Ecuador

Presidential RepublicPop18.5MGDP (PPP)$252.7BCI43Beta CP−1.5↓Beta

Ecuador

⌘K

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 276,841 sq km
Note: note: includes Galapagos Islands
Water: 6,720 sq km
Total: 283,561 sq km

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)

Land Use

Other: 28.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 49.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)

Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Coastline: 2,237 km

Elevation

Note: note: because the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet farthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea level
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Chimborazo 6,267
Mean elevation: 1,117 m

Irrigated land: 12,520 sq km (2022)
Map references: South America

Land Boundaries

Total: 2,237 km
Border countries: Colombia 708 km; Peru 1529 km

Maritime Claims

Note: note: Ecuador has declared its right to extend its continental shelf to 350 nm, measured from the baselines of the Galapagos Archipelago
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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 note: Cotopaxi in the Andes is highest active volcano in world
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Area comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 77 30 W
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

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Atlantic ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 96.8% (2022 est.)
Female: 95.7% (2022 est.)
Total population: 96.3% (2022 est.)

Languages

Note: note 1: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

note 2: Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit
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.)
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.

Religions: Roman Catholic 68.2%, Protestant 19% (Evangelical 18.3%, Adventist 0.6%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other 2.3%, none 8.2% don't know/no response 1% (2023 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 17.42 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 27 years
Total: 28.2 years (2025 est.)
Female: 28.9 years

Population

Male: 9,097,614
Total: 18,479,841 (2025 est.)
Female: 9,382,227

Nationality

Noun: Ecuadorian(s)
Adjective: Ecuadorian

Tobacco Use

Male: 17.2% (2025 est.)
Total: 9.7% (2025 est.)
Female: 2.4% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 64.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 26.8% (male 2,505,729/female 2,395,198)
15 64 years: 64.1% (male 5,771,234/female 5,972,938)
65 years and over: 9.1% (2024 est.) (male 746,207/female 918,678)

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.)

Child Marriage

Women married BY age 15: 3.8% (2018)
Women married BY age 18: 22.2% (2018)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 55.3 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 41 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 7 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.5% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.91% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.06 (2025 est.)
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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 69.7 years
Female: 80.4 years
Total population: 74.9 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 55 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 3.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 3.142 million Guayaquil, 1.957 million QUITO (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 45.3% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.9% (2024 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 14 years (2022 est.)
Total: 15 years (2022 est.)
Female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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

Capital

Name: Quito
Etymology: named after the Quitu, a Pre-Columbian people who lived in the area; the meaning of their name is unknown
Time zone note: Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)
Time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W

Suffrage: 18-65 years of age; universal and compulsory; voluntary for 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: yes
Citizenship BY descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

Constitution

History: many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008
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

Country Name

Former: Quito
Etymology: the name is the Spanish word for "equator," referring to its geographic position
Local long form: República del Ecuador
Local short form: Ecuador
Conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
Conventional short form: Ecuador

Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
Legal system: civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in ethnic communities
Government type: presidential republic

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)
Subordinate courts: provincial courts (one for each province except Galapagos); fiscal, criminal, and administrative tribunals; Election Dispute Settlement Courts; cantonal courts
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

Executive Branch

Note: note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government

note 2: though eligible for a second term, former president Guillermo LASSO announced that he would not run in the 2023 election; President Daniel NOBOA Azin is serving out the remainder of the presidential term (2021–2025)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Chief of state: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
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%
Head of government: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
Most recent election date: 9 February 2025, with a runoff on 13 April 2025
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)
Expected date of next election: 28 February 2029

National holiday: Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
National color(s): yellow, blue, red

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Historic Quito (c); Galápagos Islands (n); Historic Cuenca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c); Sangay National Park (n)

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

Legislative Branch

Note: note 1: all Assembly members have alternates from the same party who cast votes when a primary member is absent, resigns, or is removed from office

note 2: on 18 May 2023, Ecuador’s National Electoral Council announced that the legislative and presidential elections - originally scheduled for February 2025 - would be held on 20 August 2023 after President Guillermo LASSO dissolved the National Assembly by decree on 17 May 2023; a return to a regular election cycle will occur in February 2025
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 151 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 2/9/2025
Expected date of next election: February 2029
Percentage of women in chamber: 45%
Parties elected and seats per party: Citizen Revolution Movement (RC) - Renewal Movement (RETO) (67); National Democratic Action (ADN) (66); Pachakutik (9); Other (9)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Salve, O Patria!" (We Salute You, Our Homeland)
History: adopted 1948; MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung
Lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE

