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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Map references

South America

Area

total : 283,561 sq km

land: 276,841 sq km

water: 6,720 sq km

note: includes Galapagos Islands

comparison ranking: total 75

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Nevada

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 2,237 km

border countries (2): Colombia 708 km; Peru 1529 km

Coastline

2,237 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

note: Ecuador has declared its right to extend its continental shelf to 350 nm, measured from the baselines of the Galapagos Archipelago

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

highest point: Chimborazo 6,267

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 1,117 m

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

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use

agricultural land: 21.5% (2022 est.)

arable land: 3.9% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 5.5% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 12.1% (2022 est.)

forest: 49.8% (2022 est.)

other: 28.7% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

12,520 sq km (2022)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

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

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

People and Society

Population

total: 18,309,984 (2024 est.)

male: 9,023,170

female: 9,286,814

comparison rankings: total 68; female 69; male 69

Nationality

noun: Ecuadorian(s)

adjective: Ecuadorian

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.)

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.

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

Spanish audio sample:

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.)

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)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 55.9 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 41.7 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 14.2 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 7.1 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 28 years (2024 est.)

male: 27 years

female: 28.9 years

comparison ranking: total 153

Population growth rate

0.94% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 99

Birth rate

17.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 83

Death rate

7.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 113

Net migration rate

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 150

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

Urbanization

urban population: 64.8% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

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

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

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

comparison ranking: 92

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 121

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 69.7 years

female: 80.4 years

comparison ranking: total population 135

Total fertility rate

2.21 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 83

Gross reproduction rate

1.08 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

note: percent of women aged 15-50

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)

total: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)

total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

8.3% of GDP (2021)

11.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)

total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

19.9% (2016)

comparison ranking: 106

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 3.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.09 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.)

comparison ranking: total 114

Tobacco use

total: 9.7% (2025 est.)

male: 17.2% (2025 est.)

female: 2.4% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 131

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.2% (2018/19)

comparison ranking: 65

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.1% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 3.8% (2018)

women married by age 18: 22.2% (2018)

Education expenditure

3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

9.7% national budget (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 113

Literacy

total population: 94% (2022 est.)

male: 95% (2022 est.)

female: 93% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years (2022 est.)

male: 14 years (2022 est.)

female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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

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

Climate

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

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 64.8% of total population (2023)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

38.286 million 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.)

from consumed natural gas: 536,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 65

Particulate matter emissions

17.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,297,211 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 683,340 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.9% (2015 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 1.29 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 550 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 8.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

442.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2025)

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

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador

conventional short form: Ecuador

local long form: República del Ecuador

local short form: Ecuador

former: Quito

etymology: the name is the Spanish word for “equator,” referring to its geographic position

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: Quito

geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W

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)

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

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

Legal system

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

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

Suffrage

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)

head of government: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

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)

most recent election date: 9 February 2025, with a runoff on 13 April 2025

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%

expected date of next election: 28 February 2029

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)

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 151 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 2/9/2025

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%

expected date of next election: February 2029

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

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Pablo Agustín ZAMBRANO Albuja (since 24 July 2025)

chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200

FAX: [1] (202) 333-2893

email address and website:
[email protected]

Contact – Washington (cancilleria.gob.ec)

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis (MN), New Haven (CT), New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Juan (PR)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Lawrence PETRONI (since 17 April 2025)

embassy: E12-170 Avenida Avigiras y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito

mailing address: 3420 Quito Place, Washington DC 20521-3420

telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://ec.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

National holiday

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

Flag description

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red, with the coat of arms at the center of the flag; yellow stands for sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth; blue for the sky, sea, and rivers; red for 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 have a coat of arms

National symbol(s)

Andean condor

National color(s)

yellow, blue, red

National anthem(s)

title: “Salve, O Patria!” (We Salute You, Our Homeland)

lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE

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

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)

Economy

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$252.728 billion (2024 est.)
$257.889 billion (2023 est.)
$252.861 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 68

Real GDP growth rate

-2% (2024 est.)
2% (2023 est.)
5.9% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 207

Real GDP per capita

$13,900 (2024 est.)
$14,300 (2023 est.)
$14,200 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 129

GDP (official exchange rate)

$124.676 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2024 est.)
2.2% (2023 est.)
3.5% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 36

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 9.5% (2024 est.)

industry: 26.5% (2024 est.)

services: 57.2% (2024 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 109; industry 73; agriculture 75

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 64.9% (2024 est.)

government consumption: 13.3% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.1% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services: 30.3% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services: -26.9% (2024 est.)

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

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate

-3.7% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 173

Labor force

8.821 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 60

Unemployment rate

4.8% (2024 est.)
3.6% (2023 est.)
3.8% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 83

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 10.1% (2024 est.)

male: 8.3% (2024 est.)

female: 13% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 118

Population below poverty line

26% (2023 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

44.6 (2023 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 21

Average household expenditures

on food: 25.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.6% (2023 est.)

highest 10%: 33.2% (2023 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

5.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $35.962 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $35.347 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues

13.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 105

Current account balance

$7.082 billion (2024 est.)
$2.217 billion (2023 est.)
$2.136 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 29

Exports

$38.468 billion (2024 est.)
$35.687 billion (2023 est.)
$36.588 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 74

Exports – partners

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$33.97 billion (2024 est.)
$35.421 billion (2023 est.)
$36.644 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 75

Imports – partners

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.908 billion (2024 est.)
$4.442 billion (2023 est.)
$8.459 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 87

Debt – external

$39.658 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 21

Exchange rates

the US dollar became Ecuador’s currency in 2001

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 8.438 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 29.305 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 192 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 466 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 5.119 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 163; imports 96; exports 86; consumption 68; installed generating capacity 69

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 23.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 0.2% 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.)

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.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 480,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 8.273 billion barrels (2021 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.)

Energy consumption per capita

35.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 107

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.434 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 58

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 18.2 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 68

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.)

according to 2021 statistics from Ecuador’s Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society, 50% of homes do not have access to fixed internet

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 2.89 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 50

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

317 (2025)

comparison ranking: 22

Heliports

28 (2025)

comparison ranking: 48

Railways

total: 965 km (2022)

narrow gauge: 965 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

note: passenger service limited to certain sections of track, mostly for tourist trains

Merchant marine

total: 154 (2023)

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

comparison ranking: total 73

Ports

total ports: 6 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 2

very small: 4

ports with oil terminals: 5

key ports: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Maritimo de Guayaquil

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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

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

Military expenditures

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

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 diverse mix of older and smaller quantities of more modern equipment derived from a variety of sources such as Brazil, China, France, Italy, Germany, Russia/Soviet-Union, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-22 years of age for selective conscript military service for men, although conscription was suspended in 2008; 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month service obligation (2023)

note: in 2022, women made up an estimated 3-4% of the military

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)

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 or 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 (ALCE) and its member states (2025)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide