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Sonsonate, El Salvador
Sonsonate Department · El Salvador
Sonsonate is a mid-size city in Sonsonate Department, El Salvador with a population of 59,468. Elevation: 804 ft (245 m). Average temperature: 76°F (25°C).
Data updated June 2026
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About Sonsonate
Sonsonate is a city and district of El Salvador, of which it is also its municipal seat. It has an estimated population of 71,980 inhabitants for the year 2020. Sonsonate is the second most important city in western El Salvador. The town was founded under the name of "Villa del Espíritu Santo" on vacant lots near the town of los Izalcos in 1552. However, this foundation would be extremely ephemeral, because the following year, in 1553, this villa would be transferred to its current location, with the name of "Villa de la Santísima Trinidad de Sonsonate", in a cocoa-producing area. With the passage of time, the town would be known simply by the name of Sonsonate. This name was taken from the Rio Grande or Sonsonate in the Nahuat language, which crosses it from north to south across the entire plain until it flows into the Pacific Ocean. This was the third Spanish population founded in the territories that currently constitute El Salvador, although, it is worth clarifying, during the entire period of Spanish domination of America, Sonsonate was the capital of the Mayor's Office of Sonsonate, a territory apart from the one administered by San Salvador, today the capital of El Salvador.
People
Climate
| Population | 59,468 |
| Population Density | 662 / sq mi |
| Elevation | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Coordinates | 13.7173°, -89.7230° |
| Timezone | America/El_Salvador |
| Country | 🇸🇻 El Salvador |
| State / Province | Sonsonate Department |
| Average Temperature | 76°F (25°C) |
| January Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| July Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| Annual Precipitation | 70.5 inches (1,790 mm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 inches (0 cm) |
About Sonsonate
Sonsonate is a mid-size city in El Salvador (Sonsonate Department) with a population of 59,468. The city sits at an elevation of 804 feet (245 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 76°F (25°C). Temperatures range from 75°F in January to 77°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 70.5 inches. The timezone is America/El_Salvador.
Climate in Sonsonate
Sonsonate has an average annual temperature of 27.8°C (82°F). The hottest month is Apr (28.7°C), the coldest is Dec (27°C). Average annual precipitation is 2511 mm.
Temperature
| Annual Average | 76.2°F |
| 41% above El Salvador avg | |
| January Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| July Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 211 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Area | 89.8 sq mi (232.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 662/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 13.7173°N, 89.7230°W |
| Timezone | America/El_Salvador |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.0 m (7 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1902 | EL SALVADOR-GUATEMALA | Questionable Earthquake | 2.0 m | 185 | 34 km |
| 2001 | EL SALVADOR | Earthquake | 0.3 m | 844 | 137 km |
| 1859 | EL SALVADOR | Earthquake | - | - | 9 km |
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Santa Ana (18 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Santa Ana | Stratovolcano | 2,381 m (7,812 ft) | 2005 | 18 km |
| Apaneca Range | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,036 m (6,680 ft) | Unknown | 21 km |
| Coatepeque Caldera | Caldera | 746 m (2,448 ft) | Unknown | 25 km |
| Singuil, Cerro | Pyroclastic cone(s) | 926 m (3,038 ft) | Unknown | 39 km |
| Chingo | Stratovolcano | 1,775 m (5,823 ft) | Unknown | 45 km |
| San Salvador | Stratovolcano | 1,893 m (6,211 ft) | 1917 | 46 km |
| Moyuta | Stratovolcano | 1,662 m (5,453 ft) | Unknown | 54 km |
| San Diego | Volcanic field | 781 m (2,562 ft) | Unknown | 67 km |
| Guazapa | Stratovolcano | 1,438 m (4,718 ft) | Unknown | 68 km |
| Santiago, Cerro | Volcanic field | 1,192 m (3,911 ft) | Unknown | 70 km |
| Flores | Volcanic field | 1,600 m (5,249 ft) | Unknown | 72 km |
| Ilopango | Caldera | 450 m (1,476 ft) | 1880 | 73 km |
| Suchitan | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,042 m (6,699 ft) | Unknown | 76 km |
| Ixtepeque | Lava dome(s) | 1,292 m (4,239 ft) | Unknown | 78 km |
| Tahual | Stratovolcano | 1,716 m (5,630 ft) | Unknown | 82 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75°F (24°C) | 0.2 in | |
| February | 76°F (24°C) | 0.1 in | Driest |
| March | 78°F (25°C) | 0.5 in | |
| April | 79°F (26°C) | 2.2 in | Warmest |
| May | 78°F (26°C) | 6.8 in | |
| June | 76°F (25°C) | 12.6 in | |
| July | 77°F (25°C) | 11.6 in | |
| August | 76°F (25°C) | 11.7 in | |
| September | 76°F (24°C) | 14.2 in | Wettest |
| October | 75°F (24°C) | 8.7 in | |
| November | 75°F (24°C) | 1.7 in | |
| December | 74°F (23°C) | 0.2 in | Coldest |
Sonsonate has a seasonal temperature swing of 5°F / from 74°F in December to 79°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 70.5 inches, with September being the wettest month (14.2") and February the driest (0.1").