National symbol(s): Andean condor
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

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 333-2893
Chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
Chief of mission: Ambassador Pablo Agustín ZAMBRANO Albuja (since 24 July 2025)
Consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis (MN), New Haven (CT), New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Juan (PR)
Email address and website: eecuusanotifications@mmrree.gob.ec

Contact – Washington (cancilleria.gob.ec)

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Embassy: E12-170 Avenida Avigiras y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
Telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000
Mailing address: 3420 Quito Place, Washington DC  20521-3420
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Lawrence PETRONI (since 17 April 2025)
Consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Email address and website: ACSQuito@state.gov

https://ec.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: 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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

ECUADOR · LEGISLATURE

National Assembly

151 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

151

Majority line

Largest party

Citizen Revolution Movement (RC) - Renewal Movement (RETO)

Parties

All political parties9 parties · 151 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

DN
Daniel Noboa
- Head of StateSince 2023
- Head of GovernmentSince 2023

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $35.962 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $35.969 billion (2022 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $37.8B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $36.588 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $35.687 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $38.468 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $33.6B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $36.644 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $35.421 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $33.97 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
Labor force: 8.821 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 54.4%

Public debt 2016: 43.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 5.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange rates: the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $39.658 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview: highly informal South American economy; USD currency user; major banana exporter; hard hit by COVID-19; macroeconomic fragility from oil dependency; successful debt restructuring; China funding budget deficits; social unrest hampering economic activity

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.3%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 4.8% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: USA 22%, China 21%, Panama 12%, Japan 3%, Peru 3% (2023)
Imports partners: USA 27%, China 20%, Colombia 7%, Brazil 4%, Peru 4% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $15,840

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $14,200 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $14,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $13,900 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): -2.0%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: -2% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: bananas, sugarcane, milk, oil palm fruit, maize, rice, plantains, chicken, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
Exports commodities: crude petroleum, shellfish, bananas, fish, gold (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $7.0B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: $2.136 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $2.217 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: $7.082 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 13.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $124.676 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 64.9% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 13.3% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 30.3% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -26.9% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line: 26% (2023 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 25.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.5%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.5% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: -3.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $252.728 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $252.861 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $257.889 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $252.728 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 10.1% (2024 est.)
Female: 13% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.459 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.442 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $6.908 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 26.5% (2024 est.)
Services: 57.2% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 9.5% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Highest 10%: 33.2% (2023 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2023: 44.6 (2023 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 200 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 24 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 480,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 8.273 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 192 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 466 million kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 29.305 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 8.438 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 5.119 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Production: 271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 10.902 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 35.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 23.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 75.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Note: according to 2021 statistics from Ecuador's Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society, 50% of homes do not have access to fixed internet
Percent of population: 77% (2024 est.)

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)
Internet country code: .ec

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 1.22 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2024 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 18.4 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 2.89 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 2
Medium: 0
Key ports: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Maritimo de Guayaquil
Very small: 4
Total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 5

Airports: 317 (2025)

Railways

Note: note: passenger service limited to certain sections of track, mostly for tourist trains
Total: 965 km (2022)
Narrow gauge: 965 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

Heliports: 28 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 154 (2023)
BY type: container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 28, other 117

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HC

Environment

Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Geoparks

Global geoparks and regional networks: Imbabura: Napo Sumaco; Tungurahua (2025)
Total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2025)

Land Use

Other: 28.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 49.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 64.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 2.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 210.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 454.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 346.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.297 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 1.293 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 549 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 8.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 38.286 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 536,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 37.711 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 17.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 442.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Military & 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 Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.2%

Military expenditures 2020: 2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

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 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)
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 service personnel strengths: approximately 40,000 active Ecuadorian Armed Forces (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s): Los Choneros; Los Lobos

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 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)
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

Transnational Issues

Illicit Drugs

Usg identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country

major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 57,402 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 30,241 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index43.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4104 / 1902024-Q4

Civica Pulse−1.5as of 2026-05-06—2026-05-06

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.45as of 2024-Q470 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (67/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Ecuador — vintage 2026-Q1: Ecuador factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/ecuador

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Ecuador

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Daniel Noboa

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