Introduction
Background
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.
Geography
Location
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Area (sq km)
total: 283,561 sq km
land: 276,841 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
Area - comparative (sq km)
slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries (km)
total: 2,237 km
border countries: Colombia 708 km, Peru 1,529 km
Coastline (km)
2,237 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath
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 extremes (m)
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
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use (%)
arable land: 4.51%
permanent crops: 5.38%
other: 90.11% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
8,534 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources (cu km)
424.4 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) ()
total: 9.92 cu km/yr (13%/6%/81%)
per capita: 716.1 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards
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
Environment - current issues
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Environment - international agreements
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
Geography - note
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups (%)
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 71.9%, Montubio 7.4%, Afroecuadorian 7.2%, Amerindian 7%, white 6.1%, other 0.4% (2010 census)
Languages (%)
Spanish (Castillian) 93% (official), Quechua 4.1%, other indigenous 0.7%, foreign 2.2%
note: (Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit) (2010 est.)
Religions (%)
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Demographic profile
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.
An estimated 2 to 3 million Ecuadorians live abroad, but increased unemployment in key receiving countries - Spain, the United States, and Italy - is slowing emigration and increasing the likelihood of returnees to Ecuador. The first large-scale emigration of Ecuadorians occurred between 1980 and 2000, when an economic crisis drove Ecuadorians from southern provinces to New York City, where they had trade contacts. A second, nationwide wave of emigration in the late 1990s was caused by another economic downturn, political instability, and a currency crisis. Spain was the logical destination because of its shared language and the wide availability of low-skilled, informal jobs at a time when increased border surveillance made illegal migration to the US difficult. Ecuador has a small but growing immigrant population and is Latin America's top recipient of refugees; 98% are neighboring Colombians fleeing violence in their country.
Population
15,654,411 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 28.5% (male 2,275,448/female 2,184,706)
15-24 years: 18.6% (male 1,478,184/female 1,439,288)
25-54 years: 38.9% (male 2,968,757/female 3,124,938)
55-64 years: 7.1% (male 544,097/female 562,326)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 514,549/female 562,118) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 26.7 years
male: 26 years
female: 27.3 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
1.37% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
18.87 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
5.04 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 67.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
Guayaquil 2.287 million; QUITO (capital) 1.622 million (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 17.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 76.36 years
male: 73.4 years
female: 79.46 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
2.29 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures (% of GDP)
7.3% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
1.69 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 91.6% of population
rural: 75.2% of population
total: 86.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 8.4% of population
rural: 24.8% of population
total: 13.6% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 86.5% of population
rural: 75.9% of population
total: 83.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 13.5% of population
rural: 24.1% of population
total: 16.9% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
0.6% (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
52,300 (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
2,700 (2012 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
21.4% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight (%)
6.2% (2004)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
4.4% of GDP (2012)
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.6%
male: 93.1%
female: 90.2% (2011 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 (%)
total: 11.1%
male: 9%
female: 15% (2011)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
Government type
republic
Capital
name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
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
24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution
many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008; amended 2011 (2011)
Legal system
civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in indigenous communities
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage
18-65 years of age, universal and compulsory; 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters, voluntary
Executive branch
chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Jorge GLAS Espinel (since 24 May 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Jorge GLAS Espinel (since 24 May 2013)
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%
Legislative branch
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
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 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: justices of National Court of Justice elected by the Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body of law professionals; judges elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the executive, legislative, and Citizen Participation branches of government; judges appointed for 9-year non-renewable terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years
subordinate courts: Fiscal Tribunal; Election Dispute Settlement Courts, provincial courts (one for each province); cantonal courts
Political parties and leaders
Alianza PAIS movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]
Avanza Party or AVANZA [Ramiro GONZALEZ]
Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO [Guillermo LASSO]
Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]
Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP [Rafael ANTUNI]
Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]
Popular Democracy Movement or MPD [Luis VILLACIS]
Roldosist Party or PRE
Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]
Socialist Party [Fabian SOLANO]
Society United for More Action or SUMA [Mauricio RODAS]
Warrior's Spirit Movement [Jaime NEBOT]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Humberto CHOLANGO]
Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Manuel CHUGCHILAN, president]
National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN
National Teacher's Union or UNE [Mariana PALLASCO]
International organization participation
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, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
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)
Diplomatic representation from the US
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
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 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
National symbol(s)
Andean condor
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 sung
Economy
Economy - overview
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 Delgado, 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. 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 $9.9 billion in forward oil sales, project financing, and budget support loans as of December 2013. Foreign investment levels in Ecuador continue to be the lowest in the region as a result of an unstable regulatory environment, weak rule of law, and the crowding-out effect of public investments. In 2013, oil output marginally reversed a declining trend and production is expected to increase slightly in 2014, although prices will likely remain lower than in previous years. Faced with a 2013 trade deficit of $1.1 billion, Ecuador erected technical barriers to trade in December 2013, causing tensions with its largest trading partners. Ecuador also decriminalized intellectual property rights violations in February 2014.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$157.6 billion (2013 est.)
$151.5 billion (2012 est.)
$144.2 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$91.41 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
4% (2013 est.)
5.1% (2012 est.)
7.8% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$10,600 (2013 est.)
$9,600 (2012 est.)
$9,200 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 5.9%
industry: 35.1%
services: 59% (2013 est.)
Labor force
6.953 million (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 27.8%
industry: 17.8%
services: 54.4% (2012)
Unemployment rate (%)
4.2% (2013 est.)
