Education in San Salvador, El Salvador: official figures
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 women or men more literate in San Salvador?
Among women aged 10 and over in San Salvador, 5.5% could not read or write in 2024, against 2.9% of men (national: 10.9% of women, 7.8% of men).
Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copyHow many young people in San Salvador cannot read?
Among young people aged 15 to 24 in San Salvador, 1.0% could not read or write at the 2024 census, the lowest of 14 among departments (national 1.8%).
Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copyWhat is literacy among older people in San Salvador?
Illiteracy among people aged 60 and over in San Salvador was 12.7% in 2024, the lowest of 14 among departments (national 27.1%).
Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copyWhat did the 2022 household survey find on illiteracy in San Salvador?
The BCR household survey put illiteracy among people aged 10 and over in San Salvador at 5.3% in 2022, the lowest of 14 among departments (national 9.7%).
Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copyHow many people in San Salvador speak a second language?
13.0% of people aged 3 and over in San Salvador spoke a second language in the 2024 census (194,934 people), 2nd highest of 14 among departments (national 7.6%).
Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copyHow San Salvador compares with other departments
Illiteracy rate, people aged 10 and over (Census 2024) (2024)
San Salvador ranks 14 of 14, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Illiteracy rate, people aged 10 and over (Census 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | San Vicente | 12.1% |
| 9 | Sonsonate | 10.6% |
| 10 | Santa Ana | 9.4% |
| 11 | La Paz | 9.4% |
| 12 | Cuscatlan | 8.8% |
| 13 | La Libertad | 7.2% |
| 14 | San Salvador | 4.3% |
Illiteracy rate, people aged 15 to 24 (Census 2024) (2024)
San Salvador ranks 14 of 14, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Illiteracy rate, people aged 15 to 24 (Census 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | San Miguel | 2.0% |
| 9 | San Vicente | 2.0% |
| 10 | La Paz | 1.8% |
| 11 | Santa Ana | 1.8% |
| 12 | La Libertad | 1.7% |
| 13 | Cuscatlan | 1.4% |
| 14 | San Salvador | 1.0% |
Illiteracy rate, people aged 10 and over (EHPM 2022) (2022)
San Salvador ranks 14 of 14, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Illiteracy rate, people aged 10 and over (EHPM 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Ahuachapan | 11.0% |
| 9 | Sonsonate | 10.5% |
| 10 | San Vicente | 10.4% |
| 11 | Santa Ana | 9.9% |
| 12 | La Paz | 9.7% |
| 13 | La Libertad | 9.0% |
| 14 | San Salvador | 5.3% |
People aged 3 and over who speak a second language (2024)
San Salvador ranks 2 of 14, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People aged 3 and over who speak a second language |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Libertad | 13.7% |
| 2 | San Salvador | 13.0% |
| 3 | Santa Ana | 6.5% |
| 4 | San Miguel | 5.2% |
| 5 | Cuscatlan | 4.0% |
| 6 | Sonsonate | 3.8% |
| 7 | La Paz | 3.4% |
More on San Salvador: overview · economy and jobs · El Salvador
Sources
- 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: poblacion de 3 anos o mas segun manejo de un segundo idioma (TAB_IDIO_1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2ccb6cff3883…)
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