Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
16 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
2.89 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
956 media outlets, of which 89% are private, 5% are public, and 6% belong to small communities; government controls most of the 44 public media stations, including national media and multiple local radio stations; most media outlets are concentrated in Guayas and Pichincha (2022)
Communications: Internet country code
.ec
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
77.17% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
7 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
1.22 million (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
102 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
18.4 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
bananas, sugarcane, milk, oil palm fruit, maize, rice, plantains, chicken, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
25.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$35.969 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$35.962 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$932.9 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$668.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$2.221 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$891.3 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$404.5 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.648 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$544.9 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$2.007 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$3.043 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$2.136 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$2.217 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$7.082 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$60.683 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$39.658 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
United States dollar
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1.0000 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
1.0000 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
1.0000 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
1.0000 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
1.0000 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
1.0000 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
1.0000 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1.0000 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1.0000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
1.0000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
1.0000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
1.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, shellfish, bananas, fish, gold (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$28.525 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$32.207 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$22.120 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$20.061 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$22.445 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$25.305 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$25.875 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$22.321 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$29.009 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$36.588 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$35.687 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$38.468 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
30.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
13.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
64.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-26.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
18.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
9.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
26.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
57.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$15,840 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$124.676 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$287.271 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
46.0 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
45.0 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
44.7 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
45.4 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
45.7 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
47.3 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
45.8 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
45.5 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
44.6 (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
45.2 (2024 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
33.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$22.689 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$24.374 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$19.530 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$23.121 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$26.295 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$25.860 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$19.850 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$28.076 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$36.644 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$35.421 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$33.97 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-3.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
3.97% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
1.73% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
0.42% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
-0.22% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.27% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-0.34% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
0.13% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
3.47% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.22% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.55% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
8.821 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
21.40% (2025 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
43.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$189.785 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$176.940 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$179.600 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$197.653 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$217.496 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$202.250 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$238.845 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$252.861 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$257.889 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$252.728 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.12% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
-0.69% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
5.97% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
1.04% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
0.17% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-9.25% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
9.42% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.87% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.99% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
-2.00% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$11,836 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$10,878 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$10,881 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$11,793 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$12,543 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$11,527 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$13,507 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$15,198 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$15,919 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$2.459 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$2.472 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$2.388 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$3.344 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$4.367 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
5.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$2.487 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$4.216 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$2.170 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$2.159 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$2.939 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$7.137 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$7.912 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$8.459 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$4.442 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$6.908 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
13.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.81% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
6.12% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.50% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.71% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.51% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.45% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
13% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
8.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
10.1% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
200 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
24 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
23.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
75.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
29.305 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
192 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
466 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
8.438 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
5.119 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
35.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
