Full History Of El Salvador In Timeline From 1903

1903: Tomás Regalado's presidency ends

In 1903, General Tomás Regalado left office.

July 1906: Death of General Tomás Regalado

On July 11, 1906, General Tomás 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.

1913: Beginning of the Meléndez–Quiñónez dynasty

In 1913, the Meléndez–Quiñónez dynasty began after Manuel Enrique Araujo's administration.

1915: Country name should be rendered as "El Salvador"

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

1919: Earthquake in San Salvador

The capital San Salvador suffered heavy damage in the 1919 tremor.

1927: End of the Meléndez–Quiñónez dynasty

In 1927, the Meléndez–Quiñónez dynasty ended.

December 1930: Martí exiled because of his popularity

In December 1930, at the height of the country's economic and social depression, Martí was once again exiled because of his popularity among the nation's poor and rumours of his upcoming nomination for president the following year.

1930: Announcement of free elections

In 1930, Pío 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: Military Coup d'état led by Martínez

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

1931: Military dictatorship began

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

1931: Martí returned to El Salvador

In 1931, after Araujo was elected president, Martí returned to El Salvador and, along with Alfonso Luna and Mario Zapata, began the movement that was later truncated by the military.

January 1932: Brutal Suppression of La Matanza

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

January 1932: Peasant revolt in western El Salvador

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

1935: Martínez ruled from 1935 to 1939

Martínez ruled El Salvador from 1935 to 1939.

1939: Martínez ruled from 1939 to 1943

Martínez ruled El Salvador from 1939 to 1943.

1943: Martínez ruled from 1939 to 1943

Martínez ruled El Salvador from 1939 to 1943.

1944: Martínez resigned in May after a general strike

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

November 1950: El Salvador supports appeal to the UN regarding Tibet

In November 1950, El Salvador was the only country to support the 14th Dalai Lama's appeal to the UN, requesting intervention against China's annexation of Tibet. The UN, lacking broader support, ultimately dropped the issue from its agenda.

1950: El Salvador's Population in 1950

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

1958: El Salvador name reaffirmed

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

1960: Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and the National Conciliation Party (PCN) were active in Salvadoran politics

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

1964: José Napoleón Duarte became mayor of San Salvador

From 1964 to 1970, José Napoleón Duarte was the mayor of San Salvador, winning three elections.

1969: The Football War

In 1969, the Football War between El Salvador and Honduras took place, caused by tensions arising from Salvadoran emigration to Honduras.

1970: José Napoleón Duarte was mayor of San Salvador until 1970

From 1964 to 1970, José Napoleón Duarte was the mayor of San Salvador, winning three elections.

1970: FIFA World Cup Qualification

The El Salvador national football team qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1970. Their qualification for the 1970 tournament was marred by the Football War, a war against Honduras, whose team El Salvador's had defeated.

1972: Duarte defeated in presidential elections

In 1972, Duarte ran for president but was defeated in an election that was widely viewed as fraudulent.

1973: Hurricane Emily

Although hurricanes occasionally form in the Pacific, they seldom affect El Salvador, with the notable exception of Hurricane Emily in 1973.

1976: Estadio Cuscatlán Opened

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

October 1979: Carter administration decided El Salvador needed regime change

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

October 1979: Coup d'état brought the Revolutionary Government Junta (JRG) to power

On October 15, 1979, a coup d'état brought the Revolutionary Government Junta (JRG) to power. It nationalized many private companies and took over much privately owned land.

1979: Duarte returned to El Salvador

In 1979, Duarte returned to El Salvador 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 and a coalition of left-wing guerrilla groups due to socioeconomic inequality and civil unrest.

March 1980: Assassination of Óscar Romero

On March 24, 1980, Óscar Romero was assassinated while saying Mass.

October 1980: Formation of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN)

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

1980: Salvadoran Emigration to the United States

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

1980: Start of investigation into serious acts of violence

In 1980, the government agreed to submit to the recommendations of a Commission on the Truth for El Salvador, which would investigate serious acts of violence occurring since 1980, as well as the nature and effects of the violence and recommend methods of promoting national reconciliation.

