Statistical information Ecuador 1998

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 coordinates: 2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map reference:
South AmericaAreaTotal: 283,560 km²
Land: 276,840 km²
Water: 6,720 km²
Note: includes Galapagos Islands
Comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundariesTotal: 2,010 km
Border countries: (2) Colombia 590 km;
, Peru 1,420 kmCoastline: 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)
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber
Land useArable land: 6%
Permanent crops: 5%
Permanent pastures: 18%
Forests and woodland: 56%
Other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,560 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts
GeographyNote: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
top of pagePopulation: 12,336,572 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 1.86% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Ecuadorian(s)
Adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 55%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%
Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 36% (male 2,253,920; female 2,175,402)
15-64 years: 60% (male 3,636,637; female 3,725,766)
65 years and over: 4% (male 254,432; female 290,415) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.86% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 23.16 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.17 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.56 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes
International agreements party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 32.07 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 71.8 years
Male: 69.19 years
Female: 74.54 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.75 children born/woman (1998 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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 90.1%
Male: 92%
Female: 88.2% (1995 est.)
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: President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997); Vice President Pedro AGUAYO (since 1 April 1998); note_the president is both the chief of state and head of government: ead of
Government: President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997); Vice President Pedro AGUAYO (since 1 April 1998); note_the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Note: in an unusual, out of cycle change in executive power, Congress on 11 February 1997 elected then Congress President ALARCON to be Interim President until August 1998 after ousting former President BUCARAM because of "mental incapacity"; ARTEAGA remained vice president until March 1998
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 19 May 1996; runoff election held 7 July 1996; note_because of the February 1997 unusual change in executive power, the next presidential elections will take place 31 May 1998
Election results: runoff election; percent of vote_Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz 54%, Jaime NEBOT 46%; note_in February 1997, Congress elected ALARCON to be Interim President until August 1998, with 57 of 82 Congressmen voting in favor of him
Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (82 seats; 12 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to serve four-year terms; 70 members are popularly elected by province for two-year terms)
Elections: last held 19 May 1996 (next to be held 31 May 1998)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_PSC 27, PRE 19, DP 12, P-NP 8, ID 4, FRA 3, MPD 2, PCE 2, CFP 1, independents and other 4; note - defections by members of congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by Congress
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MINUGUA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto Federico MASPONS GUZMAN
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, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
In the us consulates: Newark
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie ALEXANDER
From the us embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria, Quito
From the us mailing address: APO AA 34,039
From the us telephone: [593] (2) 562-890
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. As an exporter of primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Growth has been uneven in recent years as the government has repeatedly initiated ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The populist government of Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz proposed a major currency reform in 1996, but popular discontent with new austerity measures and rampant official corruption undermined his government's position. Congress replaced BUCARAM with Fabian ALARCON in February 1997. ALARCON has adopted a minimalist economic program that puts off major decisions until the next elected government takes office in August 1998. Ecuador joined the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. Growth slowed to 2.0% in 1996, due to a lack of investment caused by political uncertainty and high domestic interest rates, but economic activity picked up in 1997. Exports and economic growth in 1998 may be adversely affected by lower world oil prices and, to a smaller extent, by El Nino.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $4,400 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 12%
Industry: 37%
Services: 51% (1996 est.)
Agriculture products: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1997 est.)
Labor forceTotal: 4.2 million
By occupation agriculture: 29%
By occupation manufacturing: 18%
By occupation commerce: 15%
By occupation servicesandotheractivities: 38% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.9% with widespread underemployment (August 1997 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $3.6 billion (1997)
Expenditures: $3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1996 est.)
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: total value:$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodoties: petroleum 30%, bananas 26%, shrimp 16%, cut flowers 2%, fish 1.9%
Partners: US 39%, Latin America 25%, EU countries 22%, Asia 12%
Imports: total value:$2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Commodoties: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals
Partners: US 32%, EU 19%, Latin America 35%, Asia 11%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $12.5 billion (1997)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1_4,498.0 (January 1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 2.754 million kW (1996)
Production: 9.27 billion kWh (1996)
Consumption per capita: 600 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 586,300 (1994 est.)
Telephone systemDomestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
International: satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $411 million (1997)
Percent of gdp: 2.1% (1997)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 183 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 52
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 10
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 16
With paved runways under 914 m: 18 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 131
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 38
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 90 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
RailwaysTotal: 965 km (single track)
Narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge
RoadwaysWaterways: 1,500 km
Merchant marineTotal: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,423 GRT/137,272 DWT
Ships by type: liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 14, passenger 3 (1997 est.)
Ports and terminalsEcuador - Transnational issues 1998
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