of Rural Revolt

Beginning in January 1932, there was brutal suppression of a rural revolt in El Salvador 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 Rules From 1935

Martínez ruled El Salvador starting from 1935.

1939: Martínez Rules From 1939

Martínez ruled El Salvador starting from 1939.

1943: Martínez Rules From 1943

Martínez ruled El Salvador starting from 1943.

1944: Martínez Resigned in May

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

November 1950: El Salvador supports appeal to UN regarding Tibet

In November 1950, El Salvador supported an appeal before the General Assembly of the United Nations to stop the annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China.

1950: El Salvador's Population

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

1958: Legislature Reaffirms Country's Name

With another law passed in 1958, the legislature reaffirmed the country's name as El Salvador.

1960: Active Political Parties

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

1964: José Napoleón Duarte Mayor of San Salvador

From 1964, PDC leader José Napoleón Duarte was the mayor of San Salvador.

1969: The Football War

In 1969, the Football War between El Salvador and Honduras took place due to tensions over land and Salvadoran emigration to Honduras.

1970: El Salvador Qualifies for FIFA World Cup and Football War

In 1970, the El Salvador national football team qualified for the FIFA World Cup. This qualification was marred by the Football War against Honduras.

1970: José Napoleón Duarte Mayor of San Salvador

Until 1970, PDC leader José Napoleón Duarte was the mayor of San Salvador.

1972: Fraudulent Presidential Elections

In the 1972 presidential elections, Duarte was defeated by Molina in an election that was widely viewed as fraudulent.

1973: Hurricane Emily affects El Salvador

In 1973, Hurricane Emily affected El Salvador. Although hurricanes occasionally form in the Pacific, they seldom affect El Salvador.

1976: Estadio Cuscatlán Opens

In 1976, the Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador opened. It seats 53,400, making it the largest stadium in Central America and the Caribbean.

October 1979: Carter Administration Decides on 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: Return of Duarte to Politics

Duarte returned to El Salvador in 1979 to enter politics after working on projects in Venezuela.

1979: Start of the 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.

March 1980: Assassination of Óscar Romero

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

October 1980: Formation of FMLN

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

1980: Salvadorans Emigrate to the United States

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

1980: Start date for investigation of serious acts of violence

In 1980, the Chapultepec Peace Accords established that the Commission on the Truth for El Salvador would investigate serious acts of violence occurring since 1980.

1982: El Salvador Qualifies for FIFA World Cup

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

1982: San Salvador suffers heavy damage from tremors

The capital San Salvador suffered heavy damage from tremors in 1982.

1983: Constitution has the highest legal authority

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

1986: Earthquake results in deaths, injuries, and homelessness

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

1989: Start of ARENA presidential dominance

From 1989, Salvadorans favoured the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), voting in ARENA presidents in every election until 2009.

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 height of the civil war.

January 1992: Peace agreements signed ending the civil war

In January 1992, the government of El Salvador and the FMLN signed peace agreements brokered by the United Nations, ending the 12-year civil war. The event was held at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico.

September 1992: Implementation of Value-Added Tax

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

1992: End of the Salvadoran Civil War

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

1992: End of Civil War

In 1992, the civil war ended and by 2021 the country recorded its lowest number of homicides since the end of the civil war in 1992.

1993: Commission on Truth delivers findings; amnesty law passed

In 1993, the Commission on the Truth for El Salvador 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: Value-Added Tax Raised

In July 1995, El Salvador's value-added tax (IVA) was raised to 13%.

1996: GDP Growth after 1996

After 1996, El Salvador's GDP grew at an annual rate that averaged 3.2% real growth.

1997: Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources established

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

1998: Hurricane Mitch affects El Salvador

In 1998, Hurricane Mitch affected El Salvador. Hurricane Mitch actually formed over the Atlantic Basin.

1999: General environmental framework law approved

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

2000: Total Exports and Imports Figures

From 2000 to 2006, El Salvador's total exports grew 19% from $2.94 billion to $3.51 billion, and total imports rose 54% from $4.95 billion to $7.63 billion.

