San Salvador - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
The expat community is fairly large. Morale is good in terms of lifestyle, but very middling at work. - Oct 2023
The expat community is medium-sized, and definitely dominated by Americans, both from the Embassy, and Americans who have moved to El Salvador. Morale overall is pretty good, although I think it can be hard for non-U.S. expats to find a circle – the Embassy community is huge and can seem hard to break into. There are definitely resources (Facebook, WhatsApp groups) that can help anyone find their way. - Feb 2022
Not very large. The US embassy is large but the German, British and other diplomatic missions are small. There are a number of wealthy Salvadorans with US passports and a few Americans who have married Salvadorenos and who choose to live here. - Aug 2021
The expat community is not so big. There are various embassies so you can get to know the folks at the Canadian, Spanish, Brit, French, and Columbian embassies. However, there are usually just a few people at each of their embassies. You can meet some of the expat parents at the schools (especially Brit, French and German schools) but this post doesn't attract a huge expat community like other places. - Jun 2018
Small expat community, mostly Americans. Close-knit embassy community with tons of activities. Relatively easy to make friends outside the embassy. - Mar 2018
There are a good number of expats in El Salvador, embassy and non-embassy related. I would say morale is high, especially among families. - Jan 2018
Large and growing. Morale is high, it's a great place to work, and a great team at post at least until 2020. Many extend their tours a few months after arriving. - Nov 2017
This is a very unique aspect to this post. There are expats, but they're very integrated here. There's no vibrant expats club or "Women's Society" clubs as other posts tend to have. The U.S. Embassy is way bigger than any counterpart (and even, sometimes, it seems the Government of El Salvador). - Jul 2016
It's a big U.S. Embassy, and people are generally really happy here. The Embassy is very well-run, and there are lots of events to suit every age/interest group. The local expat population is pretty easy to meet as well. - Dec 2015
The Embassy community is really great here- this is one of the best parts of our tour. Many regional offices are located here, so there are many USG departments and a very diverse community. We have also met other expats who are here for many other reasons. - Jun 2015
The U.S. has the biggest presence by far ("battleship in the pond"). Most other Embassies have 2 or 3 people here. Lots of NGOs. - Mar 2015
Large expat community and morale was very good. I can now compare it to my second post where morale is generally low, and I never met anyone who was unhappy there, but maybe because I was so happy people never showed that side to me. - Oct 2014
I think it is good. - Jul 2014
Miniscule. There's not even a Hash House Harriers. - Apr 2012
There is a small expat community even though there is a large American embassy. - Jul 2011
Several hundred, but mostly Americans. Our embassy has famously been referred to as a battleship in a duck pond. - May 2010
Medium to medium large?? You don't see a lot of foreigners outside the embassy, altough there are a lot of Asians (Chinese and Koreans) here with clothing factories and other businesses. Some Europeans here on diplomatic missions. Lots of Salvadorans that are descendants of Europeans and Middle Easterners that you think are foreigners but are not. - Feb 2009