1982: FIFA World Cup Qualification

The El Salvador national football team qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1982.

1982: Earthquake in San Salvador

The capital San Salvador suffered heavy damage in the 1982 tremor.

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: Beginning of ARENA Presidential Dominance

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

1989: Murders of Jesuit Priests

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

January 1992: Signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords

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

September 1992: Value-added tax implemented

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

1992: End of the Salvadoran Civil War

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

1993: Commission on Truth releases findings and amnesty law passed

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

July 1995: Value-added tax raised

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

1996: GDP Growth After 1996

After 1996, the GDP of El Salvador 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

Although hurricanes occasionally form in the Pacific, they seldom affect El Salvador, with the notable exception of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 (which actually formed over the Atlantic Basin).

1999: General environmental framework law approved

In 1999, a general environmental framework law was approved by the National Assembly.

2000: Total exports have grown

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

January 2001: El Salvador adopts the United States dollar as its currency

El Salvador adopted the United States dollar as its currency on January 1, 2001.

January 2001: Earthquake

Recent examples include the magnitude 7.7 earthquake on 13 January 2001 that caused a landslide that killed more than 800 people.

February 2001: Earthquake

Another earthquake a month later, on 13 February 2001, killed 255 people and damaged about 20% of the country's housing.

2001: United States dollar replaced the colón

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

2001: Severe drought destroys crops

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

2004: Salvadorans Living Abroad in 2004

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

2004: "Super Mano Dura" Program Implementation

In 2004, the government's gang reform program, "Super Mano Dura" (Super Firm Hand), experienced temporary success.

2004: Homicide Rate in 2004

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

2004: 2004 Election

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

2004: Parties failed to win enough votes in 2004 presidential election

The Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and the National Conciliation Party (PCN) disbanded by the Supreme Court in 2011 because they had failed to win enough votes in the 2004 presidential election.

2004: End of ARENA Presidential Dominance (for a while)

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

October 2005: Severe rains cause flooding and landslides

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

October 2005: Eruption of Santa Ana Volcano

The most recent destructive volcanic eruption took place on 1 October 2005, when the Santa Ana Volcano spewed a cloud of ash, hot mud and rocks that fell on nearby villages and caused two deaths.

2005: Rise in Crime After "Super Mano Dura"

After 2005, there was a rise in crime following the implementation of the "Super Mano Dura" gang reform program.

2005: Epicenter of Gang Crisis

In 2005, El Salvador was considered an epicenter of a gang crisis, along with Guatemala and Honduras.

2005: Expiration of the Multi Fibre Arrangement

In 2005, the Multi Fibre Arrangement expired, increasing Asian competition in the apparel sector in El Salvador.

2006: Total exports reach

From 2000 to 2006, El Salvador's total exports reached $3.51 billion.

2006: El Salvador ratifies 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, proposals to legally recognize gay marriage were rejected in El Salvador.

2006: Remittances

In 2006, remittances from Salvadorans living in the United States amounted to $3.32 billion, approximately 16.2% of GDP.

2007: GDP's real growth rate hit

El Salvador's GDP real growth rate hit 4.7% in 2007 after government commitment to free market initiatives.

2008: Salvadorans in the United States

By 2008, nearly one million Salvadorans had emigrated to the United States, making them the sixth largest immigrant group in the US.

2008: International arbitration against Italy's Enel Green Power

In 2008, El Salvador sought international arbitration against Italy's Enel Green Power, on behalf of Salvadoran state-owned electric companies for a geothermal project Enel had invested in.

2008: Service Sector Dominates GDP in 2008

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

March 2009: Election of Mauricio Funes

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

March 2009: Mauricio Funes becomes the first president from the FMLN

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

June 2009: Inauguration of President Mauricio Funes

On June 1, 2009, Mauricio Funes was inaugurated as president. A focus of the Funes government has been revealing alleged corruption from the past government.