January 2001: Earthquake causes landslide and deaths

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

February 2001: Earthquake kills 255 people

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

2001: United States dollar replaces the colón

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

2001: Severe drought destroys crops, causing famine

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

2004: Salvadorans Living Outside El Salvador

As of 2004, approximately 3.2 million Salvadorans were living outside El Salvador, with the United States being the primary destination for economic migrants.

2004: High Homicide Rate and Gang-Related Homicides

In 2004, El Salvador had 41 intentional homicides per 100,000 citizens, with 60% being gang-related.

2004: Failed Vote Win

In 2004, The Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and the National Conciliation Party (PCN) failed to win enough votes in the presidential election.

2004: "Super Mano Dura" Implemented

In 2004, the government implemented a gang reform called "Super Mano Dura" (Super Firm Hand) which experienced temporary success.

2004: Presidential Election Featuring Candidates of Palestinian Descent

In 2004, the presidential election featured Antonio Saca, who won, and Schafik Handal, both of Palestinian descent, highlighting the economic and political power of Palestinian immigrants in El Salvador.

2004: End of ARENA presidential dominance

Until 2004, Salvadorans favoured the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), voting in ARENA presidents in every election since 1989 until 2009.

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 cause flooding 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 the temporary success of "Super Mano Dura", El Salvador experienced a rise in crime after 2005.

2005: Expiration of the Multi Fibre Arrangement

In 2005, the Multi Fibre Arrangement expired, leading El Salvador to anticipate declines in the apparel sector's competitiveness and seek economic diversification.

2006: Total Exports and Imports Figures

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

In 2006, a proposal to legally recognize gay marriage was rejected in El Salvador.

2006: Remittances Contribution to GDP

In 2006, remittances from Salvadorans living in the United States contributed $3.32 billion to El Salvador's GDP, representing approximately 16.2% of GDP.

2007: GDP's Real Growth Rate

In 2007, El Salvador's GDP's real growth rate hit 4.7%.

2008: Salvadorans in the United States

By 2008, Salvadorans were the sixth-largest immigrant group in the United States, with nearly one million having emigrated since 1980.

2008: International Arbitration Sought Against Enel Green Power

In 2008, El Salvador sought international arbitration against Italy's Enel Green Power for a geothermal project Enel had invested in.

2008: Service Sector Component of GDP

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

March 2009: Mauricio Funes of the FMLN elected president

ARENA candidates won four consecutive presidential elections until the election of Mauricio Funes of the FMLN in March 2009.

March 2009: Mauricio Funes elected as president

On 15 March 2009, Mauricio Funes, a television figure, became the first president from the FMLN.

June 2009: Mauricio Funes inaugurated as president

In June 2009, Mauricio Funes was inaugurated as the first president from the FMLN. One focus of his government has been revealing the alleged corruption from the past government.

December 2009: ARENA formally expelled Saca from the party

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

2009: Gay Marriage Proposal Rejected Again

In 2009, another proposal to legally recognize gay marriage was rejected in El Salvador.

2009: ARENA's Electoral Defeat

In 2009, the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador identified official corruption under the Saca administration as a significant reason for the ARENA party's electoral defeat.

2009: U.S. Embassy Warning on Electricity Prices

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

2010: Contribution of Metallic Mining to GDP

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

2010: Age Distribution of Population

In 2010, 32.1% of El Salvador's population was below the age of 15, 61% were between 15 and 65 years of age, and 6.9% were 65 years or older.

2010: Agriculture Component of GDP

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

2011: Disbandment of PDC and PCN

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

2011: Estimated Gang Members in El Salvador

In 2011, there were an estimated 25,000 gang members at large in El Salvador, with another 9,000 in prison.

April 2012: IMF Suspends Loan

In April 2012, the International Monetary Fund suspended a $750 million loan to the central government of El Salvador due to problems with large economic subsidies. Alex Segovia, President Funes' chief of cabinet, acknowledged that the economy was at the "point of collapse".

