Flag of El Salvador

What the flag looks like

Three equal horizontal bands of blue, white and blue, with the coat of arms in the center: a triangle containing five volcanoes, a cap of liberty and a rainbow, surrounded by flags and a laurel wreath, encircled by the words "REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL".

What it means

The blue bands represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and white the land and peace; the five volcanoes stand for the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America.

How to remember it

El Salvador frames its volcano triangle with five flags and a green laurel wreath; Nicaragua uses only gold lettering, and Honduras just stars.

Fun facts

• The national motto "Dios, Unión, Libertad" (God, Union, Liberty) appears on the coat of arms.
• El Salvador is the smallest country in mainland Central America by area.
• In 2021 El Salvador became the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender.

El Salvador at a glance

Capital

San Salvador

Region

Central America

Population

6.3 million

Area

21,041 km²

Languages

Spanish

Currency

United States dollar ($)

Flag adopted

1912

Flags often confused with El Salvador

• Nicaragua: Nicaragua and El Salvador are both blue-white-blue with a triangular emblem. El Salvador's blue is darker and its emblem has flags and a green laurel wreath; Nicaragua's is a plain triangle in a ring of text.
• Honduras: Honduras and El Salvador are both horizontal blue-white-blue. Honduras has five blue stars in the center; El Salvador has a triangle coat of arms.
• Argentina: Argentina and El Salvador are both blue-white-blue horizontal stripes with a central emblem. Argentina's is a gold sun; El Salvador's is a triangle with flags and a wreath, and its blue is darker.
• Guatemala: Guatemala and El Salvador are both blue-white-blue with a central emblem. Guatemala's bands are vertical; El Salvador's are horizontal, with a triangle emblem.