The population structure of El Salvador has undergone dramatic changes in the past 26 years. The population has aged since the civil war, with far more people reaching higher ages. Fertility is showing signs that it is beginning to decline thanks to decades of family planning initiatives. The outlook for the future is one of continued fertility and mortality decline, but only if they improve their water and sanitation infrastructure. If mortality and fertility continues to decline, El Salvador may run into the same problems as some European countries within the next fifty to one hundred years. In 1985 the age structure of the population reflects a country with a high mortality and fertility rate. The majority of the population was young,
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Mortality has been in decline since the mid 30’s and family planning programs have been helping to curb population growth since the mid 60’s (Morris et al). While the civil war did briefly increase mortality, the overall trend for both fertility and mortality has been downward. This downward trend is slowly leading the country to a post-industrial society. However, this downward trend could be stalled or even reversed by El Salvador’s poor infrastructure, particularly its water and sanitation system. The sanitation system is of particular concern due to the many diarrheal diseases that can get into the water supply. Many of the poorer districts of El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador have problems accessing water, electricity, and sanitation. (Tardancio) These problems with accessing basic infrastructure or problems with the quality of available infrastructure are magnified outside of the capital. El Salvador’s problems with its infrastructure will only increase with the population unless the government steps in and creates a centralized municipal department dedicated to improving water quality, access, and sanitation (Schiffler et al). As of 2006, less than 5% of all sewage in El Salvador receives treatment, with the rest simply dumped back into the water supply. The three largest cities performed little to no treatment of their waste water and released it into surrounding creeks and rivers, many of which are then used for irrigation downstream. (Schiffler et al). Given the state of its water and sewage infrastructure in 2006, it is astonishing that mortality rates are as low as they are. In addition to improving water and sanitation, El Salvador will need to improve its healthcare system. The appalling sanitation standards have created ideal conditions for an epidemic. In addition to that, the increasing number of people reaching old age will strain the existing healthcare
Mortality has been in decline since the mid 30’s and family planning programs have been helping to curb population growth since the mid 60’s (Morris et al). While the civil war did briefly increase mortality, the overall trend for both fertility and mortality has been downward. This downward trend is slowly leading the country to a post-industrial society. However, this downward trend could be stalled or even reversed by El Salvador’s poor infrastructure, particularly its water and sanitation system. The sanitation system is of particular concern due to the many diarrheal diseases that can get into the water supply. Many of the poorer districts of El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador have problems accessing water, electricity, and sanitation. (Tardancio) These problems with accessing basic infrastructure or problems with the quality of available infrastructure are magnified outside of the capital. El Salvador’s problems with its infrastructure will only increase with the population unless the government steps in and creates a centralized municipal department dedicated to improving water quality, access, and sanitation (Schiffler et al). As of 2006, less than 5% of all sewage in El Salvador receives treatment, with the rest simply dumped back into the water supply. The three largest cities performed little to no treatment of their waste water and released it into surrounding creeks and rivers, many of which are then used for irrigation downstream. (Schiffler et al). Given the state of its water and sewage infrastructure in 2006, it is astonishing that mortality rates are as low as they are. In addition to improving water and sanitation, El Salvador will need to improve its healthcare system. The appalling sanitation standards have created ideal conditions for an epidemic. In addition to that, the increasing number of people reaching old age will strain the existing healthcare