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 the World

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

2012: Increase in Homicide Rate

In 2012, the homicide rate in El Salvador had increased to 66 per 100,000 inhabitants.

2013: Survey on Homosexuality Acceptance

In 2013, a Pew Research survey indicated that 53% of Salvadorans believed that homosexuality should not be accepted by society.

2013: Increase in FDI Influx

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

2013: Tourism Supported Jobs

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

March 2014: Cerén narrowly won the election

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

May 2014: Cerén sworn in as president

In May 2014, Cerén was sworn in as president of El Salvador. He was the first former guerrilla to become president.

December 2014: Settlement of Dispute with Enel Green Power

In December 2014, El Salvador and Italy's Enel Green Power reached a settlement regarding a geothermal project dispute, with no details released.

2014: Corruption Perceptions Index Ranking

In 2014, El Salvador ranked 80 out of 175 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index.

2014: World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index

In 2014, the World Bank rated El Salvador 109 in its 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: End of social liberal wing led by Mauricio Funes

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 Access to Water Supply and Sanitation

A 2015 study by the University of North Carolina identified El Salvador as 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: Contribution of Metallic Mining to GDP

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

2015: Homicides Recorded in El Salvador

In 2015, El Salvador recorded 6,650 homicides.

2016: Murders Recorded in El Salvador

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

2016: Funes sought asylum in Nicaragua

In 2016, former president Funes had sought asylum in Nicaragua.

October 2017: Court rules former president Funes illegally enriched himself

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 El Salvador

In 2017, El Salvador recorded 3,962 homicides.

September 2018: Saca sentenced to prison for diverting state funds

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

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

2018: Forest Landscape Integrity Index score

El Salvador had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.06/10, ranking it 136th globally out of 172 countries.

2018: Deaths Recorded in El Salvador

In 2018, El Salvador recorded 3,348 deaths.

2018: Transition to Digital TV/Radio Networks

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

February 2019: Nayib Bukele wins the presidential election

In February 2019, Nayib Bukele won the presidential election in El Salvador. He represented GANA.

June 2019: Homicide rate drops since Bukele became president

According to a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG), the homicide rate in El Salvador had dropped by as much as 60% since Bukele became president in June 2019.

June 2019: Nayib Bukele becomes the new president of El Salvador

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

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 Crime Rate

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

2019: El Salvador's Global Innovation Index Ranking

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

2019: Homicides Reported in El Salvador

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

2019: Remittances Contribution to GDP

In 2019, remittances from Salvadorans living in the United States contributed nearly $6 billion to El Salvador's GDP, representing around 20% of GDP.

2019: Bukele Announces Year Without Homicides Since 2019

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

2019: Nayib Bukele won the Salvadoran presidential election

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

June 2020: Inauguration of Hospital El Salvador

On June 22, 2020, El Salvador's main convention center was converted into Hospital El Salvador to be the largest hospital in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic and was inaugurated by the president. The hospital conversion would be permanent.

2020: ICG reports on homicide rate decrease

According to a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) in 2020, the homicide rate in El Salvador had dropped since Bukele became president.

2020: Testing of 5G coverage began

In 2020 testing began of 5G coverage in El Salvador.

2020: Homicides Reported in El Salvador

In 2020, there were only 1,322 reported homicides in El Salvador.

January 2021: Energy Injections Breakdown

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

February 2021: Nuevas Ideas wins legislative elections

In February 2021, Nuevas Ideas (NI), with its ally (GANA) won around 63% of the vote in the legislative elections, giving them a supermajority in parliament.

February 2021: Nuevas Ideas wins congressional majority

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

June 2021: Bukele Announces Bitcoin Legislation

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

June 2021: Bitcoin made legal tender

On 8 June 2021, pro-government deputies in the Legislative Assembly voted legislation to make bitcoin legal tender in the country.

