Salvadoran law mandates free, compulsory public schooling for children aged 7 to 15. El Salvador is traditionally Roman Catholic, and about 75 percent of the population is Catholic. During the past 25 years, liberation theology, which emphasizes social and economic justice for the poor, has become a major force in Salvadoran Catholicism. Evangelical Protestant groups have grown rapidly in recent years, and Protestants now make up an estimated 20 percent of the population. Family life is important in both areas, however, and extended family relationships play an important role in economic and political affairs.
Salvadoran culture reflects the native and European roots of the society.
Archaeological ruins, including ancient Maya pyramids and dwellings at Tazumal and Cihuat n, highlight the heritage of indigenous peoples. Much of the colonial art and architecture reflects the Spanish influence. IV Economy El Salvador has a relatively diversified economy, but because the upper classes have traditionally controlled most of the country's wealth, there have been serious problems of poverty and hunger. About 1 percent of the landowners control more than 40 percent of the arable land, despite recent attempts at land reform. Some 26 percent of El Salvador's land is cultivated, and much of what is grown is designated for export.