# La Paz Department, El Salvador – Population & Municipalities

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/la-paz/

Department · El Salvador 

# La Paz Department

La Paz Department is a department of El Salvador. It had an estimated **361,691 people** in 2024 on 1,175 km² (about 308 per km²). Its main town is Zacatecoluca. It is divided into 3 municipalities. 295 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 441 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 361,691people (2024)
- 1,175km²
- 3municipalities
- 441mapped services

## How many people live in La Paz Department?

La Paz Department had an estimated **361,691 people** in 2024 — 5.7% of El Salvador, 7th of 14 departments. There are 1,102 women for every 1,000 men (below the El Salvador figure of 1,142). Spread over 1,175 km², that is about **308 people per km²**, 5th of 14 departments.

25.1% of people are children under 15 and 7.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 28 years (it is 29 across El Salvador). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 49 children and older people.

0–4 ****28,723**

5–9 ****30,573**

10–14 ****31,535**

15–19 ****32,056**

20–24 ****34,738**

25–29 ****37,132**

30–34 ****32,572**

35–39 ****24,538**

40–44 ****20,231**

45–49 ****18,754**

50–54 ****17,287**

55–59 ****13,932**

60–64 ****10,959**

65–69 ****8,512**

70–74 ****6,999**

75–79 ****5,451**

80+ ****7,699**

Source: [El Salvador UNFPA country office and Dirección General de Estarística y Censos (DIGESTYC) via OCHA HDX, population 2024 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-slv).

## Where is La Paz Department?

La Paz Department lies in [El Salvador](https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/). It borders 4 other departments: [Cuscatlán Department](https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/cuscatlan/), [La Libertad Department](https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/la-libertad/), [San Salvador Department](https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/san-salvador/) and [San Vicente Department](https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/san-vicente/). By area it is the 11th largest of 14 departments in El Salvador. It covers 5.8% of [El Salvador](https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/). The centre of La Paz Department is about 34 km in a straight line from San Salvador, the capital. The centre point is at 13.4623° N, 88.9766° W.

Source: [National mapping agency via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-slv).

## Things to see in and around La Paz Department

OpenStreetMap lists 21 named sights in La Paz Department: 9 nature reserves; 6 beachs; 4 attractions; 2 memorials.

- Área Natural Protegida Cima del Volcan de San Vicente · nature reserve
- Área Natural Protegida El Astillero (Complejo Jaltapeque) · nature reserve
- Área Natural Protegida Escuintla (Complejo Jaltapeque) · nature reserve
- Área Natural Protegida Isla Tasajera (Complejo Jaltapeque) · nature reserve
- Área Natural Protegida Manglar Estero de Jaltepeque (Complejo Jaltapeque) · nature reserve
- Área Natural Protegida Manglar Toluca · nature reserve
- Área Natural Protegida Nahualapa · nature reserve
- Área Natural Protegida Nahualapa · nature reserve
- Área Natural Protegida Santa Clara · nature reserve
- Playa Costa del Sol · beach
- Playa La Puntilla · beach
- Playa Las Hojas · beach
- Playa Los Blancos · beach
- Playa Los Negros · beach
- Punta del Toro Changallo · beach
- Isla Tasajera · attraction
- La Piedra Trabada · attraction
- Parque La Alameda · attraction
- Villa Tapalhuaca · attraction
- Fray Cosme Spessotto Zamuner · memorial
- Virgen María · memorial

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: La Paz Department

- Time zoneUTC−6, no daylight saving · America/El_Salvador
- CurrencyDollar (USD)
- Country calling code+503
- LanguagesSpanish
- Plug typesType A, B · 115 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format6 characters (CP ####)

### Nearest airports

- El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL) · San Salvador (San Luis Talpa)8.8 km
- Ilopango International Airport (ILS) · San Salvador31 km

### Nearest railway station

Estación de Tren FENADESAL (San Salvador), about 34 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.9 hours, sunrise around 05:28) and shortest in Dec (about 11.3 hours, sunrise around 06:10, sunset around 17:31).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 06:22 17:46 11.4 h 

