2020 Edition

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.

Area

land

276,841 sq km

total

283,561 sq km

water

6,720 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Nevada

Climate

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

Coastline

2,237 km

Elevation

highest point

Chimborazo 6,267

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

1,117 m

Geographic coordinates

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Geography - note

Cotopaxi in the Andes is highest active volcano in world

Irrigated land

12,520 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

Colombia 708 km; Peru 1529 km

total

2,237 km

Land use

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.)

forest

49.8% (2023 est.)

other

28.6% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 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

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

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

Terrain

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

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

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

Child marriage

women married by age 15

3.8% (2018)

women married by age 18

22.2% (2018)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.9% (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

45.3% (2022 est.)

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

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.)

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.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.06 (2025 est.)

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.)

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

female

10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

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

Languages

Languages

Spanish (Castilian; official) 98.6%, indigenous 3.9% (Quechua 3.2%, other indigenous 0.7%), foreign 2.8%, other 0.6% (includes Ecuadorian sign language) (2022 est.)

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.4 years

male

69.7 years

total population

74.9 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

95.7% (2022 est.)

male

96.8% (2022 est.)

total population

96.3% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

28.9 years

male

27 years

total

28.2 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Ecuadorian

noun

Ecuadorian(s)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.9% (2016)

Physician density

2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

9,382,227

male

9,097,614

total

18,479,841 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.91% (2025 est.)

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.)

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2022 est.)

male

14 years (2022 est.)

total

15 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

female

2.4% (2025 est.)

male

17.2% (2025 est.)

total

9.7% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

64.8% of total population (2023)

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

Capital

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

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

3 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the president of the republic through a referendum, by public petition of at least 1% of registered voters, or by agreement of at least one-third membership of the National Assembly; passage requires two separate readings a year apart and approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, and approval by absolute majority in a referendum; amendments such as changes to the structure of the state, constraints on personal rights and guarantees, or constitutional amendment procedures are not allowed

history

many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Ecuador

conventional short form

Ecuador

etymology

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

former

Quito

local long form

República del Ecuador

local short form

Ecuador

Diplomatic representation from the US

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/

embassy

E12-170 Avenida Avigiras y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito

mailing address

3420 Quito Place, Washington DC 20521-3420

telephone

[593] (2) 398-5000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

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)

FAX

[1] (202) 333-2893

telephone

[1] (202) 234-7200

Executive branch

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%

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

Flag

description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red, with the coat of arms at the center of the flag meaning: yellow stands for sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth; blue for the sky, sea, and rivers; red for patriots' blood spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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)

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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

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

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1948; MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung

lyrics/music

Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE

title

"Salve, O Patria!" (We Salute You, Our Homeland)

National color(s)

yellow, blue, red

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

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

total World Heritage Sites

5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

Andean condor

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

Suffrage

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

Agricultural products

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

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

25.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$35.969 billion (2022 est.)

revenues

$35.962 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance

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.)

Debt - external

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

Exchange rates

the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001

Exports

Exports 2022

$36.588 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$35.687 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$38.468 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

GDP - composition, by end use

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.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

9.5% (2024 est.)

industry

26.5% (2024 est.)

services

57.2% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$124.676 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

44.6 (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

33.2% (2023 est.)

lowest 10%

1.6% (2023 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$36.644 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$35.421 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$33.97 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

-3.7% (2024 est.)

Industries

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Inflation rate (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.)

Labor force

8.821 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

26% (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

43.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

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.)

Real GDP growth rate

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.)

Real GDP per capita

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.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

5.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

3.8% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

4.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

13% (2024 est.)

male

8.3% (2024 est.)

total

10.1% (2024 est.)

Coal

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.)

Electricity

consumption

29.305 billion kWh (2023 est.)

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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1.1% 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.)

solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

35.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

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.)

Petroleum

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.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2023 est.)

total

2.89 million (2023 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

Internet users

percent of population

77% (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

1.22 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

102 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

18.4 million (2024 est.)

Airports

317 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HC

Heliports

28 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

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

total

154 (2023)

Ports

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

Railways

narrow gauge

965 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

total

965 km (2022)

Military - note

the military is responsible for preserving Ecuador’s national sovereignty and defending the integrity of the state; it also has some domestic security responsibilities and may complement police operations in maintaining public order if required; the military shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police; it participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises and has sent troops on UN peacekeeping missions; the military has defense ties to regional countries, such as Chile, Colombia, and Peru border conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s and border security remains a priority, but in more recent years, security challenges have included counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations, particularly in the northern border area where violence and other criminal activity related to terrorism, insurgency, and narco-trafficking in Colombia, as well as refugees from Venezuela, have spilled over the border; the military has established a joint service task force for counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations and boosted troop deployments along those borders; other missions include countering illegal mining, smuggling, and maritime piracy; since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has expanded the military’s role in general public security and domestic crime operations, in part due to rising violence, police corruption, and police ineffectiveness; in 2024, Ecuador passed a constitutional amendment formally authorizing the military to participate in complementary security roles such as supporting law enforcement in high-risk areas, conducting joint operations against organized crime, and providing logistical assistance in maintaining public order  the military ruled the country from 1963-1966 and 1972-1979, and supported a dictatorship in 1970-1972; during the 1980s, the military remained loyal to the civilian government, but civilian-military relations were at times tenuous, and the military had considerable autonomy from civilian oversight; it was involved in coup attempts in 2000 and 2010 (2025)

Military and security forces

Ecuadorian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador): Ground Force (Fuerza Terrestre), Naval Force (Fuerza Naval; includes naval infantry, naval aviation, coast guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 40,000 active Ecuadorian Armed Forces (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 expenditures

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 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)

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.)

Key space-program milestones

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

Space 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)

Terrorist group(s)

Los Choneros; Los Lobos

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

Environmental issues

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

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Imbabura: Napo Sumaco; Tungurahua (2025)

total global geoparks and regional networks

3 (2025)

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

Methane emissions

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.)

Particulate matter emissions

17.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

442.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

8.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

549 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

1.293 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

5.297 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

28% (2022 est.)