El Salvador Military - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

the Armed Force of El Salvador (La Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Army of El Salvador (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Navy of El Salvador (Fuerza Naval de El Salvador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS); Ministry of Justice and Public Security: National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil, PNC) (2021)

note: supporting the National Police (Ministry of Interior) in countering gang violence and drug trafficking is a primary mission for the FAES

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2019)

1.1% of GDP (2018)

1% of GDP (2017)

1% of GDP (2016)

1% of GDP (2015)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Armed Force of El Salvador (FAES) has approximately 21,000 active troops (17,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FAES is dependent on a mix of mostly older imported platforms, largely from the US; since 2010, the FAES has received small amounts of equipment from Chile, Israel, Spain, and the US (2020)

Military deployments

170 Mali (MINUSMA) (Jan 2021)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2012)

Military - note

in recent years, about half of the Army was reportedly deployed on internal security duties in support of the National Civil Police to combat gang violence, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking, as well as assisting with border security (2021)

NOTE: The information regarding El Salvador on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of El Salvador 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about El Salvador 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.