Invest in La Paz, El Salvador
At a glance
| La Paz | |
|---|---|
| Capital (cabecera) | Zacatecoluca |
| Population, 2024 | 318,374 |
| Rank by population | 8 of 14 |
| Urban population | 198,401 (62.3%) |
| Land area | 1,224 km² |
| People per km² | 260 |
| Municipalities | 3 |
| Districts | 22 |
Source: BCR and ONEC: VII Population Census 2024, population by department, municipality and district, urban and rural (Excel, in Spanish); UNDP: socio-economic map, guide to the 44 new municipalities of El Salvador, October 2024 (PDF, in Spanish)1,3
Land area is the sum of the municipal areas published by UNDP; density is an InvestSalvador.com calculation from that area and the census.
Map of La Paz
Municipalities and districts
Decree 762 merged the 262 old municipalities into 44 from 1 May 2024. The old municipalities became districts. La Paz has 3 municipalities:4
| Municipality | Population 2024 | Urban | Area, km² | People per km² | Average labour income, 2023 | Employment rate, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Paz Centro | 117,548 | 55.2% | 450.4 | 261 | $318.18 | 59.2% |
| La Paz Oeste | 108,708 | 61.5% | 381.2 | 285 | $340.48 | 69.1% |
| La Paz Este | 92,118 | 72.4% | 392.0 | 235 | $355.23 | 59.1% |
Source: BCR and ONEC: VII Population Census 2024, population by department, municipality and district, urban and rural (Excel, in Spanish); UNDP: socio-economic map, guide to the 44 new municipalities of El Salvador, October 2024 (PDF, in Spanish)1,3
- La Paz Centro (12 districts): El Rosario, Jerusalén, Mercedes La Ceiba, Paraíso de Osorio, San Antonio Masahuat, San Emigdio, San Juan Tepezontes, San Luis La Herradura, San Miguel Tepezontes, San Pedro Nonualco, Santa María Ostuma, Santiago Nonualco
- La Paz Oeste (7 districts): Cuyultitán, Olocuilta, San Juan Talpa, San Luis Talpa, San Pedro Masahuat, Tapalhuaca, San Francisco Chinameca
- La Paz Este (3 districts): San Juan Nonualco, San Rafael Obrajuelo, Zacatecoluca
Source: Legislative Assembly: Decree 762, the Special Law for the Territorial Restructuring of El Salvador4
Population and urban share: 2024 census. Area, labour income (average per worker, a month) and employment rate: UNDP, from the 2023 household survey (EHPM).
Largest districts
Source: BCR and ONEC: VII Population Census 2024, population by department, municipality and district, urban and rural (Excel, in Spanish)1
Economy and investment
- International airport: the Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero airport is at San Luis Talpa. It handled more than 5.2 million passengers and 51,000 flights in 2025.
- Airport expansion: the 2026 budget policy includes a bigger passenger terminal and a new cargo terminal.
Source: CEPA: directory of the port authority, with the international airport at San Luis Talpa; CEPA: the international airport closes 2025 with growth; Ministry of Finance: Budget Policy 2026 (PDF, in Spanish)6,7,8
Free zones
- Internacional, free zone
- Miramar, free zone, Olocuilta (La Paz Oeste)
- El Pedregal, free zone, El Rosario (La Paz Centro)
Source: CAMTEX: free zones and industrial parks5
The free zones map shows every zone in the country, including the new zones authorised or under construction.
Sources
- BCR and ONEC: VII Population Census 2024, population by department, municipality and district, urban and rural (Excel, in Spanish)
- BCR: results of the VII Population Census and VI Housing Census, 31 October 2024 (in Spanish)
- UNDP: socio-economic map, guide to the 44 new municipalities of El Salvador, October 2024 (PDF, in Spanish)
- Legislative Assembly: Decree 762, the Special Law for the Territorial Restructuring of El Salvador (in Spanish)
- CAMTEX: free zones and industrial parks (in Spanish)
- CEPA: directory of the port authority, with the international airport at San Luis Talpa (in Spanish)
- CEPA: the international airport closes 2025 with growth (in Spanish)
- Ministry of Finance: Budget Policy 2026 (PDF, in Spanish)
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.