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Compare Latvia (2003) - El Salvador (2003)

Compare Latvia (2003) z El Salvador (2003)

 Latvia (2003)El Salvador (2003)
 LatviaEl Salvador
Administrative divisions 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Age structure 0-14 years: 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)


15-64 years: 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)


65 years and over: 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 37.1% (male 1,224,024; female 1,173,667)


15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,777,522; female 1,966,064)


65 years and over: 5.1% (male 147,482; female 181,620) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; shrimp; beef, dairy products
Airports 38 (2002) 82 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 22


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 12 (2002)
total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 16


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 10 (2002)
total: 78


914 to 1,523 m: 17


under 914 m: 61 (2002)
Area total: 64,589 sq km


land: 63,589 sq km


water: 1,000 sq km
total: 21,040 sq km


land: 20,720 sq km


water: 320 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than West Virginia slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Background After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002. 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.
Birth rate 8.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 27.9 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $2.4 billion


expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)
revenues: $2.1 billion


expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Riga San Salvador
Climate maritime; wet, moderate winters tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Coastline 531 km 307 km
Constitution the 1991 Constitutional Law, which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms 23 December 1983
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Latvia


conventional short form: Latvia


local long form: Latvijas Republika


local short form: Latvija


former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador


conventional short form: El Salvador


local long form: Republica de El Salvador


local short form: El Salvador
Currency Latvian lat (LVL) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 6.01 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $3.4 billion (2000 est.) $5.6 billion (2001 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON


embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510


mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723


telephone: [371] 703-6200


FAX: [371] 781-0047
chief of mission: Ambassador Rose M. LIKINS


embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador


mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023


telephone: [503] 278-4444


FAX: [503] 278-6011
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS


chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011


telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214


FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez


chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671


FAX: [1] (202) 234-3834


consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC
Disputes - international the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights in 1992, the ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, but they remain largely undemarcated; in 2002, El Salvador filed an application to the ICJ to revise the decision on a section of bolsones; the ICJ also advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador claims tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned by the ICJ, off Honduras in the Golfo de Fonseca
Economic aid - recipient $96.2 million (1995) total $252 million; $57 million from US (1999 est.)
Economy - overview Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit. In recent years, this Central American economy has been suffering from a weak tax collection system, factory closings, the aftermaths of Hurricane Mitch of 1998 and the devastating earthquakes of early 2001, and weak world coffee prices. On the bright side, inflation has fallen to single digit levels, and total exports have grown substantially. The trade deficit has been offset by annual remittances of almost $2 billion from Salvadorans living abroad and by external aid. The US dollar is now the legal tender. Because competitor countries have fluctuating exchange rates, El Salvador must face the challenge of raising productivity and lowering costs.
Electricity - consumption 6.046 billion kWh (2001) 3.777 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 703 million kWh (2001) 44 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 2.69 billion kWh (2001) 353 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 4.365 billion kWh (2001) 3.729 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 29.1%


hydro: 70.9%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel: 44%


hydro: 30.9%


nuclear: 0%


other: 25.1% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m


highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Environment - current issues Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010 deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9%
Exchange rates lati per US dollar - 0.62 (2002), 0.63 (2001), 0.61 (2000), 0.59 (1999), 0.59 (1998) 8.75 the US dollar is the legal tender
Executive branch chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament


elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
chief of state: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president


elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2004)


election results: Francisco FLORES Perez elected president; percent of vote - Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%, Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN) 29%, Ruben ZAMORA (CD) 7.5%, other (no individual above 3%) 11.5%
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity
Exports - partners UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania 5.9%, Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002) US 63.3%, Guatemala 12%, Honduras 6.8%, Nicaragua 4.5% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
GDP purchasing power parity - $20.99 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $29.41 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 4.5%


industry: 26%


services: 69.5% (2001)
agriculture: 10%


industry: 30%


services: 60% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6.1% (2002 est.) 2.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 57 00 N, 25 00 E 13 50 N, 88 55 W
Geography - note most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total: 73,202 km


paved: 28,256 km


unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
total: 10,029 km


paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)


unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 2.9%


highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
lowest 10%: 1.4%


highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)
Illicit drugs transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; money laundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners Germany 17.9%, Russia 15.1%, Finland 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Sweden 5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Estonia 4.8% (2002) US 39%, Guatemala 10.1%, Mexico 7.2%, France 4% (2002)
Independence 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate 5.7% (2002 est.) 3% (2002 est.)
Industries buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Infant mortality rate total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: 26.75 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 29.59 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 23.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (2002 est.) 3.8% (2001 est.)
International organization participation BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 41 (2001) 4 (2000)
Irrigated land 200 sq km


note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
360 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament) Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly)
Labor force 1.1 million (2001 est.) 2.35 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.) agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 1,150 km


border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
total: 545 km


border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Land use arable land: 29.01%


permanent crops: 0.48%


other: 70.51% (1998 est.)
arable land: 27.27%


permanent crops: 12.11%


other: 60.62% (1998 est.)
Languages Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Legal system based on civil law system based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)


elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FMLN 31, ARENA 27, PCN 16, PDC 5, CD 5
Life expectancy at birth total population: 69.31 years


male: 63.46 years


female: 75.45 years (2003 est.)
total population: 70.62 years


male: 67.02 years


female: 74.4 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.8%


male: 99.8%


female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 10 and over can read and write


total population: 80.2%


male: 82.8%


female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
Location Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Map references Europe Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
territorial sea: 200 NM
Merchant marine total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 52,607 GRT/35,650 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military branches Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, National Guard Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $87 million (FY01) $112 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.2% (FY01) 0.7% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 592,562 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 1,536,230 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 465,788 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 973,884 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.) 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 19,477 (2003 est.) males: 69,534 (2003 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Nationality noun: Latvian(s)


adjective: Latvian
noun: Salvadoran(s)


adjective: Salvadoran
Natural hazards NA known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
Natural resources peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Net migration rate -1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -3.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines gas 1,097 km; oil 412 km; refined products 421 km (2003) -
Political parties and leaders Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; CENTER Political Alliance [Juris CELMINS]; First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS]; For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS]; Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA]; Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris RUBINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC [Janis NAGLIS]; Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS]; New Era Party [Einars REPSE]; Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS]; Party of Latvians [Aivars GARDA]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Progressive Center Party [Inta STAMGUTE]; Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE] Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general] (includes Social Democratic Party or PSD [Juan MEDRANO, leader); Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Fabio CASTILLO]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; National Action Party or PAN [Gustavo Rogelio SALINAS, secretary general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Walter ARAUJO]; Social Christian Union or USC (formed by the merger of Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC and Unity Movement or MU) [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI
Population 2,348,784 (July 2003 est.) 6,470,379 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 48% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate -0.73% (2003 est.) 1.81% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El Triunfo
Radio broadcast stations AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways total: 2,347 km


broad gauge: 2,314 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
total: 283 km


narrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gauge


note: length of operational route reduced from 562 km to 283 km by disuse and lack of maintenance (2002)
Religions Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox Roman Catholic 83%


note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female


total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use


domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications


international: international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)
general assessment: NA


domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Telephones - main lines in use 734,693 (2000) 380,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 401,263 (2000) 40,163 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995) 5 (1997)
Terrain low plain mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Total fertility rate 1.2 children born/woman (2003 est.) 3.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 7.6% (2001 est.) 10% - but the economy has much underemployment. (2001 est.)
Waterways 300 km (perennially navigable) Rio Lempa partially navigable
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