Ecuador

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.

Land

276,841 sq km

Note

<strong>note:</strong> includes Galapagos Islands

Total

283,561 sq km

Water

6,720 sq km

slightly smaller than Nevada

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

2,237 km

South America

Highest point

Chimborazo 6,267

Lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

1,117 m

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Cotopaxi in the Andes is highest active volcano in world

12,520 sq km (2022)

Border countries

Colombia 708 km; Peru 1529 km

number of neighbors

2

Total

2,237 km

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.)

arable land

4.14%

Forest

49.8% (2023 est.)

Other

28.6% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

5.56%

No

Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/TbX8hUW4gcbRPZiK7

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/108089

South America

Continental shelf

200 nm

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

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

South America

coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

UTC-06:00, UTC-05:00

number of time zones

2

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)

Beer

2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

3.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

17.42 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Women married by age 15

3.8% (2018)

Women married by age 18

22.2% (2018)

17.4%

4.9% (2024 est.)

45.3% (2022 est.)

7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

81 per 1,000

adult male

141 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

14.3 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

7 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

55.3 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

41 (2025 est.)

improved total

69.89%

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 (% GDP)

3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

15.5% national budget (2025 est.)

4 % of GDP

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.)

1.06 (2025 est.)

8 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

8.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.18%

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female

10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

7 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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)

<br>La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note

<strong>note 1:</strong> shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit

number of languages

1

Female

80.4 years

Male

69.7 years

Total population

74.9 years (2024 est.)

Female

95.7% (2022 est.)

Male

96.8% (2022 est.)

Total population

96.3% (2022 est.)

3.142 million Guayaquil, 1.957 million QUITO (capital) (2023)

55 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

28.9 years

Male

27 years

Total

28.2 years (2025 est.)

56 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Ecuadorian

Noun

Ecuadorian(s)

-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

19.9% (2016)

2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Female

9,382,227

Male

9,097,614

Total

18,479,841 (2025 est.)

0.91% (2025 est.)

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.)

improved total

49.29%

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.)

Female

15 years (2022 est.)

Male

14 years (2022 est.)

Total

15 years (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

2.4% (2025 est.)

Male

17.2% (2025 est.)

Total

9.7% (2025 est.)

2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

64.8% of total population (2023)

measles

74%

24 provinces (<em>provincias</em>, singular - <em>provincia</em>); 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

Etymology

named after the Quitu, a Pre-Columbian people who lived in the area; the meaning of their name is unknown

Geographic coordinates

0 13 S, 78 30 W

Name

Quito

Time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Time zone note

Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)

Citizenship by birth

yes

Citizenship by descent only

yes

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

3 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/ec.svg

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

History

many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008

alternative spellings

EC, Republic of Ecuador, República del Ecuador

Conventional long form

Republic of Ecuador

Conventional short form

Ecuador

Etymology

the name is the Spanish word for "equator," referring to its geographic position

FIFA code

ECU

Former

Quito

Local long form

Rep&uacute;blica del Ecuador

local long form (spa)

República del Ecuador

Local short form

Ecuador

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Lawrence PETRONI (since 17 April 2025)

Consulate(s) general

Guayaquil

Email address and website

<br>ACSQuito@state.gov<br><br>https://ec.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

E12-170 Avenida Avigiras y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito

Mailing address

3420 Quito Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-3420

Telephone

[593] (2) 398-5000

Chancery

2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Chief of mission

Ambassador Pablo Agust&iacute;n 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

<br>eecuusanotifications@mmrree.gob.ec<br><br>Contact – Washington (cancilleria.gob.ec)

FAX

[1] (202) 333-2893

Telephone

[1] (202) 234-7200

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Chief of state

President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)

Election results

<br><em>2025: </em>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%<br><em><br>2023:</em> 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%<br><br><em>2021:</em> 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%

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

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

Note

<strong>note 1:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 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)

<strong>description:</strong> three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red, with the coat of arms at the center of the flag<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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

note

<strong>note:</strong> similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not have a coat of arms

The flag of Ecuador is composed of the horizontal bands of yellow, blue and red, with the yellow band twice the height of the other two bands. The Ecuadorian coat of arms is superimposed in the center of the field.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/ec.svg

presidential republic

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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)

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

Subordinate courts

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

civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in ethnic communities

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

February 2029

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

Most recent election date

2/9/2025

Note

<strong>note 1:</strong> all Assembly members have alternates from the same party who cast votes when a primary member is absent, resigns, or is removed from office<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 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

Number of seats

151 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Citizen Revolution Movement (RC) - Renewal Movement (RETO) (67); National Democratic Action (ADN) (66); Pachakutik (9); Other (9)

Percentage of women in chamber

45%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

yellow, blue, red

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Quito (c); Galápagos Islands (n); Historic Cuenca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c); Sangay National Park (n)

