El Salvador's new leader has touted a rare day without a homicide in this small but violent Central American nation.

President Nayib Bukele said there was not a single killing the previous day, the final day of July.

The attorney general's office and the mortuary confirmed there were no homicides on Wednesday.

READ MORE: El Salvador has a day without a murder

Criminologist Ricardo Sosa said that has happened only eight times since 2000.

July was Mr Bukele's second month in office, and Mr Sosa said it saw an average of five homicides a day.

Justice Minister Rogelio Rivas said the 154 killings in July were down from 291 during the same month last year.

Mr Sosa said there are signs that Mr Bukele's efforts against gang violence are working, but the challenge will be sustaining the results.