Living in El Salvador


El Salvador September 2025 News

El Salvador Makes History: Joining the Ranks of the World’s Safest Nations


El Salvador has made history by joining the ranks of the world’s safest nations for the first time. This remarkable achievement reflects the country’s progress in enhancing security and showcases a dedicated effort to reduce crime and protect its citizens. … Read more

Struggling to Survive in El Salvador

Struggling to Survive in El Salvador: In 16 of 44 Municipalities, People Live on Less Than $200 a Month


Struggling to survive financially in El Salvador is a constant concern for many Salvadorans. In some municipalities, residents live on less than $200 a month, making it difficult to afford necessities like food, housing, higher education, and healthcare. A report … Read more

El Salvador Departments and Municipalities

El Salvador Departments and Municipalities: From Coast to Highlands!


El Salvador is divided into 14 departments and 44 municipalities, each offering a distinctive blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. San Salvador stands as the most populous department, with an estimated population of 1,730,449, and Cabañas, with 153,571 inhabitants, … Read more

Education in El Salvador

El Salvador Crime Profile: Analyzing Criminal Groups, Security Forces, Prisons, and the Judicial System


El Salvador is the spiritual homeland of Central America’s most notorious street gangs – the Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) and Barrio 18. For years, these gangs terrorized poor urban neighborhoods across the country, but they appear to have been largely dismantled following a brutal and controversial government crackdown that has seen over 1.5% of El Salvador’s population jailed for … Read more

MS13, MS-13 or Mara Salvatrucha gang profile

MS-13 or MS13 Gang: A Comprehensive Profile of the Mara Salvatrucha Gang


The Mara Salvatrucha, or MS13, is perhaps the most notorious street gang in the Western Hemisphere. While it has its origins in the poor, refugee-laden neighborhoods of 1980s Los Angeles, the gang’s reach now spans from Central America to Europe. A predatory criminal organization, the MS13 lives mostly from extortion. But the gang’s resilience owes to its strong social bonds, which are created and strengthened via … Read more

El Salvador passport Renewal

Salvadorans Can Now Renew Their Passports Online


The General Directorate of Migration and Immigration of El Salvador launched a new digital platform to simplify the passport renewal process for all Salvadorans over 18 years of age. Ricardo Cucalon, the Director General of Migration and Immigration, announced the … Read more

Barrio 18 or 18 Street Gang

Inside the 18th Street Gang: An In-Depth Profile of the Barrio 18 Gang


The 18th Street gang, or Barrio 18, is a transnational criminal organization that began in Los Angeles in the 1960s, initially as a multi-ethnic street gang. Known for its violent operations, it engages in drug trafficking, extortion, and murder. With … Read more