Chalatenango: population, schooling, jobs and electricity
Chalatenango is a department of El Salvador, number 11 of 14 by population. The 2024 census counted 185,930 people in Chalatenango department, 3.1% of El Salvador's 6,029,976 and 4th smallest of 14 departments by population. Of these, 98,248 were women and 87,682 men.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Chalatenango: The 2024 census counted 72,992 employed people aged 10 and over in Chalatenango, equal to 45.5% of everyone that age, 5th lowest of 14 among departments (national 48.8%).
- Education in Chalatenango: In the 2024 census, 14.0% of people aged 10 and over in Chalatenango could not read or write, 5th highest of 14 among departments (national 9.5%).
Are there more women or men in Chalatenango?
There were 112 women for every 100 men in Chalatenango at the 2024 census, 2nd lowest of 14 among departments (national figure 112).
Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copyHow many older people live in Chalatenango?
People aged 65 and over were 12.1% of the population of Chalatenango in the 2024 census, the highest of 14 among departments (national 10.6%).
Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copyWhat is the population density of Chalatenango?
Chalatenango covers 2,016.58 km2 according to the BCR's 2022 household survey report, giving 92 people per km2 with the 2024 census count, the least dense of 14 departments (national 287).
Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copyHow many people have emigrated from Chalatenango?
The 2024 census recorded 13,493 emigrants from households in Chalatenango, or 72.6 per 1,000 residents, 2nd highest of 14 among departments (national 37.6); 5.9% of all recorded emigrants came from here.
Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copyHow departments are governed in El Salvador
Departments (14). Governor appointed by the president. Represents the executive; no political power of its own.
Every tier of government in El Salvador
Other departments of El Salvador
- San Salvador 1,563,371
- La Libertad 765,879
- Santa Ana 552,938
- Sonsonate 470,455
- San Miguel 447,634
- Ahuachapan 348,880
- Usulutan 325,494
- La Paz 318,374
- Cuscatlan 244,901
- La Union 224,375
- Morazan 169,784
- San Vicente 161,857
- Cabanas 143,049
Up a level: El Salvador · government and power in El Salvador · cities
Sources
- Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): Censo 2024: poblacion de 10 anos o mas economicamente activa ocupada por departamento, edad, horas trabajadas y sexo (TAB_CE_4), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e572eea5da5c…)
- Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): Censo 2024: poblacion de 3 anos o mas por departamento, edad, sexo y condicion de leer y escribir (TAB_EDU_3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fdd169f5525b…)
- Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): Encuesta de Hogares de Propositos Multiples 2022: resultados (Tabla 1.1 poblacion y densidad; Graficos 2.3 y 4.7), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 584a21f9c420…)
- Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): Censo 2024: emigrantes por departamento de residencia del hogar, pais de residencia actual y sexo (TAB_EMI_3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3cf7c746df0e…)
- Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): Censo 2024: poblacion de 3 anos o mas segun manejo de un segundo idioma (TAB_IDIO_1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2ccb6cff3883…)
- Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): VII Censo de Poblacion y VI de Vivienda 2024: poblacion total por departamento, edades quinquenales y sexo (TAB_POB_2), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bb74b81f0d5b…)
- Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): Censo 2024: viviendas particulares segun tipo de suministro de energia electrica por departamento (TAB_VIV_19), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 444e5f1e904c…)
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