Subdivisions of El Salvador: 14 departments, municipios, 2024 reform
El Salvador is divided into 14 departments, and until 2024 the departments were divided into 262 municipios. This list gives every department with its capital and ISO code and names its municipios in Spanish, each with the municipality it has belonged to as a district since 1 May 2024.
- Municipios
- 263
- Groups
- 14
Updated
Departments, capitals and saints
Each department carries the Spanish word departamento in front of its name: Departamento de Ahuachapán, Departamento de La Libertad. Nine of the fourteen share the name of their capital town, from Ahuachapán to Usulután. The other five are governed from towns with names of their own: Cabañas from Sensuntepeque, Cuscatlán from Cojutepeque, La Libertad from Santa Tecla, La Paz from Zacatecoluca and Morazán from San Francisco Gotera.
The capital of La Libertad was founded in 1854 as Nueva San Salvador, after an earthquake had destroyed San Salvador, and has been called Santa Tecla since 2003. The town of Santa Tecla already stands under that name among the municipios of La Libertad.
Many municipio names pair a Spanish saint with an older place name: San Pedro Puxtla, San Juan Nonualco, Santa Cruz Michapa, San Francisco Chinameca. Several saints recur across departments. There is a San Isidro in Cabañas and in Morazán, a San Fernando in Chalatenango and Morazán, an El Rosario in Cuscatlán, La Paz and Morazán.
The municipios of El Salvador, department by department
Each of the 14 departments with its ISO 3166-2 code and capital, followed by its municipios in alphabetical order. The second column names the municipality each one belongs to since the reform of 1 May 2024, when the former municipios became districts (distritos).
Departamento de Ahuachapán Ahuachapán 12
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Ahuachapán
|
Central Ahuachapán
|
Apaneca
|
Central Ahuachapán
|
Atiquizaya
|
Northern Ahuachapán
|
Concepción de Ataco
|
Central Ahuachapán
|
El Refugio
|
Northern Ahuachapán
|
Guaymango
|
Southern Ahuachapán
|
Jujutla
|
Southern Ahuachapán
|
San Francisco Menéndez
|
Southern Ahuachapán
|
San Lorenzo
|
Northern Ahuachapán
|
San Pedro Puxtla
|
Southern Ahuachapán
|
Tacuba
|
Central Ahuachapán
|
Turín
|
Northern Ahuachapán
|
Departamento de Cabañas Cabañas 9
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Cinquera
|
Western Cabañas
|
Dolores
|
Eastern Cabañas
|
Guacotecti
|
Eastern Cabañas
|
Ilobasco
|
Western Cabañas
|
Jutiapa
|
Western Cabañas
|
San Isidro
|
Eastern Cabañas
|
Sensuntepeque
|
Eastern Cabañas
|
Tejutepeque
|
Western Cabañas
|
Victoria
|
Eastern Cabañas
|
Departamento de Chalatenango Chalatenango 33
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Agua Caliente
|
Central Chalatenango
|
Arcatao
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
Azacualpa
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
Chalatenango
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
Citalá
|
Northern Chalatenango
|
Comalapa
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
Concepción Quezaltepeque
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
Dulce Nombre de María
|
Central Chalatenango
|
El Carrizal
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
El Paraíso
|
Central Chalatenango
|
La Laguna
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
La Palma
|
Northern Chalatenango
|
La Reina
|
Central Chalatenango
|
Las Vueltas
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
Nombre de Jesús
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
Nueva Concepción
|
Central Chalatenango
|
Nueva Trinidad
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
Ojos de Agua
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
