El Salvador
Explore our coverage of El Salvador’s politics, economics, business and culture, in articles, charts, podcasts and video
The Americas
The world’s most violent region needs a new approach to crime
Gangs are gaining ground in Latin America. Iron-fist policies won’t beat them back
Leaders
How to pacify the world’s most violent region
The iron-fist approach will not solve Latin America’s gang-violence problem
The Americas
Latin America’s new hard right: Bukele, Milei, Kast and Bolsonaro
Crime, abortion and socialism, not immigration, are the issues that rile them
The Americas
After Nayib Bukele’s crushing, unconstitutional victory, what next?
El Salvador’s “philosopher king” is already hinting at a third term
Leaders
Gangsters in El Salvador are terrified of strongman Nayib Bukele
He protects citizens from crime. But who will protect them from him?
El Salvador’s election
How President Nayib Bukele won popularity
Inside El Salvador’s brutal war on crime
The Economist reads
What to read to understand El Salvador and the Northern Triangle
Six books about a small region that has a big impact on its neighbours
The Economist explains
How Nayib Bukele is breaking presidential term limits in El Salvador
He subverts the system, but remains popular
The Intelligence
El Salvador’s crackdown on gangs has reduced crime—and democratic norms
A special episode of the daily podcast looking at how life in the country has changed both for better and for worse
Our correspondent’s take
Inside El Salvador’s war on crime
Reporting how the president is using his crackdown to amass power
The Americas
Nayib Bukele shows how to dismantle a democracy and stay popular
Others will learn from El Salvador’s charismatic president
Leaders
What the world’s budding autocrats are learning from El Salvador
President Nayib Bukele is gutting democracy and being applauded for it
The Americas
El Salvador’s authoritarian president is becoming a regional role model
That is dangerous for democracy and human rights