10.902 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
8.273 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
480,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
536,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
37.711 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
38.286 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Environment: Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks
Imbabura: Napo Sumaco; Tungurahua (2025)
Environment: Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks
3 (2025)
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
21.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
49.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
28.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
346.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
454.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
2.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
210.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
17.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
442.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
8.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
549 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
1.293 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
63.24% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
5.297 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
28% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Nevada
Geography: Area: land
276,841 sq km
Geography: Area: water
6,720 sq km
Geography: Coastline
2,237 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Chimborazo 6,267
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,117 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Geography: Geography - note
Cotopaxi in the Andes is highest active volcano in world
Geography: Irrigated land
12,520 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Colombia 708 km; Peru 1529 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,237 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
21.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
49.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
28.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)
Geography: Map references
South America
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts volcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m) 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 (1,476 m), a shield volcano, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago
Geography: Population distribution
nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated
Geography: Terrain
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Government: Administrative divisions
24 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ); Azuay, Bolivar, Cañar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabí, Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora Chinchipe
Government: Capital: etymology
named after the Quitu, a Pre-Columbian people who lived in the area; the meaning of their name is unknown
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
0 13 S, 78 30 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Capital: time zone note
Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
3 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic through a referendum, by public petition of at least 1% of registered voters, or by agreement of at least one-third membership of the National Assembly; passage requires two separate readings a year apart and approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, and approval by absolute majority in a referendum; amendments such as changes to the structure of the state, constraints on personal rights and guarantees, or constitutional amendment procedures are not allowed
Government: Constitution: history
many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Ecuador
Government: Country name: etymology
the name is the Spanish word for "equator," referring to its geographic position
Government: Country name: former
Quito
Government: Country name: local long form
República del Ecuador
Government: Country name: local short form
Ecuador
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Lawrence PETRONI (since 17 April 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: consulate(s) general
Guayaquil
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSQuito@state.gov https://ec.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
E12-170 Avenida Avigiras y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3420 Quito Place, Washington DC 20521-3420
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[593] (2) 398-5000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Pablo Agustín ZAMBRANO Albuja (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis (MN), New Haven (CT), New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Juan (PR)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
eecuusanotifications@mmrree.gob.ec Contact – Washington (cancilleria.gob.ec)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 333-2893
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 234-7200
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2025: Daniel NOBOA Azin reelected president; percent of vote in the first round - Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 44.2%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar (MRC) 44%, Leonidas IZA (MUPP) 5.3%, other 6.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 55.6%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar 44.4% 2023: Daniel NOBOA Azin elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar (MRC) 33.6%, Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 23.5%, Christian Gustavo ZURITA Ron (Construye) 16.4%, Jan Tomislav TOPIĆ Feraud (Por Un País Sin Miedo) 14.7%, Otto Ramón SONNENHOLZNER Sper (Avanza) 7.1%, other 4.7%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 51.8%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar 48.2% 2021: Guillermo LASSO Mendoza elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 32.7%, Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 19.7%, Yaku PEREZ Guartambel (MUPP) 19.4%, Xavier HERVAS Mora (ID) 15.7%, other 12.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 52.5%, Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 47.5%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
28 February 2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
9 February 2025, with a runoff on 13 April 2025
Government: Flag
description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red, with the coat of arms at the center of the flag meaning: yellow stands for sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth; blue for the sky, sea, and rivers; red for patriots' blood spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
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 Constitucional (consists of the court president and 8 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
candidates for the National Court of Justice evaluated and appointed justices by the Judicial Council, a 9-member independent body of law professionals; justices elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years; candidates for the Constitutional Court evaluated and appointed judges by a 6-member independent body of law professionals; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
provincial courts (one for each province except Galapagos); fiscal, criminal, and administrative tribunals; Election Dispute Settlement Courts; cantonal courts
Government: Legal system
civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in ethnic communities
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
February 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
2/9/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
151 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Citizen Revolution Movement (RC) - Renewal Movement (RETO) (67); National Democratic Action (ADN) (66); Pachakutik (9); Other (9)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
45%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1948; MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
Government: National color(s)
yellow, blue, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Quito (c); Galápagos Islands (n); Historic Cuenca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c); Sangay National Park (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Government: National symbol(s)
Andean condor
Government: Political parties
Actuemos Ecuador or Actuemos AMIGO movement, Independent Mobilizing Action Generating Opportunities (Movimiento AMIGO (Acción Movilizadora Independiente Generando Oportunidades)) or AM16O Avanza Party or AVANZA Central Democratic Movement or CD Citizen Revolution Movement or MRC or RC5 Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO Democratic Left or ID Democracy Yes Movement (Movimiento Democracia Si) For A Country Without Fear (Por Un País Sin Miedo) (an alliance including PSC, CD, and PSP) Green Movement (Movimiento Verde) Movimiento Construye or Construye National Democratic Action (Acción Democrática Nacional) or ADN Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP Patriotic Society Party or PSP People, Equality, and Democracy Party (Partido Pueblo, Igualdad y Democracia) or PID Popular Unity Party (Partido Unidad Popular) or UP Revolutionary and Democratic Ethical Green Movement (Movimiento Verde Ético Revolucionario y Democrático) or MOVER Social Christian Party or PSC Socialist Party Society United for More Action or SUMA Total Renovation Movement (Movimiento Renovacion Total) or RETO
Government: Suffrage
18-65 years of age; universal and compulsory; voluntary for 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters
Introduction: Background
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito -- the traditional name for the area -- 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 to become an independent republic in 1830, the traditional name was changed to 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 has had nearly 50 years of civilian governance, the period has been marked by political instability.