Potonico
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
San Antonio de la Cruz
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
San Antonio Los Ranchos
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
San Fernando
|
Central Chalatenango
|
San Francisco Lempa
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
San Francisco Morazán
|
Central Chalatenango
|
San Ignacio
|
Northern Chalatenango
|
San Isidro Labrador
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
San José Cancasque
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
San José Las Flores
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
San Luis del Carmen
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
San Miguel de Mercedes
|
Southern Chalatenango
|
San Rafael
|
Central Chalatenango
|
Santa Rita
|
Central Chalatenango
|
Tejutla
|
Central Chalatenango
|
Departamento de Cuscatlán Cuscatlán 16
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Candelaria
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
Cojutepeque
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
El Carmen
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
El Rosario
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
Monte San Juan
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
Oratorio de Concepción
|
Northern Cuscatlán
|
San Bartolomé Perulapía
|
Northern Cuscatlán
|
San Cristóbal
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
San José Guayabal
|
Northern Cuscatlán
|
San Pedro Perulapán
|
Northern Cuscatlán
|
San Rafael Cedros
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
San Ramón
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
Santa Cruz Analquito
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
Santa Cruz Michapa
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
Suchitoto
|
Northern Cuscatlán
|
Tenancingo
|
Southern Cuscatlán
|
Departamento de La Libertad La Libertad 22
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Antiguo Cuscatlán
|
Eastern La Libertad
|
Chiltiupán
|
Coastal La Libertad
|
Ciudad Arce
|
Central La Libertad
|
Colón
|
Western La Libertad
|
Comasagua
|
Southern La Libertad
|
Huizúcar
|
Eastern La Libertad
|
Jayaque
|
Western La Libertad
|
Jicalapa
|
Coastal La Libertad
|
La Libertad
|
Coastal La Libertad
|
Nuevo Cuscatlán
|
Eastern La Libertad
|
Opico
|
Central La Libertad
|
Quezaltepeque
|
Northern La Libertad
|
Sacacoyo
|
Western La Libertad
|
San José Villanueva
|
Eastern La Libertad
|
San Matías
|
Northern La Libertad
|
San Pablo Tacachico
|
Northern La Libertad
|
Santa Tecla
|
Southern La Libertad
|
Talnique
|
Western La Libertad
|
Tamanique
|
Coastal La Libertad
|
Teotepeque
|
Coastal La Libertad
|
Tepecoyo
|
Western La Libertad
|
Zaragoza
|
Eastern La Libertad
|
Departamento de La Paz La Paz 22
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Cuyultitán
|
Western La Paz
|
El Rosario
|
Central La Paz
|
Jerusalén
|
Central La Paz
|
Mercedes La Ceiba
|
Central La Paz
|
Olocuilta
|
Western La Paz
|
Paraíso de Osorio
|
Central La Paz
|
San Antonio Masahuat
|
Central La Paz
|
San Emigdio
|
Central La Paz
|
San Francisco Chinameca
|
Western La Paz
|
San Juan Nonualco
|
Eastern La Paz
|
San Juan Talpa
|
Western La Paz
|
San Juan Tepezontes
|
Central La Paz
|
San Luis La Herradura
|
Central La Paz
|
San Luis Talpa
|
Western La Paz
|
San Miguel Tepezontes
|
Central La Paz
|
San Pedro Masahuat
|
Western La Paz
|
San Pedro Nonualco
|
Central La Paz
|
San Rafael Obrajuelo
|
Eastern La Paz
|
Santa María Ostuma
|
Central La Paz
|
Santiago Nonualco
|
Central La Paz
|
Tapalhuaca
|
Western La Paz
|
Zacatecoluca
|
Eastern La Paz
|
Departamento de La Unión La Unión 18
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Anamorós