Colleges & Universities in Sonsonate
| Institution | Type | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centro Escolar, Caserío Morro Grande, Cantón El Zarzal | College | - | , |
| Colegio Lourdes | College | - | , |
| Decanatos y Rectoría UMA | University | - | , |
| Escuela Superior Franciscana Especializada ESFE-AGAPE | College | - | , |
| iglesia y Colegio Adventista | College | - | , |
| Universidad Andrés Bello | University | - | , |
| Universidad de Sonsonate | University | - | , |
| Universidad Modular Abierta | University | - | , |
Schools in Sonsonate
26 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colegio La Santísima Trinidad | - | - | - | - |
| Centro Escolar Cristóbal Colón | - | - | - | - |
| Centro Escolar "Canton y Caserio El Puente" | - | - | - | - |
| Centro Escolar Fray Flavián Mucci | - | - | - | - |
| Kinder Nacional de Sonsonate | - | - | - | - |
| Centro Escolar Profesor Jorge Alfredo Mendoza | - | - | - | - |
| Centro Escolar Lotificación San Antonio - Cantón Las Delicias | - | - | - | - |
| ITDEM | - | - | - | - |
| Colegio Adolfo Lovato | - | - | - | - |
| Escuela de Educación Especial de Sonsonate | - | - | - | - |
| Centro Escolar Catolico San Vicente de Paúl | - | - | - | - |
| Colegio Salarrue Tercer Ciclo y Bachillerato | - | - | - | - |
| Colegio Salarrue Parvularia 1º y 2º Ciclo | - | - | - | - |
| CENTRO ESCOLAR CASERIO RODESIA | - | - | - | - |
| Centro Escolar Salvador Díaz Roa | - | - | - | - |
| Complejo Escolar Fray José Patricio Ruiz | - | - | - | - |
| Complejo Educativo Dolores vda. de Brito | - | - | - | - |
| Complejo Educativo Thomas Jefferson | - | - | - | - |
| Colegio Centroamérica | - | - | - | - |
| Escuela Fernando H. San Germán | - | - | - | - |
| Centro Escolar El Cacao | - | - | - | - |
| Colegio Ensueno Sonsonate | - | - | - | - |
| Centro Escolar Rafael Campo | - | - | - | - |
| Colegio Carlos Perrault | - | - | - | - |
| CENTRO ESCOLAR CASERIO SANTA CRUZ TAZULA | - | - | - | - |
| CENTRO ESCOLAR CASERIO SANTA MARIA COQUIAMA | - | - | - | - |
Radio Stations near Sonsonate
11 stations within ~55 km.
