Invest in San Miguel, El Salvador
At a glance
| San Miguel | |
|---|---|
| Capital (cabecera) | San Miguel |
| Population, 2024 | 447,634 |
| Rank by population | 5 of 14 |
| Urban population | 279,369 (62.4%) |
| Land area | 2,077 km² |
| People per km² | 216 |
| Municipalities | 3 |
| Districts | 20 |
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 San Miguel
Municipalities and districts
Decree 762 merged the 262 old municipalities into 44 from 1 May 2024. The old municipalities became districts. San Miguel has 3 municipalities:4
| Municipality | Population 2024 | Urban | Area, km² | People per km² | Average labour income, 2023 | Employment rate, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Miguel Centro | 290,274 | 72.7% | 997.1 | 291 | $389.24 | 64.7% |
| San Miguel Oeste | 85,325 | 62.8% | 321.1 | 266 | $287.78 | 57.4% |
| San Miguel Norte | 72,035 | 20.7% | 759.0 | 95 | $223.19 | 52.1% |
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
- San Miguel Centro (6 districts): San Miguel, Comacarán, Uluazapa, Moncagua, Quelepa, Chirilagua
- San Miguel Oeste (6 districts): Chinameca, Nueva Guadalupe, Lolotique, San Jorge, San Rafael Oriente, El Tránsito
- San Miguel Norte (8 districts): Ciudad Barrios, Sesori, Nuevo Edén de San Juan, San Gerardo, San Luis de la Reina, Carolina, San Antonio del Mosco, Chapeltique
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
- San Miguel district: 232,887 people in the 2024 census, the largest district of the east.
- Geothermal power: a USD 150 million World Bank loan approved in March 2025 supports a first 25 MW plant at Chinameca.
- Hydropower: CEL's 3 de Febrero plant (El Chaparral) at San Luis de la Reina, in San Miguel Norte, has 67.42 MW and started in October 2023.
- Coast: the Surf City programme includes the beaches of El Cuco and Las Flores; Surf City 2 focuses on the east.
Source: BCR and ONEC: VII Population Census 2024, population by department, municipality and district, urban and rural (Excel, in Spanish); ThinkGeoEnergy: World Bank announces USD 150 million investment for geothermal in El Salvador, 31 March 2025; CEL: contact details and locations of the hydroelectric plants; CEL: audited financial statements 2024, with the capacity of each plant (PDF, in Spanish); Ministry of Tourism: Surf City programme; Ministry of Finance: Budget Policy 2026 (PDF, in Spanish)1,5,6,7,8,9
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)
- ThinkGeoEnergy: World Bank announces USD 150 million investment for geothermal in El Salvador, 31 March 2025
- CEL: contact details and locations of the hydroelectric plants (in Spanish)
- CEL: audited financial statements 2024, with the capacity of each plant (PDF, in Spanish)
- Ministry of Tourism: Surf City programme (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.