_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band—it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
_*Economy #_Overview: The agricultural sector accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 40% of the labor force, and contributes about 66% to total exports. Coffee is the major commercial crop, accounting for 45% of export earnings. The manufacturing sector, based largely on food and beverage processing, accounts for 18% of GDP and 15% of employment. Economic losses because of guerrilla sabotage total more than $2.0 billion since 1979. The costs of maintaining a large military seriously constrain the government's efforts to provide essential social services. Nevertheless, growth in national output last year exceeded growth in population for the first time since 1987.
_#_GDP: $5.4 billion, per capita $1,030; real growth rate 2.8% (1990 est.)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1990)
_#_Unemployment rate: 10% (1989)
_#_Budget: revenues $751 million; expenditures $790 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
_#_Exports: $571 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
commodities—coffee 45%, sugar, cotton, shrimp;
partners—US 49%, FRG 24%, Guatemala 7%, Costa Rica 4%, Japan 4%
_#_Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);