December 2009: Saca expelled from ARENA and forms GANA

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, proposals to legally recognize gay marriage were once again rejected in El Salvador.

2009: U.S. Embassy Concerns

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, including the interests of American investors in the energy sector.

2009: Corruption under the Saca administration

In an analysis of 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: Mining Contribution to GDP

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

2010: El Salvador's Age Demographics in 2010

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 Contributes to GDP in 2010

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 2011

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 to El Salvador

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

2012: Salvadoran Immigrants in the U.S. in 2012

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: Homicide Rate Increase in 2012

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

2013: Increase in Foreign Direct Investment

According to a Spanish think tank, in 2013, the influx of FDI into El Salvador increased, although it remained lower than other Central American countries.

2013: Survey Reveals Views on Homosexuality

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

2013: Tourism 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 as president

On May 31, 2014, Cerén was sworn in as president. He was the first former guerrilla to become the president of El Salvador.

December 2014: Settlement of Dispute with Enel Green Power

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

2014: Corruption Perceptions Index

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

2014: World Bank rating

In 2014, The World Bank rated El Salvador 109, a little better than Belize (118) and Nicaragua (119) in the World Bank's annual "Ease of doing business" index.

2014: International Tourists Visit

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

2014: Ideology of FMLN

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: Mining Contribution to GDP

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

2015: Water supply

In 2015, a 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

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

2016: Homicides Recorded in 2016

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

2016: Funes seeks asylum in Nicaragua

In 2016, former president Funes sought asylum in Nicaragua.

October 2017: Court rules 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, net international reserves stood at $3.57 billion.

2017: Homicides Recorded in 2017

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

September 2018: Saca sentenced to prison

In September 2018, former president Saca was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to diverting more than US$300 million in state funds to his own businesses and third parties.

October 2018: Canonization of Óscar Romero

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: Homicides Recorded in 2018

In 2018, there were 3,340 recorded deaths in El Salvador.

2018: Transition to digital transmission of TV/radio networks

Transition to digital transmission of TV/radio networks was done in 2018 with the adaptation of the ISDB-T standard.

February 2019: Presidential election

Nayib Bukele won the February 2019 presidential election, representing GANA.

June 2019: Bukele becomes president

According to a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) 2020, 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 president of El Salvador

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

2019: Lowest level of income inequality

As of 2019, El Salvador had the lowest level of income inequality among nearby countries.

2019: Decline in Murder Rate

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

2019: Global Innovation Index Ranking

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

2019: Homicides Recorded in 2019

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

2019: Remittances

In 2019, tourism indirectly supported 317,200 jobs, representing 11.6% of total employment in El Salvador. Also, in 2019, 2.35 million Salvadorans lived in the U.S. and about a third of all households received remittances, and remittances from Salvadorans living in the United States amounted to nearly $6 billion.

2019: Start Date of Homicide Reduction Claim

In May 2023, President Bukele claimed that El Salvador had completed 365 days without a homicide since 2019.

2019: Bukele wins presidential election

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

2019: Tourism Contribution to GDP

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

June 2020: Inauguration of Hospital El Salvador

In June 2020, the government inaugurated Hospital El Salvador, converting the country's main convention center into the largest hospital in Latin America in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital conversion, costing $75 million, was announced to be permanent and would feature a blood bank, morgue, radiology area, and a total capacity of 1,083 ICU beds and 2,000 beds.

2020: Homicide rate drops

According to a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) 2020, the homicide rate in El Salvador had dropped by as much as 60% since Bukele became president in June 2019.

2020: 5G Coverage Testing

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

2020: Homicides Recorded in 2020

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

January 2021: Energy Sources in El Salvador

According to the National Energy Commission, 94.4% of total injections during January 2021 came from hydroelectric plants (28.5% - 124.43 GWh), geothermal (27.3% - 119.07 GWh), biomass (24.4% 106.43 GWh), photovoltaic solar (10.6% - 46.44 GWh) and wind (3.6% - 15.67 GWh).

