What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito — the traditional name for the area — became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty — New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito — gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew to become an independent republic in 1830, the traditional name was changed to the “Republic of the Equator.” Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador has had nearly 50 years of civilian governance, the period has been marked by political instability.
Geography
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), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador’s most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (1,476 m), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago
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
66 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 90
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
77.9% (2018/19)
note: percent of women aged 15-50
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 87.1% of population
total: 95.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 12.9% of population
total: 4.6% of population (2020 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
rural: 96.9% of population
total: 98.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 3.1% of population
total: 1.1% of population (2020 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
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2020)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Environment – international 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
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.)
Urbanization
urban population: 64.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 16.55 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 41.15 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 23.51 megatons (2020 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.)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)
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: 1
global geoparks and regional networks: Imbabura (2023)
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; 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters, voluntary
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
elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 9 February 2025 with a runoff on 13 April 2025 (next to be held 28 February 2029)
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%
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-designate Pablo ZAMBRANO Albuja (since 20 March 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 colors
yellow, blue, red
National anthem
name: “Salve, Oh Patria!” (We Salute You, Our Homeland)
lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
note: adopted 1948; Juan Leon MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung
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)
$260.213 billion (2023 est.)
$254.226 billion (2022 est.)
$239.415 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 67
Real GDP growth rate
2.36% (2023 est.)
6.19% (2022 est.)
9.82% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 132
Real GDP per capita
$14,500 (2023 est.)
$14,300 (2022 est.)
$13,500 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 125
GDP (official exchange rate)
$118.845 billion (2023 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: 43
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 7.7% (2023 est.)
industry: 26.9% (2023 est.)
services: 59.7% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 93; industry 79; agriculture 91
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 64.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 13.9% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.7% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.8% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 29.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -28.8% (2023 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
-0.64% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 161
Labor force
8.821 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 61
Unemployment rate
4.8% (2024 est.)
3.5% (2023 est.)
3.8% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 90
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 126
Population below poverty line
25.2% (2022 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: 23
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
4.59% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.07% of GDP (2022 est.)
4.07% of GDP (2021 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
Public debt
45.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 119
Taxes and other revenues
13% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 154
Current account balance
$2.346 billion (2023 est.)
$2.137 billion (2022 est.)
$2.939 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 43
Exports
$35.687 billion (2023 est.)
$36.588 billion (2022 est.)
$29.284 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 76
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
$35.421 billion (2023 est.)
$36.644 billion (2022 est.)
$28.471 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 73
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
$4.703 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: 105
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.)
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
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
HC
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); Ecuadorian Space Institute (established 2012, disbanded 2018) (2024)
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 established relations with the space agencies and industries of China and Russia, as well as the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) and its member states (2024)
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
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 65,854 (Colombia) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2021); 474,945 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)
Illicit drugs
Ecuador is a major transit country for cocaine destined for the United States and other international destinations; criminal groups traffic cocaine precursor chemicals for drug gangs; not a major drug producing country; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
