El Salvador

El Salvador is the smallest and most crowded country in Central America. It sits on the Pacific coast. El Salvador has many volcanoes, beautiful lakes, and great surfing beaches. The name means The Savior in Spanish.

Land and People

About 6.5 million people live in El Salvador. The capital is San Salvador. The country has about 20 volcanoes and many volcanic lakes. It is the only Central American country without a Caribbean coast.

Simple map showing the country of El Salvador.
Simple map showing the country of El Salvador. (JRC, EC / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

Salvadorans love pupusas, which are thick tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans, or pork. Soccer is the favorite sport. People celebrate festivals with parades, fireworks, and traditional dances. Family is very important in El Salvador.

Fun Facts

  • Pupusas are so important to El Salvador that there is a National Pupusa Day every November.
  • El Salvador has over 20 volcanoes in a very small area.
  • El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America but has the most people per square mile.

Did You Know?

El Salvador has a special holiday just for pupusas, its national food. Every second Sunday in November, people celebrate National Pupusa Day. Cooks compete to make the biggest pupusa, and some are over 10 feet wide!