4.2% (2011 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)
25.6% (December 2013 est)
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 38.3%
note: data for urban households only (2010 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
48.5 (December 2013)
50.5 (December 2010)
note: data are for urban households
Budget
revenues: $37 billion
expenditures: $39.3 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
40.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
-2.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Public debt (% of GDP)
23.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
21% of GDP (2012 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
2.6% (2013 est.)
4.5% (2011 est.)
Central bank discount rate (%)
8.17% (31 December 2011)
8.68% (31 December 2010)
Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)
8.7% (31 December 2013 est.)
8.17% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$8.59 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$7.801 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money
$27.75 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$24.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$25.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$22.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$5.911 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$5.779 billion (31 December 2011)
$5.263 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Agriculture - products
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; fish, shrimp; balsa wood
Industries
petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate (%)
3.1%
note: excludes oil refining (2013 est.)
Current account balance
-$827.1 million (2013 est.)
-$177 million (2012 est.)
Exports
$25.48 billion (2013 est.)
$24.65 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, wood, fish
Exports - partners (%)
US 37.3%, Chile 8.1%, Peru 6.5%, Japan 4.5%, Russia 4.5%, Colombia 4% (2012)
Imports
$26.22 billion (2013 est.)
$24.58 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods
Imports - partners (%)
US 28.4%, China 11.3%, Colombia 8.8%, Peru 4.5% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.625 billion (.)
$2.483 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
External debt ($)
$19.91 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$17.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$17.89 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$17.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$6.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$6.33 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001
Fiscal year
calendar year
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
22.85 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
19.38 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
14.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
1.3 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
5.243 million kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
55.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
42.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
526,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
413,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
154,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
8.24 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
207,300 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
280,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
28,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
135,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
240 million cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
330 million cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
25,000 cu m (2012 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
6.994 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
29.13 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
2.31 million (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
16.457 million (2012)
Telephone system
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)
Broadcast media
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)
Internet country code
.ec
Internet hosts
170,538 (2012)
Internet users
3.352 million (2009)
Transportation
Airports
432 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
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)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 328
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 291 (2013)
Heliports
2 (2013)
Pipelines (km)
extra heavy crude 527 km; gas 71 km; oil 2,131 km; refined products 1,526 km (2013)
Railways (km)
total: 965 km
narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways (km)
total: 43,670 km
paved: 6,472 km
unpaved: 37,198 km (2007)
Waterways (km)
1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2012)
Merchant marine
total: 44
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)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Esmeraldas, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
river port(s): Guayaquil (Guayas)
container port(s) (TEUs): Guayaquil (1,405,762)
Military
Military branches
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)
Military service age and obligation (years of age)
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)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 3,728,906
females age 16-49: 3,844,918 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 2,834,213
females age 16-49: 3,269,535 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 152,593
female: 147,143 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures (% of GDP)
2.83% of GDP (2012)
3.2% of GDP (2011)
2.83% of GDP (2010)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
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 and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 122,276 (Colombia) (2013)
Illicit drugs
significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with much of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents (2008)
Largest cities of Ecuador
These are the 50 largest cities of Ecuador ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guayaquil | 1,952,029 |
| 2 | Quito | 1,399,814 |
| 3 | Cuenca | 276,964 |
| 4 | Santo Domingo | 200,421 |
| 5 | Machala | 198,123 |
| 6 | Manta | 183,166 |
| 7 | Portoviejo | 170,326 |
| 8 | Ambato | 154,369 |
| 9 | Riobamba | 124,478 |
| 10 | Quevedo | 119,436 |
| 11 | Loja | 117,796 |
| 12 | Milagro | 110,093 |
| 13 | Ibarra | 108,666 |
| 14 | Esmeraldas | 95,630 |
| 15 | Babahoyo | 76,279 |
| 16 | La Libertad | 75,881 |
| 17 | El Carmen | 63,371 |
| 18 | Latacunga | 51,717 |
| 19 | Velasco Ibarra | 48,754 |
| 20 | Daule | 48,505 |
| 21 | Ventanas | 46,708 |
| 22 | Pasaje | 44,860 |
| 23 | Chone | 44,751 |
| 24 | Salinas | 43,862 |
| 25 | Santa Elena | 42,214 |
| 26 | Rosa Zárate | 42,121 |
| 27 | Santa Rosa | 41,816 |
| 28 | Huaquillas | 39,757 |
| 29 | Bahía de Caráquez | 37,056 |
| 30 | La Troncal | 36,353 |
| 31 | Jipijapa | 35,901 |
| 32 | Azogues | 34,877 |
| 33 | Naranjito | 34,206 |
| 34 | Vinces | 32,497 |
| 35 | Otavalo | 32,330 |
| 36 | El Triunfo | 32,282 |
| 37 | Naranjal | 32,045 |
| 38 | Playas | 30,564 |
| 39 | Yaguachi | 27,947 |
| 40 | Cayambe | 26,582 |
| 41 | Machachi | 25,742 |
| 42 | Puyo | 24,881 |
| 43 | Nueva Loja | 24,211 |
| 44 | Samborondón | 24,118 |
| 45 | Macas | 23,687 |
| 46 | Pedro Carbo | 23,372 |
| 47 | Guaranda | 22,199 |
| 48 | San Lorenzo | 20,209 |
| 49 | Catamayo | 18,565 |
| 50 | Montecristi | 18,351 |