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Ecuador
Ecuador
Population
18.1M
Rank #70Source: World Bank
Capital
Quito
Source: REST Countries
Region
Americas
Latin America & Caribbean
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$124.68B
Rank #63Source: World Bank
Land Area
276.8K km²
Rank #74Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
77.392 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 276,841 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation: mean elevation: 1,117 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 note: because the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet...
Natural Hazards: frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland...
Environmental Issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Land Use: agricultural land: 29.7% (2011 est.) forest: 38.9% (2011 est.) other: 31.4% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: note 1: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in worldnote 2: according to the latest archeological research, the cacao tree, whose seeds are used to make chocolate and which was long thought...
Natural Resources
petroleumfishtimberhydropower
People & Society
Fertility Rate
1.82
Population
18.1M
Ethnic Groups
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) (71.9%)Montubio (7.4%)Amerindian (7%)White (6.1%)Afroecuadorian (4.3%)Mulatto (1.9%)Black (1%)other (0.4%)
Religions
Roman Catholic (74%)Evangelical (10.4%)Jehovah's Witness (1.2%)other (6.4%)atheist (7.9%)agnostic (0.1%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$6,874.706
GDP per Capita PPP
15,840.267
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
6,430
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
45.2
(2024)
(2024)
Unemployment
3.453%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
1.547%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
98.7%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
18.9%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
47.964 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
3.26 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
80.948%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
49.545% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
77.173%
(2024)
(2024)
Mobile Penetration
101.032%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
16.068%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
120.01 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
2,682,600 TEU
(2022)
(2022)
Airports
40,797
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
82,668.16 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
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...
Personnel Strength
the Ecuadorian Armed Forces have approximately 40,000 active personnel (25,000 Army; 9,000 Navy; 6,000 Air Force)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$2.70B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
2.22%
Military Expenditure History
2.3% of GDP (2019) 2.4% of GDP (2018) 2.4% of GDP (2017) 2.5% of GDP (2016) 2.6% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the military's equipment inventory is mostly older and derived from a wide variety of sources; since 2010, the leading suppliers of military hardware are Brazil, the Netherlands, South Africa, and...
Service Age & Obligation
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, Ecuadorian birth requirement;...
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
55.286%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
97.249%
(2023)
(2023)
Secondary Enrollment
92.812%
(2023)
(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
67.885%
(2023)
(2023)
Education Spending
3.894% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
96.26%
(2022)
(2022)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
24.262:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
2.313
(2020)
(2020)
Safe Water Access
92.071%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
69.887%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
13.1 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
21.731 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
77.205
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
78
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
70%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
7.3%
(2024)
(2024)
Food Insecurity
12.1%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
8.382%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
43.066%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-0.06
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.34
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.49
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.72
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.96
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.65
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in indigenous communities
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 24 May 2017); Vice President María Alejandra MUNOZ (since 17 July 2020); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (137 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 15 members directly elected in a single...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (consists of 21 judges, including the chief justice and organized into 5 specialized chambers); Constitutional Court or Corte...
National Symbols
Flag Description
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...
National Symbols
Andean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red
National Anthem
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...
Safety
Homicide Rate
45.723 per 100,000
(2023)
(2023)
Travel Information
Language(s): Spanish
Currency: USD ($)
Timezone(s): UTC -05:00 to -06:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +593
Car Sign: EC
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Santa Cruz Island's beach at Dragon Hill.
Santa Cruz Island's beach at Dragon Hill. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Guayaquil, founded in 1538 on the Guayas River, is today Ecuador's main port. It is also the largest and most populous city in the country.
Guayaquil, founded in 1538 on the Guayas River, is today Ecuador's main port. It is also the largest and most populous city in the country. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
A statue of the "Virgin of the Apocalypse" on El Panecillo (Bread Loaf Hill), overlooking Quito. The 45 m- (148 ft-) tall aluminum statue depicts the Virgin Mary with wings.
A statue of the "Virgin of the Apocalypse" on El Panecillo (Bread Loaf Hill), overlooking Quito. The 45 m- (148 ft-) tall aluminum statue depicts the Virgin Mary with wings. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Overlooking the Church of La Merced (built 1736) in Quito's historic neighborhood. Constructed in a Moorish style, the structure incorporates a monastery as well as the oldest clock in Quito.
Overlooking the Church of La Merced (built 1736) in Quito's historic neighborhood. Constructed in a Moorish style, the structure incorporates a monastery as well as the oldest clock in Quito. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
The Plaza de San Francisco, built atop an Incan town's market place, is one of Quito's greatest squares. Bordered on three sides by two-story colonial mansions, the fourth side consists of the huge Monastery of San Francisco, the largest colonial building and oldest church in the city.
The Plaza de San Francisco, built atop an Incan town's market place, is one of Quito's greatest squares. Bordered on three sides by two-story colonial mansions, the fourth side consists of the huge Monastery of San Francisco, the largest colonial building and oldest church in the city. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Ecuador's capital, Quito (San Francisco de Quito), is built in a valley and on the eastern slope of an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains.
Ecuador's capital, Quito (San Francisco de Quito), is built in a valley and on the eastern slope of an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
64 photos available
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