Feb 06:19 18:01 11.7 h 

Mar 06:04 18:06 12.0 h 

Apr 05:43 18:08 12.4 h 

May 05:29 18:14 12.7 h 

Jun 05:28 18:23 12.9 h 

Jul 05:36 18:27 12.9 h 

Aug 05:43 18:18 12.6 h 

Sep 05:44 17:57 12.2 h 

Oct 05:45 17:37 11.9 h 

Nov 05:55 17:26 11.5 h 

Dec 06:10 17:31 11.3 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Municipalities of La Paz Department

Municipality Area km² Districts Services 

[La Paz Centro](https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/la-paz/la-paz-centro/) 485 12 130 

[La Paz Este](https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/la-paz/la-paz-este/) 326 3 170 

[La Paz Oeste](https://wherepedia.org/el-salvador/la-paz/la-paz-oeste/) 364 7 141 

Source: [National mapping agency via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-slv); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Largest towns in La Paz Department

- Zacatecoluca39,613
- Santiago Nonualco9,490
- Olocuilta6,324
- El Rosario5,620
- San Pedro Masahuat2,654

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of La Paz Department

Named natural and historic features inside La Paz Department, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

25 rivers and streams; 4 lakes.

- Cañada San José
- Cañada Santa Emilia
- Laguna Limpia
- Laguna Nahualapa
- Laguna Providencia
- Lagunetas El Zorral
- Quebrada El Anono
- Quebrada Jerez
- Río Acatitán
- Río Aguacayo
- Río Aguacula
- Río Cacapa
- Río Champato
- Río Comapa
- Río El Espino
- Río El Ojushte
- Río Huiscoyolapa
- Río Jalponga
- Río Jiboa
- Río Julía
- Río Nuestro Amo
- Río Panchimilama
- Río Sapuyo
- Río Sepaquiapa

…and 5 more.

### Coast and islands

6 beaches; 2 islands; 1 lagoon; 1 headland.

- Estero de Jaltepeque
- Isla Los Mangos
- Isla de La Tasajera
- Las Bocanitas
- Playa Amatecampo
- Playa Costa del Sol
- Playa La Zunganera
- Playa Las Hojas
- Playa San Marcelino
- Punta del Toro Changallo

### Hills and mountains

4 hills; 2 mountains.

- Cerro Tepeula · 851 m
- Cerro Cuyultepe · 705 m
- Loma de Comalapa · 659 m
- Cerro El Rosario · 468 m
- Cerro Redondo · 215 m
- Montaña La Hulera · 22 m

### Getting around

6 airfields; 1 airport.

- Aeropuerto Internacional El Salvador
- Entre Rios
- La Bendicion
- La Puente
- Las Isletas
- Las Micas
- Lombardilla

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in La Paz Department and the best time to visit

In La Paz Department, the warmest month is Apr (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Nov (26 °C). About 1,248 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Sep (234 mm) and the driest Jan (3 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to January**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 27 3 

Feb 28 4 

Mar 29 6 

Apr 29 32 

May 28 169 

Jun 27 193 

Jul 28 155 

Aug 27 198 

Sep 26 234 

Oct 26 204 

Nov 26 40 

Dec 26 10 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in La Paz Department

Places mapped inside La Paz Department in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals21
- Banks10
- ATMs4
- Petrol pumps27
- Hotels62
- Shopping malls7
- Schools46
- Colleges and universities5
- Pharmacies28
- Restaurants200
- Police stations11
- Dental clinics20

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is La Paz Department?In El Salvador
- What is the population of La Paz Department?361,691 (2024 estimate)
- What is the median age in La Paz Department?About 28 years (2024 estimate)
- What is the population density of La Paz Department?About 308 people per km²
- What borders La Paz Department?Cuscatlán Department, La Libertad Department, San Salvador Department and San Vicente Department
- What is there to see in La Paz Department?Fray Cosme Spessotto Zamuner, Isla Tasajera, La Piedra Trabada, Parque La Alameda
- What time zone is La Paz Department in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in La Paz Department?Dollar (USD)
- What language is spoken in La Paz Department?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in La Paz Department?Zacatecoluca
- What is the highest point in La Paz Department?Cerro Tepeula (851 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit La Paz Department?November to January
- How many hospitals are in La Paz Department?21 mapped
- How many banks are in La Paz Department?10 mapped
- How many ATMs are in La Paz Department?4 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in La Paz Department?27 mapped
- What is the P-code of La Paz Department?SV06 (OCHA common operational dataset)