Salvadoran Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, on the Pacific coast, known as the land of volcanoes. Spanish is the official language. Many Salvadorans live abroad, and those in Britain include students, workers and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 329 people living in the city had been born in Central America, a group that includes El Salvador; and 976 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Hispanic or Latin American.

Working for Birmingham

Salvadoran residents work in fields such as hospitality, care, education and business, and many are bilingual in Spanish and English. They bring a strong work ethic and a close sense of family and community.

Every community that has settled in Birmingham has helped to shape it. Newcomers have filled gaps in the workforce, opened shops and restaurants, and raised children who have gone on to become the city's doctors, teachers, engineers and entrepreneurs. The Salvadoran community is part of that tradition of hard work and ambition, and of the city's own motto: Forward.

Culture and community life

Pupusas, thick corn tortillas filled with cheese, beans or pork, are the national dish and a source of great pride, with a national day of their own. Independence Day on 15 September is celebrated with parades, and Salvadoran music and dance bring energy to every gathering.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Salvadoran community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.