San Salvador: population, schooling, jobs and electricity
San Salvador is a department of El Salvador, the largest of 14 by population. The 2024 census counted 1,563,371 people in San Salvador department, 25.9% of El Salvador's 6,029,976 and the largest of 14 departments by population. Of these, 843,688 were women and 719,683 men.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in San Salvador: The 2024 census counted 750,553 employed people aged 10 and over in San Salvador, equal to 54.3% of everyone that age, the highest of 14 among departments (national 48.8%).
- Education in San Salvador: In the 2024 census, 4.3% of people aged 10 and over in San Salvador could not read or write, the lowest of 14 among departments (national 9.5%).
Are there more women or men in San Salvador?
There were 117 women for every 100 men in San Salvador at the 2024 census, 3rd highest 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 San Salvador?
People aged 65 and over were 11.3% of the population of San Salvador in the 2024 census, 5th 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 San Salvador?
San Salvador covers 886.15 km2 according to the BCR's 2022 household survey report, giving 1,764 people per km2 with the 2024 census count, the densest 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 San Salvador?
The 2024 census recorded 46,669 emigrants from households in San Salvador, or 29.9 per 1,000 residents, 3rd lowest of 14 among departments (national 37.6); 20.6% 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
- 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
- Chalatenango 185,930
- 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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