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 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, with its ally GANA, won around 63% of the vote, gaining a supermajority in parliament.

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: Bukele to introduce legislation

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

June 2021: Bitcoin becomes legal tender

On 8 June 2021, legislation was passed to make bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador.

September 2021: Supreme Court allows 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.

September 2021: Bitcoin Mining Using Geothermal Energy

Since September 2021, nearly 474 bitcoin (approx $29 million circa May 2024) have been mined in El Salvador using geothermal energy from the Tecapa volcano.

2021: Least complex economies for doing business

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

2021: GDP in purchasing power parity estimate for 2021

Gross domestic product (GDP) in purchasing power parity estimate for 2021 is US$57.95 billion growing real GDP at 4.2%.

2021: El Salvador's Population in 2021

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

2021: Lowest Number of Recorded Murders

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

January 2022: IMF urges El Salvador to reverse Bitcoin decision and plans to build Bitcoin City

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

March 2022: Bitcoin Adoption Among Merchants

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 Violence and State of Emergency

Beginning on March 25, 2022, three days of gang-related violence occurred, leaving 87 people dead. In response, President Bukele asked 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, with government bonds trading at 40% of their original value, the prospect of a looming sovereign default loomed for El Salvador.

2022: Homicide Rate in 2022

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

2022: Gang Membership Estimate

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

2022: Government initiates fight against criminal gangs

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. More than 53,000 suspected gang members were arrested.

May 2023: One Year Without Homicides

On May 10, 2023, Bukele stated on Twitter that El Salvador had completed one full year or 365 days 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 a part of the government crackdown on the gangs.

November 2023: Bukele and Ulloa focus on 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. Bukele was succeeded by Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara as acting president, the first female president in Salvadoran history.

2023: V-Dem Democracy Report

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

2023: Homicides in 2023

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

January 2024: Homicide rate drops nearly 70%

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

February 2024: Bukele wins re-election with 84% of the vote

On 4 February 2024, Bukele won re-election with 84% of the vote in the presidential election. His party Nuevas Ideas won 58 of the parliament's 60 seats.

May 2024: Government Holds Bitcoin

Since May 2024, the Bitcoin Office of El Salvador reports that the government holds 5,750 bitcoin (approximately $354 million circa May 2024).

June 2024: Bukele sworn in for second term

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

December 2024: Purchase of BTC

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

2024: Global Hunger Index Ranking

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

2024: Homicide Rate in 2024

In 2024, El Salvador reported a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 people, a figure lower than any other Latin American country and representing a 98% decrease in nine years.

2024: El Salvador Population Estimate

In 2024, El Salvador's population was estimated to be 6 million.

2024: Supreme Court allows 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.

2024: Bukele and Ulloa focus on 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: El Salvador has highest prisoner rate worldwide

As of 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 agrees 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: US transfers immigrants to El Salvador prison

In March 2025, the United States transferred more than 200 immigrants, who were allegedly members of a Venezuelan gang, to be imprisoned in El Salvador, violating court orders.

April 2025: Bitcoin's value has doubled

As of April 2025, bitcoin's value has doubled since El Salvador first designated it as legal tender.

July 2025: Constitutional changes approved

In late-July 2025, the Legislative Assembly approved of changes to the Constitution of El Salvador, which would remove presidential term-limits, and extend individual terms from 5 years to 6.

2025: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2025, El Salvador was ranked 98th in the Global Innovation Index.

2027: Move presidential election forward

In late-July 2025, the Legislative Assembly moved the next presidential election from 2029 to 2027 (making it coterminous with the legislative elections that year), after which the constitutional changes would take effect.

2029: Move presidential election forward

In late-July 2025, the Legislative Assembly moved the next presidential election from 2029 to 2027 (making it coterminous with the legislative elections that year), after which the constitutional changes would take effect.