El Salvador
Data & Indicators
22.0
SDG 1.3.1 Effective coverage
2019
96.4
Affiliated to health insurance
2019
4.6
Public expenditure on healthcare
2017
5.4
Public expenditure on social protection
2018
6,518,500
Total population
2021
2,820,572
Labour force
2020
23
Poverty rate
2019
4,187
GDP per capita
2019
Sources: ILO, World Social Protection Database, based on SSI; ISSA/SSA, Social Security Programs Throughout the World; ILOSTAT, ECLAC, IMF, WHO, WB, UNDP, UNICEF, completed with national data sources. 2020 or latest available year.
Publications
Situation and Priorities
Social protection situation
El Salvador has recently taken firm steps towards establishing a universal social protection system. The Government’s strong political commitment and social dialogue have contributed significantly to this process. In 2009, a Universal Social Protection System (SPSU) was introduced, which seeks to ensure universal social protection in the areas of health, food, income security, and vocational training. In 2014, Congress adopted the Social Development and Protection Act (LDPS) with a view to institutionalize the SPSU and bolster its operations.The SPSU follows a Universalist approach guided by rights-based principles and a strategy based on the life-cycle concept. Non-contributory programmes are targeted mainly at persons who are socially vulnerable. Since 2009, over 2 million people, 30% of the population, have benefitted from the SPSU. These initiatives are transforming the structure of the social protection system in El Salvador with noticeable socio-economic impacts.
COVID-19 and other crises
In response to COVID-19, the government of El Salvador:- Provided a one-off payment of US$300 to 1.5 million households in the informal economy.
- The social security institute (Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social - ISSS) paid the salaries of workers who were required to quarantine.
- Water, electricity, phone, and internet bills were also suspended for three months.
- Healthcare workers were given a US$150 monthly bonus during the pandemic, for their work in a health system that was taken to its limit during the spring outbreak of COVID-19.
Government and social partner priorities
- Accelerate the transition to an equitable and inclusive society through the consolidation of the Universal Social Protection System.
- Strengthen policies that facilitate the formalization of employment, in particular, social protection policies.
ILO Experts
