Page last updated on January 31, 2014
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in February 2013, and voters re-elected President Rafael CORREA.
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
total: 283,561 sq km
country comparison to the world: 74
land: 276,841 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
slightly smaller than Nevada
total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
note: due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea-level
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
arable land: 4.51%
permanent crops: 5.38%
other: 90.11% (2011)
total: 9.92 cu km/yr (13%/6%/81%)
per capita: 716.1 cu m/yr (2005)
frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts
volcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (elev. 5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (elev. 1,476 m), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 71.9%, Montubio 7.4%, Afroecuadorian 7.2%, Amerindian 7%, white 6.1%, other 0.4% (2010 census)
Spanish (official), indigenous (Quechua, Shuar)
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Ecuador's high poverty and income inequality most affect indigenous, mixed race, and rural populations. The government has increased its social spending to ameliorate these problems, but critics question the efficiency and implementation of its national development plan. Nevertheless, the conditional cash transfer program, which requires participants' children to attend school and have medical check-ups, has helped improve educational attainment and healthcare among poor children. Ecuador is stalled at above replacement level fertility and the population most likely will keep growing rather than stabilize.
15,439,429 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
0-14 years: 29% (male 2,284,815/female 2,193,648)
15-24 years: 18.7% (male 1,462,025/female 1,427,181)
25-54 years: 38.7% (male 2,908,224/female 3,061,896)
55-64 years: 6.9% (male 524,574/female 540,074)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 496,557/female 540,435) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 57.4 %
youth dependency ratio: 47.2 %
elderly dependency ratio: 10.3 %
potential support ratio: 9.8 (2013)
total: 26.3 years
male: 25.7 years
female: 26.9 years (2013 est.)
1.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
19.23 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
5.03 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
-0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
urban population: 67% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Guayaquil 2.634 million; QUITO (capital) 1.622 million (2011)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 67
total: 18.48 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 98
male: 21.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 76.15 years
country comparison to the world: 84
male: 73.2 years
female: 79.25 years (2013 est.)
2.33 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
7.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 79
1.69 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)
0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
37,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
2,200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2013)
21.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 86
6.2% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 80
4.9% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 79
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.6%
male: 93.1%
female: 90.2% (2011 est.)
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
total number: 227,599
percentage: 8 % (2008 est.)
total: 11.1%
country comparison to the world: 105
male: 9%
female: 15% (2011)
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008; amended 2011 (2011)
civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18-65 years of age, universal and compulsory; 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters, optional
chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: the president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for another consecutive term; election last held on 17 February 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 57.2%, Guillermo LASSO 22.7%, Lucio GUTIERREZ 6.8%, Mauricio RODAS 3.9%, other 9.4%
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (137 seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 February 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAIS 100, CREO 11, PSC 6, AVANZA 5, MUPP 5, PSP 5, other 5; note - defections by members of National Assembly are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
highest court(s): National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (consists of 21 judges including a chief justice and organized into 5 specialized chambers); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitutional (consists of 11 judges)
judge selection and term of office: justices of National Court of Justice elected by the Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body of professionals; judges elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one-third of the judges renewed every 3 years; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly from candidates selected by the president, Supreme Court, and other government officials; judges appointed for 2-year terms
subordinate courts: Fiscal Tribunal; Superior Court (one for each province); lower provincial and cantonal courts
Alianza PAIS movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Humberto CHOLANGO]
CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Saskia Nathalie CELY Suarez (since 2 December 2011)
chancery: 1050 30th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 465-8140
FAX: [1] (202) 333-2893
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Haven (CT), New Orleans, New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
chief of mission: Ambassador Adam E. NAMM (since 26 April 2012)
embassy: Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
mailing address: Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras
telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000
FAX: [593] (2) 398-5100
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Columbia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; the yellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice
note: similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms
name: "Salve, Oh Patria!" (We Salute You Our Homeland)
lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
note: adopted 1948; Juan Leon MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung
Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and approximately two-fifths of public sector revenues in recent years. In 1999/2000, Ecuador's economy suffered from a banking crisis, with GDP contracting by 5.3% and poverty increasing significantly. In March 2000, the Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew an average of 4.3% per year, the highest five-year average in 25 years. After moderate growth in 2007, the economy reached a growth rate of 6.4% in 2008, buoyed by high global petroleum prices and increased public sector investment. President Rafael CORREA, who took office in January 2007, defaulted in December 2008 on Ecuador's sovereign debt, which, with a total face value of approximately US$3.2 billion, represented about 30% of Ecuador's public external debt. In May 2009, Ecuador bought back 91% of its "defaulted" bonds via an international reverse auction. Economic policies under the CORREA administration - for example, an announcement in late 2009 of its intention to terminate 13 bilateral investment treaties, including one with the United States - have generated economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment. The Ecuadorian economy slowed to 1% growth in 2009 due to the global financial crisis and to the sharp decline in world oil prices and remittance flows. Growth picked up to a 3.3% rate in 2010 and nearly 8% in 2011, before falling to 5% in 2012. China has become Ecuador's largest foreign lender since Quito defaulted in 2008, allowing the government to maintain a high rate of social spending; Ecuador contracted with the Chinese government for more than $9 billion in oil for cash and project loans as of December 2012.