| Station | Genre | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Tribu FM | - | MP3 128 kbps | |
| Radio Que Buena 88.9 | - | MP3 128 kbps | |
| Scan 96.1 | spanish pop | AAC+ 64 kbps | |
| Radio YSKL 104.1 FM | - | MP3 192 kbps | |
| YXY 105.7 | bachata, latin pop | AAC+ 64 kbps | |
| La Jefa Radio El Salvador | banda, grupero | MP3 | |
| Radio YSUCA, 91.7 FM | - | MP3 96 kbps | |
| Radio Verdad 95.7 FM | Voz del Pentecostes | christian, pentecostalism | AAC+ 64 kbps | |
| Radio Salem 92.5 | christian, educational | MP3 80 kbps | |
| Plenitud Radio | - | MP3 64 kbps | |
| Radio Supra 90.5 FM | - | AAC |
Museums in Sonsonate
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casa de la cultura | ||||
| El Museo | ||||
| Germinal Museo de la Imprenta | ||||
| Museo de Arqueología y Etnografía | ||||
| Museo del Ferrocarril | ||||
| Museo del Ferrocarril |
Libraries in Sonsonate
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biblioteca Municipal de Sonsonate Centro | 0.0 | |||||
| Fotocopias El Centro | 0.0 |
Farmers Markets in Sonsonate
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ex-Mercado de Carnes | |||||
| Feria Gastronómica Juayúa | |||||
| Mega Plaza | |||||
| Mega Plaza Sonsonate | |||||
| Mercadito El Ángel | |||||
| Mercado Central | |||||
| Mercado Central de Ataco | |||||
| Mercado Municipal | |||||
| Mercado Municipal | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de Apaneca | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de Izalco | |||||
| Mercado Municipal de Nahuizalco | |||||
| Mercado Municipal Nº 2 | |||||
| Nuevo Mercado Municipal Ex Rastro | |||||
| Placita Izalqueña | |||||
| Plaza San Andrés | |||||
| Plaza San Andrés II | |||||
| Tortodromo |
Hotels in Sonsonate
4 hotels within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Restaurants in Sonsonate
37 restaurants within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Cafes in Sonsonate
8 cafes within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Monuments in Sonsonate
2 monuments within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Clinics in Sonsonate
24 clinics within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Dentists in Sonsonate
12 dentists within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Veterinaries in Sonsonate
5 veterinaries within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Bus Stations in Sonsonate
4 bus stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Gas Stations in Sonsonate
8 gas stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Banks in Sonsonate
23 banks within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Shopping Malls in Sonsonate
6 shopping malls within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Gyms in Sonsonate
4 gyms within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Stadiums & Teams in Sonsonate
| Team | League | Division |
|---|---|---|
Airports Near Sonsonate
13 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez | SAL | Large Airport |
| Ilopango International Airport | ILS | Medium Airport |
| El Jocotillo Airport | - | Small Airport |
| El Palmer Airport | - | Small Airport |
| El Platanar Airport | - | Small Airport |
| El Ronco Airport | - | Small Airport |
| El Zapote Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Jutiapa Airport | - | Small Airport |
| La Cabaña Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Las Cachas Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Las Mesas Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Nueva Ocotepeque Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Rio Sucio Highway Airstrip | - | Small Airport |
Post Offices in Sonsonate
1 post offices.
| Post Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Correos de El Salvador |
Treatment Centers in Sonsonate
1 treatment centers.
| Center | Type | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| FUNTER |
Churches & Religious Organizations in Sonsonate
20 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Capilla | |
| Catedral de la Santísima Trinidad | |
| Cenáculo del Espíritu Santo Sonsonate | |
| Ermita de San Sebastian | |
| Ermita del Veracruz | |
| Iglesia Adventista Deltdia | |
| Iglesia Avivamiento | |
| Iglesia Bautista Miramonte | |
| Iglesia de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias | |
| Iglesia ELIM | |
| Iglesia Manantiales de Agua Viva | |
| Kehillot Beit Yaakov | |
| Luz del Mundo | |
| Parroquia La Resurección | |
| Parroquia Santiago Apóstol | |
| Primera Iglesia Bautista | |
| Tabernaculo Internacional Bautista Sonsonate | |
| Templo Adeventista Del 7 Dia | |
| Templo Adventista | |
| Templo Evangelico Emanuel |
Quick Facts
🇸🇻 About El Salvador
Public Holidays in El Salvador
26 public holidays this year
Download Full City Report
Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for Sonsonate.
Get ReportFrequently Asked Questions About Sonsonate
What is the population of Sonsonate?
Sonsonate has a population of 59,468 residents and is located in El Salvador. The population density is 662 people per square mile, spread across 89.8 square miles.
What is the weather like in Sonsonate?
Sonsonate has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 76°F (25°C). Winter temperatures average 75°F in January, while summers reach an average of 77°F in July. The area receives 211 sunny days per year. Annual rainfall totals 70.5 inches.