Economy
Economy—overview: In recent years inflation has fallen to unprecedented levels, and exports have grown substantially. Even so, El Salvador has experienced sizable deficits in both its trade and its fiscal accounts. The trade deficit has been offset by remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and from external aid. El Salvador sustained damage from Hurricane Mitch, but not as much as other Central American countries. Inflation and the trade deficit are expected to rise somewhat as a result.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$17.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 24% services: 61% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 48.3% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 38.3% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1998)
Labor force: 2.26 million (1997 est.)