$149.5 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$82.9 billion (2012 est.)
5.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$10,200 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
27.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
household consumption: 61.1%
government consumption: 13.5%
investment in fixed capital: 26.6%
investment in inventories: 0.9%
exports of goods and services: 31.2%
imports of goods and services: -33.2%
agriculture: 5.9%
industry: 35.2%
services: 58.8% (2012 est.)
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; fish, shrimp; balsa wood
petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
5.6%
country comparison to the world: 48
note: excludes oil refining (2012 est.)
4.769 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
agriculture: 27.6%
industry: 18.8%
services: 53.6% (2010 est.)
4.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
27.3% (December 2012 est)
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 38.3%
note: data for urban households only (2010 est.)
47.7 (December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 27
note: data are for urban households
revenues: $34.53 billion
expenditures: $35.48 billion (2012 est.)
41.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
-1.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
21% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
5.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
8.17% (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 30
8.17% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$7.801 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$26.55 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$22.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$5.779 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 83
$-177 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$24.65 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, wood, fish
US 37.3%, Chile 8.1%, Peru 6.5%, Japan 4.5%, Russia 4.5%, Colombia 4% (2012)
$24.58 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods
US 28.4%, China 11.3%, Colombia 8.8%, Peru 4.5% (2012)
$2.483 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$17.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$17.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$6.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001
21.84 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
14.92 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
14.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
1.3 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
5.243 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
55.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
42.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
504,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
366,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
154,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
8.24 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 19
198,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
280,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
28,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
111,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
240 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
330 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
25,000 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
6.994 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 86
29.13 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
2.31 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 54
16.457 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 56
general assessment: elementary fixed-line service, but increasingly sophisticated mobile-cellular network
domestic: fixed-line services provided by multiple telecommunications operators; fixed-line teledensity stands at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular use has surged and subscribership has reached 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 593; landing points for the PAN-AM and South America-1 submarine cables that provide links to the west coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Ecuador has multiple TV networks and many local channels, as well as more than 300 radio stations; many TV and radio stations are privately owned; the government owns or controls 5 national TV stations and multiple radio stations; broadcast media required by law to give the government free air time to broadcast programs produced by the state (2007)
170,538 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 76
3.352 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 64
432 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 20
total: 104
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 51 (2013)
total: 328
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m:
extra heavy crude 527 km; gas 71 km; oil 2,131 km; refined products 1,526 km (2013)
total: 965 km
country comparison to the world: 90
narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
total: 43,670 km
country comparison to the world: 84
paved: 6,472 km
unpaved: 37,198 km (2007)
1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 53
total: 44
country comparison to the world: 72
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 9, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 1
registered in other countries: 4 (Panama 3, Peru 1) (2010)
major seaport(s): Esmeraldas, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
river port(s): Guayaquil (Guayas)
container port(s) (TEUs): Guayaquil (1,405,762)
Ecuadorian Armed Forces: Ecuadorian Land Force (Fuerza Terrestre Ecuatoriana, FTE), Ecuadorian Navy (Fuerza Naval del Ecuador (FNE), includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2012)
18 years of age for selective conscript military service; conscription has been suspended; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; Air Force 18-22 years of age, Ecadorian birth requirement; 1-year service obligation (2012)
males age 16-49: 3,728,906
females age 16-49: 3,844,918 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 2,834,213
females age 16-49: 3,269,535 (2010 est.)
male: 152,593
female: 147,143 (2010 est.)
2.83% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 56
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border, which thousands of Colombians also cross to escape the violence in their home country
refugees (country of origin): 122,964 (Colombia) (2012)
