Gross National Product (GNP): $13bn

Exchange rates against the US$ over the last year: 8.752 Salvadorean colones (8.747)

SCORE CARD

World GNP ranking: 80th GNP per capita: $2040 Balance of payments: –$177m Inflation: 1.9% Unemployment: 10%

Strengths

Coffee. Foreign investment. Family remittances from US. Dollarization.

Weaknesses

Exports uncompetitive. High tax evasion and unemployment. Low savings. Vast reconstruction needed after earthquakes in 2001. International concern over conditions in maquilas (assembly plants).

EXPORTS

IMPORTS

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004