El Salvador

The Republic of El Salvador is one of the most densely populated countries in central America. With 97 percent of the population mestizo, the dominant culture is Hispanic with indigenous influences and the dominant religion is Roman Catholic. Women who took leadership roles in the struggle against social inequalities have also questioned gender inequalities. Traditional expectations of male dominance continue to limit women's economic, political, and social advances. El Salvador ranked 54th out of 134 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2009 Global Gender Gap Report.

Marriage and extended families are emphasized. Both church and common-law marriages are common and legally recognized. Many celebrate church marriages after the birth of children. The average age of marriage is in the early 20s. The 2009 fertility rate is ...