September 2021: Supreme Court rules to allow Bukele 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.

September 2021: Bitcoin Becomes Legal Tender

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

2021: El Salvador's 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 El Salvador

In 2021, El Salvador recorded 1,140 homicides, the lowest number since the end of the civil war in 1992.

2021: GDP estimate for 2021

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

January 2022: IMF urges El Salvador to reverse bitcoin decision; Bitcoin City plans announced

In January 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged El Salvador to reverse its decision to make cryptocurrency legal tender. Bukele announced plans to build Bitcoin City in January 2022.

March 2022: Merchant Bitcoin Transactions

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

March 2022: Gang-Related Violence and State of Emergency

Beginning on March 25, 2022, gang-related violence occurred over three days, resulting in 87 deaths. In response, President Bukele requested the Salvadoran parliament to ratify a state of emergency on March 26 and ordered mass arrests.

May 2022: Government bonds trading at 40% of their original value

As of May 2022, government bonds were trading at 40% of their original value, creating the prospect of a looming sovereign default.

2022: El Salvador's Homicide Rate

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

2022: Estimated Gang Membership

In 2022, it was estimated that the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gangs had around 70,000 members.

2022: Government initiates fight against gangs, declares state of emergency

In 2022, the Salvadoran government initiated a massive fight against criminal gangs and gang-related violence. A state of emergency was declared on 27 March and was extended on 20 July.

2022: Homicide count of 495

In January 2024, it was announced that the homicide rate in 2022 was 495.

May 2023: Bukele Announces Year Without Homicides

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

August 2023: 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 granted leave of absence, Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara becomes acting president

On 30 November 2023, the Legislative Assembly granted Bukele a leave of absence. Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara became acting president.

2023: Ranked 5th least electoral democratic country

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

2023: Homicide count of 154

In January 2024, it was announced that the homicide rate in 2023 was 154.

January 2024: Homicide rate drops nearly 70%

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

February 2024: Bukele wins re-election

On 4 February 2024, Bukele won re-election with 83% of the vote in general election. His party Nuevas Ideas won 58 of the parliament's 60 seats.

May 2024: Bitcoin Holdings and Mining Update

As of May 2024, the Bitcoin Office of El Salvador reported that the government holds 5,750 Bitcoin (approximately $354 million). Nearly 474 Bitcoin (approximately $29 million) have been mined since September 2021 using geothermal energy from the Tecapa volcano.

June 2024: Bukele sworn in for second term

On 1 June 2024, Nayib Bukele was sworn in for his second five-year term as president of El Salvador.

December 2024: Government Purchases More Bitcoin

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

2024: El Salvador Reports Lower Homicide Rate in Latin America

In 2024, El Salvador reported a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 people, lower than any other Latin American country.

2024: El Salvador Ranks 43rd in Global Hunger Index

In 2024, El Salvador was ranked 43rd out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index, with a low hunger level and a score of 8.0.

2024: El Salvador's Global Innovation Index Ranking

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

2024: Population Estimated at 6 Million

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

2024: Allowed to run for a second term

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

2024: Focus on 2024 re-election campaign

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

February 2025: Highest prisoner rate worldwide

In February 2025, El Salvador had the highest prisoner rate worldwide, with over 1,600 prisoners per 100,000 of the national population.

February 2025: Congress agreed to remove Bitcoin's legal tender status

In February 2025, El Salvador’s Congress agreed to remove Bitcoin's legal tender status, following pressure from the International Monetary Fund.

March 2025: United States Transfers Immigrants to El Salvador

In March 2025, the United States transferred more than 200 immigrants to El Salvador, alleging them to be members of a Venezuelan gang, in violation of court orders. These individuals were to be imprisoned in El Salvador as part of President Bukele's efforts to reduce crime and gang violence.

April 2025: Value of bitcoin trades twice the price

As of April 2025, the value of bitcoin since it was declared legal tender is trading twice the price that it was when El Salvador made it legal tender.