Statistical information Ecuador 1995

Ecuador in the World
top of pageBackground: The 'Republic of the Equator' was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942 Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru flared in 1995.
top of pageLocation: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
South AmericaAreaTotal area total: 283,560 km²
Land: 276,840 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada
Note: includes Galapagos Islands
Land boundaries: total 2,010 km, Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,237 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands
Territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical along coast becoming cooler inland
Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
ElevationNatural resources: petroleum, fish, timber
Land useArable land: 6%
Permanent crops: 3%
Meadows and pastures: 17%
Forest and woodland: 51%
Other: 23%
Irrigated land: 5,500 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
top of pagePopulation: 10,890,950 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 1.95% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Ecuadorian(s)
Adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%
Languages: Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 36% (female 1,928,977; male 1,990,036)
15-64 years: 60% (female 3,281,575; male 3,230,082)
65 years and over: 4% (female 244,862; male 215,418) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.95% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 25.08 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.55 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution
Current issues natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts
Current issues international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Tropical Timber 94
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 37.7 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 70.35 years
Male: 67.83 years
Female: 72.99 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 87%
Male: 90%
Female: 84%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
Conventional short form: Ecuador
Local long form: Republica del Ecuador
Local short form: Ecuador
Government type: republic
Capital: Quito
Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia; Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Dependent areasIndependence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of Quito)
Constitution: 10 August 1979
Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branchChief of state and head of government: President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN Cordovez (since 10 August 1992); Vice President Alberto DAHIK Garzoni (since 10 August 1992); election runoff election held 5 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Sixto DURAN-BALLEN elected as president and Alberto DAHIK elected as vice president
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Congress Congreso Nacional: elections last held 1 May 1994 (next to be held 1 May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (77 total) PSC 25, PRE 11, MPD 8, ID 7, DP 7, PCE 7, PUR 2, CFP 2, APRE 2, PSE 1, FRA 1, PLRE 1, LN 1, independents 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Edgar TERAN Teran
In the us chancery: 2,535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-7,200
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
In the us consulates: Newark
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. ROMERO
From the us embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
From the us mailing address: APO AA 34,039-3,420
From the us telephone: [593] (2) 562-890, 561-624, 561-749
From the us FAX: [593] (2) 502-052
From the us consulates general: Guayaquil
Flag description
: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Growth has been uneven in recent years because of fluctuations in prices for Ecuador's primary exports - oil and bananas - as well as because of government policies designed to curb inflation. President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN launched a series of macroeconomic reforms when he came into office in August 1992 which included raising domestic fuel prices and utility rates, eliminating most subsidies, and bringing the government budget into balance. These measures helped to reduce inflation from 55% in 1992 to 25% in 1994. DURAN-BALLEN has a much more favorable attitude toward foreign investment than his predecessor and has supported several laws designed to encourage foreign investment. Ecuador has implemented free or complementary trade agreements with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as applied for World Trade Organization membership. Ecuador signed a standby agreement with the IMF and rescheduled its $7.6 billion commercial debt in 1994 thereby regaining access to multilateral lending. Growth in 1994 speeded up to 3.9%, based on increased exports of bananas and non-traditional products, while international reserves increased to a record $1.6 billion.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3.9% (1994 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $3,840 (1994 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 14% of GDP (including fishing and forestry; leading producer and exporter of bananas and balsawood; other agricultural exports - coffee, cocoa, fish, shrimp; other crops - rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; livestock products - cattle, sheep, hogs, beef, pork, dairy products; net importer of foodgrains, dairy products, and sugar
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: 6.4% (1993; accounts for almost 35% of GDP, including petroleum
Labor force: 2.8 million
By occupation agriculture: 35%
By occupation manufacturing: 21%
By occupation commerce: 16%
By occupation servicesandotheractivities: 28% (1982)
Unemployment rate: 7.1% (1994)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $2.76 billion
Expenditures: $2.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Commodoties: petroleum 39%, bananas 17%, shrimp 16%, cocoa 3%, coffee 6%
Partners: US 42%, Latin America 29%, Caribbean, EU countries 17%
Imports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Commodoties: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals
Partners: US 28%, EU 17%, Latin America 31%, Caribbean, Japan
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $13.2 billion (yearend 1993 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1 - 1,198.1 (December 1994), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993), 1,534.0 (1992), 1,046.25 (1991), 767.8 (1990), 767.78 (1990), 526.35 (1989)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 2,230,000 kW
Production: 6.9 billion kWh
Production consumption per capita: 612 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 318,000 telephones; 30 telephones/1000 persons; domestic facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 175
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 8
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 15
With paved runways under 914 m: 107
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 31
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 1,500 km
Merchant marineTotal: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 222,822 GRT/326,447 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 13, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 10
Ports and terminalsEcuador - Transnational issues 1995
top of pageDisputes international: three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: significant transit country for derivatives of coca originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; minor illicit producer of coca; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub