G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
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: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York (2), San Francisco, and Washington, DC
consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador H. Douglas BARCLAY
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] 278-5522

Flag description:
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

Economy El Salvador

Economy - overview:
GDP per capita is roughly half that of Brazil, Argentina, and
Chile, and the distribution of income is highly unequal. The
government is striving to open new export markets, encourage foreign
investment, modernize the tax and healthcare systems, and stimulate
the sluggish economy. Implementation of the Central
America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, ratified by El
Salvador in 2004, is viewed as a key policy to help achieve these
objectives. The trade deficit has been offset by annual remittances
from Salvadorans living abroad - 16% of GDP in 2004 - and external
aid. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency, El Salvador
has lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on
maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$32.35 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita: