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
Total: 283,561 km²
Land: 276,841 km²
Water: 6,720 km²
Note: includes Galapagos Islands
Comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada

Land boundaries
Total: 2,237 km
Border countries (2): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 49.8% (2023 est.)
Other: 28.6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 12,520 km² (2022)

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

Population
Total: 18,309,984 (2024 est.)
Male: 9,023,170
Female: 9,286,814
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
Growth rate: 0.94% (2024 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

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)

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

Population growth rate: 0.94% (2024 est.)

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

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 69.7 years
Female: 80.4 years

Total fertility rate: 2.21 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.8% (2024 est.); 3.6% (2023 est.); 3.8% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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, 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

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

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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
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 2,029
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 2,029
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

Flag description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red, with the coat of arms at the center of the flag

National anthem
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:

Real gdp growth rate: -2% (2024 est.); 2% (2023 est.); 5.9% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: -2% (2024 est.); 2% (2023 est.); 5.9% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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

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

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

Labor force: 8.821 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 4.8% (2024 est.); 3.6% (2023 est.); 3.8% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.8% (2024 est.); 3.6% (2023 est.); 3.8% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $35.962 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $35.969 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures 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

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
Commodities: crude petroleum, shellfish, bananas, fish, gold (2023)
Commodities 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
Commodities: refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 23.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 75.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources 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 CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 39,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 37.711 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 536,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 35.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.434 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 18.2 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2022 est.)

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.)

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.)

Airports: 317 (2025)

Heliports: 28 (2025)

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