Total World Heritage Sites

5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

Andean condor

Actuemos Ecuador or Actuemos<br>AMIGO movement, Independent Mobilizing Action Generating Opportunities (Movimiento AMIGO (Acción Movilizadora Independiente Generando Oportunidades)) or AM16O<br>Avanza Party or AVANZA<br>Central Democratic Movement or CD<br>Citizen Revolution Movement or MRC or RC5<br>Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO<br>Democratic Left or ID<br>Democracy Yes Movement (Movimiento Democracia Si)<br>For A Country Without Fear (Por Un País Sin Miedo) (an alliance including PSC, CD, and PSP)<br>Green Movement (Movimiento Verde)<br>Movimiento Construye or Construye<br>National Democratic Action (Acción Democrática Nacional) or ADN<br>Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP<br>Patriotic Society Party or PSP<br>People, Equality, and Democracy Party (Partido Pueblo, Igualdad y Democracia) or PID<br>Popular Unity Party (Partido Unidad Popular) or UP<br>Revolutionary and Democratic Ethical Green Movement (Movimiento Verde Ético Revolucionario y Democrático) or MOVER<strong><br></strong>Social Christian Party or PSC<br>Socialist Party<br>Society United for More Action or SUMA<br>Total Renovation Movement (Movimiento Renovacion Total) or RETO

Monday

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

Yes

bananas, sugarcane, milk, oil palm fruit, maize, rice, plantains, chicken, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

25.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$35.969 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

code

USD

name

United States dollar (USD) [$]

$7.06 billion

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$60.36 billion

Debt - external 2023

$39.658 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

<p>the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001</p>

$37.75 billion

Exports 2022

$36.588 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$35.687 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$38.468 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, shellfish, bananas, fish, gold (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 22%, China 21%, Panama 12%, Japan 3%, Peru 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$443.06 million

Exports of goods and services

30.3% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

13.3% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

64.9% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-26.9% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

18.4% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0.1% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

9.5% (2024 est.)

Industry

26.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

57.2% (2024 est.)

$124.676 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$6,875

45.7 (2019)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

44.6 (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$121.31 billion

$6,430

18 % of GDP

Highest 10%

33.2% (2023 est.)

Lowest 10%

1.6% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$33.57 billion

Imports 2022

$36.644 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$35.421 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$33.97 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

USA 27%, China 20%, Colombia 7%, Brazil 4%, Peru 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-3.7% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

1.55%

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

8.821 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

8.98 million persons

agriculture

32.48%

industry

16.59%

services

50.93%

26% (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

43.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

$287.27 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

-2%

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

$15,840

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

$6.54 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

$6.91 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

31 % of GDP

13 % of GDP

13.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

3.31%

Note

<b>note:</b> % 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.)

Female

13% (2024 est.)

Male

8.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

10.1% (2024 est.)

Consumption

14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

200 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

24 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

29.305 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

1,589 kWh

Exports

192 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

466 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

8.438 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

5.119 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

23.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

74.63%

Hydroelectricity

75.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

80.95%

Solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

905 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

35.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

10.902 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

8.273 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

480,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

18.9%

per 100 inhabitants

16 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2023 est.)

Total

2.89 million (2023 est.)

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)

.ec

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.)

@####@

+593

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.22 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100

101 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

102 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

18.4 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

4.57 million passengers

registered carrier departures

40,797 departures

317 (2025)

HC

Right

28 (2025)

By type

container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 28, other 117

Total

154 (2023)

Key ports

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Maritimo de Guayaquil

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

5

Small

2

Total ports

6 (2024)

Very small

4

Narrow gauge

965 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

Note

<strong>note:</strong> passenger service limited to certain sections of track, mostly for tourist trains

Total

965 km (2022)

EC

armored vehicles

tanks

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<br><br>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 <br><br>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)

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)

active duty personnel

42,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the National Police of Ecuador (Policía Nacional del Ecuador) is under the Ministry of Government/Interior

percent of total labor force

0.54 %

approximately 40,000 active Ecuadorian Armed Forces (2025)

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)

2 % of GDP

current USD

$2,698,000,000

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.)

percent of central government expenditure

5.47 %

percent of GDP

2.22 % of GDP

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month service obligation; conscription abolished in 2008 (2025)

note

<strong>note: </strong>in 2024, women made up about 5% of the active military

PowerIndex score

1.4479

USG identification

<br>major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country<br><br>major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

IDPs

57,402 (2024 est.)

Refugees

30,241 (2024 est.)

2007 - an Ecuadorian completed a suborbital astronaut training program provided by Russia<br><br>2013 - first two domestically designed and built scientific/technology demonstrator satellites (NEE-01/Pegasus, NEE-02/Krysaor) launched by China and Russia <br><br>2021 - signed accords for the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency<br><br>2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration

Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency (EXA; a civilian independent research and development institution in charge of the administration and execution of Ecuador&rsquo;s space program, established 2007) (2025)

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)

Los Choneros; Los Lobos

From coal and metallurgical coke

39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

536,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

37.711 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

38.286 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

Global geoparks and regional networks

Imbabura: Napo Sumaco; Tungurahua (2025)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

3 (2025)

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

Agriculture

346.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

454.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

2.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

210.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

17.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

20 % of total land area

2 % of total

442.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

2 % of internal resources

Agricultural

8.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

549 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

1.293 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

5.297 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

28% (2022 est.)