OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of El Salvador
CAPITAL: San Salvador
POPULATION:
LANGUAGE: Spanish
CURRENCY: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.