|
Northern La Unión
|
Bolívar
|
Northern La Unión
|
Concepción de Oriente
|
Northern La Unión
|
Conchagua
|
Southern La Unión
|
El Carmen
|
Southern La Unión
|
El Sauce
|
Northern La Unión
|
Intipucá
|
Southern La Unión
|
La Unión
|
Southern La Unión
|
Lislique
|
Northern La Unión
|
Meanguera del Golfo
|
Southern La Unión
|
Nueva Esparta
|
Northern La Unión
|
Pasaquina
|
Northern La Unión
|
Polorós
|
Northern La Unión
|
San Alejo
|
Southern La Unión
|
San José
|
Northern La Unión
|
Santa Rosa de Lima
|
Northern La Unión
|
Yayantique
|
Southern La Unión
|
Yucuayquín
|
Southern La Unión
|
Departamento de Morazán Morazán 26
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Arambala
|
Northern Morazán
|
Cacaopera
|
Northern Morazán
|
Chilanga
|
Southern Morazán
|
Corinto
|
Northern Morazán
|
Delicias de Concepción
|
Southern Morazán
|
El Divisadero
|
Southern Morazán
|
El Rosario
|
Northern Morazán
|
Gualococti
|
Southern Morazán
|
Guatajiagua
|
Southern Morazán
|
Joateca
|
Northern Morazán
|
Jocoaitique
|
Northern Morazán
|
Jocoro
|
Southern Morazán
|
Lolotiquillo
|
Southern Morazán
|
Meanguera
|
Northern Morazán
|
Osicala
|
Southern Morazán
|
Perquín
|
Northern Morazán
|
San Carlos
|
Southern Morazán
|
San Fernando
|
Northern Morazán
|
San Francisco Gotera
|
Southern Morazán
|
San Isidro
|
Northern Morazán
|
San Simón
|
Southern Morazán
|
Sensembra
|
Southern Morazán
|
Sociedad
|
Southern Morazán
|
Torola
|
Northern Morazán
|
Yamabal
|
Southern Morazán
|
Yoloaiquín
|
Southern Morazán
|
Departamento de San Miguel San Miguel 20
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Carolina
|
Northern San Miguel
|
Chapeltique
|
Northern San Miguel
|
Chinameca
|
Western San Miguel
|
Chirilagua
|
Central San Miguel
|
Ciudad Barrios
|
Northern San Miguel
|
Comacarán
|
Central San Miguel
|
El Tránsito
|
Western San Miguel
|
Lolotique
|
Western San Miguel
|
Moncagua
|
Central San Miguel
|
Nueva Guadalupe
|
Western San Miguel
|
Nuevo Edén de San Juan
|
Northern San Miguel
|
Quelepa
|
Central San Miguel
|
San Antonio
|
Northern San Miguel
|
San Gerardo
|
Northern San Miguel
|
San Jorge
|
Western San Miguel
|
San Luis de la Reina
|
Northern San Miguel
|
San Miguel
|
Central San Miguel
|
San Rafael
|
Western San Miguel
|
Sesori
|
Northern San Miguel
|
Uluazapa
|
Central San Miguel
|
Departamento de San Salvador San Salvador 19
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Aguilares
|
Northern San Salvador
|
Apopa
|
Western San Salvador
|
Ayutuxtepeque
|
Central San Salvador
|
Cuscatancingo
|
Eastern San Salvador
|
Delgado
|
Eastern San Salvador
|
El Paisnal
|
Northern San Salvador
|
Guazapa
|
Northern San Salvador
|
Ilopango
|
Eastern San Salvador
|
Mejicanos
|
Central San Salvador
|
Nejapa
|
Western San Salvador
|
Panchimalco
|
Southern San Salvador
|
Rosario de Mora
|
Southern San Salvador
|
San Marcos
|
Central San Salvador
|
San Martín
|
Eastern San Salvador
|
San Salvador
|
Central San Salvador
|
Santiago Texacuangos
|
Central San Salvador
|
Santo Tomás
|
Central San Salvador
|
Soyapango
|
Eastern San Salvador
|
Tonacatepeque
|
Eastern San Salvador
|
Departamento de Santa Ana Santa Ana 13
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Candelaria de la Frontera
|
Western Santa Ana
|
Chalchuapa
|
Western Santa Ana
|
Coatepeque
|
Eastern Santa Ana
|
El Congo
|
Eastern Santa Ana
|
El Porvenir
|
Western Santa Ana
|
Masahuat
|
Northern Santa Ana
|
Metapán
|
Northern Santa Ana
|
San Antonio Pajonal
|
Western Santa Ana
|
San Sebastián Salitrillo
|
Western Santa Ana
|
Santa Ana
|
Central Santa Ana
|
Santa Rosa Guachipilín
|
Northern Santa Ana
|
Santiago de la Frontera
|
Western Santa Ana
|
Texistepeque
|
Northern Santa Ana
|
Departamento de San Vicente San Vicente 13
