República de El Salvador Republic of El Salvador
Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Dios, Unión, Libertad"  (Spanish) "God, Union, Liberty" Anthem: Himno Nacional de El Salvador
Capital (and largest city) San Salvador 13°40′N, 89°10′W Official languages Spanish Demonym Salvadoran [1]; Salvadorian [2] Government Presidential republic  -  President Antonio Saca Independence  -  from Spain September 15, 1821   -  from the UPCA 1842  Area  -  Total 21,040 km²  8,124 sq mi   -  Water (%) 1.4	Population  -   estimate 7.1 million (98th)  -  2008 census 5.8 million   -  Density 318.7/km² (34th) 823.6/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2006 estimate  -  Total $38.617 billion (89th)  -  Per capita $5,600 (103rd) Gini (2002) 52.4 (high)  HDI (2007) ▲ 0.735 (medium) (103rd) Currency United States dollar ($) (2001-present)2 (USD "$") Time zone (UTC-6) Internet TLD .sv Calling code +5031

El Salvador (República de El Salvador, Spanish pronunciation: [reˈpuβlika ðe (e)l salβaˈðoɾ]) is a country in Central America. The area was originally called by the Pipil "Cuzhcatl", in Spanish "Cuzcatlan", which in Nahuatl means "the land of precious things."

After the Spanish conquest, the land was baptized by Spanish conquistadors as "Provincia De Nuestro Señor Jesucristo El Salvador Del Mundo" ("Province of Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Savior Of The World"), now abbreviated as "República de El Salvador".

The country borders the Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and Honduras. With a population of approximately 5.8 million people, it is the most densely populated nation in Central America and is undergoing rapid industrialization.