El Salvador is divided into 14 departamentos, which serve as the country's primary administrative divisions. These departamentos function as the first level of territorial organization in El Salvador's two-tier administrative system, positioned between the national government and the municipalities. Each departamento is governed by a governor appointed by the President of the Republic and operates as a deconcentrated unit of the central government rather than as an autonomous entity. The departamentos coordinate the implementation of national policies at the regional level, oversee public services, and serve as administrative links between the central government in San Salvador and the 262 municipalities distributed across the country. They handle matters related to public security, infrastructure coordination, and the delivery of government programs within their respective territories.