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Apastepeque
|
Northern San Vicente
|
Guadalupe
|
Southern San Vicente
|
San Cayetano Istepeque
|
Southern San Vicente
|
San Esteban Catarina
|
Northern San Vicente
|
San Ildefonso
|
Northern San Vicente
|
San Lorenzo
|
Northern San Vicente
|
San Sebastián
|
Northern San Vicente
|
Santa Clara
|
Northern San Vicente
|
Santo Domingo
|
Northern San Vicente
|
San Vicente
|
Southern San Vicente
|
Tecoluca
|
Southern San Vicente
|
Tepetitán
|
Southern San Vicente
|
Verapaz
|
Southern San Vicente
|
Departamento de Sonsonate Sonsonate 17
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Acajutla
|
Western Sonsonate
|
Armenia
|
Eastern Sonsonate
|
Caluco
|
Eastern Sonsonate
|
Cuisnahuat
|
Eastern Sonsonate
|
Izalco
|
Eastern Sonsonate
|
Juayúa
|
Northern Sonsonate
|
Nahuizalco
|
Northern Sonsonate
|
Nahulingo
|
Central Sonsonate
|
Salcoatitán
|
Northern Sonsonate
|
San Antonio del Monte
|
Central Sonsonate
|
San Julián
|
Eastern Sonsonate
|
Santa Catarina Masahuat
|
Northern Sonsonate
|
Santa Isabel Ishuatán
|
Eastern Sonsonate
|
Santo Domingo de Guzmán
|
Central Sonsonate
|
Sonsonate
|
Central Sonsonate
|
Sonzacate
|
Central Sonsonate
|
Trosos de Guadalupe
|
not among the districts of the 2024 law |
Departamento de Usulután Usulután 23
| Municipio until 2024, district since | Municipality since 2024 |
|---|---|
Alegría
|
Northern Usulután
|
Berlín
|
Northern Usulután
|
California
|
Eastern Usulután
|
Concepción Batres
|
Eastern Usulután
|
El Triunfo
|
Northern Usulután
|
Ereguayquín
|
Eastern Usulután
|
Estanzuelas
|
Northern Usulután
|
Jiquilisco
|
Western Usulután
|
Jucuapa
|
Northern Usulután
|
Jucuarán
|
Eastern Usulután
|
Mercedes Umaña
|
Northern Usulután
|
Nueva Granada
|
Northern Usulután
|
Ozatlán
|
Eastern Usulután
|
Puerto El Triunfo
|
Western Usulután
|
San Agustín
|
Western Usulután
|
San Buenaventura
|
Northern Usulután
|
San Dionisio
|
Eastern Usulután
|
San Francisco Javier
|
Western Usulután
|
Santa Elena
|
Eastern Usulután
|
Santa María
|
Eastern Usulután
|
Santiago de María
|
Northern Usulután
|
Tecapán
|
Eastern Usulután
|
Usulután
|
Eastern Usulután
|
Districts and the 44 municipalities: Wikipedia, List of municipalities and districts of El Salvador, checked 28 October 2026; the English names of the new municipalities are those used there. Department codes: ISO 3166-2:SV, unchanged since 1998. Four spellings differ between the two lists: San José Las Flores is Las Flores in 2024, Opico is San Juan Opico, Yucuayquín is Yucuaiquín and San Rafael in San Miguel is San Rafael Oriente. Trosos de Guadalupe, the seventeenth name under Sonsonate, is not among the districts of the 2024 law.
From 262 municipios to 44 municipalities
On 1 May 2024 a law of the previous year took effect that replaced the 262 municipalities with 44. The old municipios survive as districts, and the 44 new municipalities group them by part of the department: Northern, Central and Southern Ahuachapán, Western and Eastern Cabañas. Santa Ana town and Acajutla each form a municipality on their own, Central Santa Ana and Western Sonsonate.
ISO 3166-2 is not affected, as the standard codes only the 14 departments, from SV-AH for Ahuachapán to SV-US for Usulután.
Questions about the departments and municipios of El Salvador
How many municipios does El Salvador have?
44 since 1 May 2024. Before the reform there were 262, and they continue as districts inside the new municipalities.
In which department is San José Cancasque?
In Chalatenango. Since 2024 it is a district of the municipality Southern Chalatenango.
What was Santa Tecla called before?
Nueva San Salvador. The capital of La Libertad was renamed Santa Tecla in 2003.