Military and Security: Military - note
the military is responsible for preserving Ecuador’s national sovereignty and defending the integrity of the state; it also has some domestic security responsibilities and may complement police operations in maintaining public order if required; the military shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police; it participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises and has sent troops on UN peacekeeping missions; the military has defense ties to regional countries, such as Chile, Colombia, and Peru border conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s and border security remains a priority, but in more recent years, security challenges have included counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations, particularly in the northern border area where violence and other criminal activity related to terrorism, insurgency, and narco-trafficking in Colombia, as well as refugees from Venezuela, have spilled over the border; the military has established a joint service task force for counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations and boosted troop deployments along those borders; other missions include countering illegal mining, smuggling, and maritime piracy; since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has expanded the military’s role in general public security and domestic crime operations, in part due to rising violence, police corruption, and police ineffectiveness; in 2024, Ecuador passed a constitutional amendment formally authorizing the military to participate in complementary security roles such as supporting law enforcement in high-risk areas, conducting joint operations against organized crime, and providing logistical assistance in maintaining public order the military ruled the country from 1963-1966 and 1972-1979, and supported a dictatorship in 1970-1972; during the 1980s, the military remained loyal to the civilian government, but civilian-military relations were at times tenuous, and the military had considerable autonomy from civilian oversight; it was involved in coup attempts in 2000 and 2010 (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Ecuadorian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador): Ground Force (Fuerza Terrestre), Naval Force (Fuerza Naval; includes naval infantry, naval aviation, coast guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 40,000 active Ecuadorian Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory includes a mix of mostly older and limited quantities of more modern equipment from a variety of sources such as Brazil, Chile, China, France, Italy, Germany, Russia/Soviet-Union, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
2.67% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
2.57% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
2.36% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
2.37% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
2.18% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.46% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.24% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.22% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
2.27% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2.22% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month service obligation; conscription abolished in 2008 (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
26.8% (male 2,505,729/female 2,395,198)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
64.1% (male 5,771,234/female 5,972,938)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
9.1% (2024 est.) (male 746,207/female 918,678)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
17.42 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
3.8% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
22.2% (2018)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
4.9% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
7.56% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
45.3% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
14.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
55.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
41 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
15.5% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.69% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 77.5%, Montubio 7.7%, Indigenous 7.7%, White 2.2%, Afroecuadorian 2%, Mulatto 1.4%, Black 1.3%, other 0.1% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.06 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8.3% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
11.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.40% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Spanish (Castilian; official) 98.6%, indigenous 3.9% (Quechua 3.2%, other indigenous 0.7%), foreign 2.8%, other 0.6% (includes Ecuadorian sign language) (2022 est.)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
80.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
74.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
95.7% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
96.8% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
93.49% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.142 million Guayaquil, 1.957 million QUITO (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
55 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
28.9 years
People and Society: Median age: male
27 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Ecuadorian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
19.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
People and Society: Population
18,135,478 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.86% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
9,382,227
People and Society: Population: male
9,097,614
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
15 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
14 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
15 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.81 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
2.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
17.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
9.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.81 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
63.24% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
2007 - an Ecuadorian completed a suborbital astronaut training program provided by Russia 2013 - first two domestically designed and built scientific/technology demonstrator satellites (NEE-01/Pegasus, NEE-02/Krysaor) launched by China and Russia 2021 - signed accords for the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration
Space: Space agency/agencies
Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency (EXA; a civilian independent research and development institution in charge of the administration and execution of Ecuador’s space program, established 2007) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
has a small program focused on acquiring and manufacturing satellites; builds scientific satellites; conducts research and develops some space-related technologies; has relationships with China and Russia's space agencies and industries, as well as the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency and its member states (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Los Choneros; Los Lobos
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
57,402 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
30,241 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
317 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
HC
Transportation: Heliports
28 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 28, other 117
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
154 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Maritimo de Guayaquil
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
5
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
6 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
4
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
965 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
965 km (2022)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.