Ecuador

Republic of EcuadorRepublica del Ecuador

republicIndependence 24 May 1822 (from Spain)

Ecuador as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 92 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalQuito

Position2 00 S, 77 30 W

Area283,560 sq km

LocationWestern South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at

Populationas each edition published it

11.47 million July 1996 est. · 10.51m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.96% 1996 est. · 2.07% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 22.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.09 years 1996 est. · 69.61 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.89 children per woman 1996 est. · 3.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

34.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 61 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,100 1995 est. · $1,100 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.3% 1995 est. · 3% in 1993

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 283,560 sq km

arable land 6%permanent crops 3%meadows and pastures 17%forest and woodland 51%other 23%irrigated 5,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

283,560sq km

land area: 276,840 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Nevadanote: includes Galapagos Islands

Coastline

2,237km

continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islandsterritorial sea: 200 nm

Land boundaries

2,010km

border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Location

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

International disputes

three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute

Climate

tropical along coast becoming cooler inland

Terrain

coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

lowest point:: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:: Chimborazo 6,267 m

Environment

current issues:: deforestation;
soil erosion;
desertification;
water pollution
natural hazards:: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts
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

Geographic note

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

People

15 fields

Population

11,466,291

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 1.96% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

25.06Death

5.5Net migration

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years71.09

68.49 · 73.82

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy90.1%

92% · 88.2%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%Indian 25%Spanish 10%black 10%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 35% (male 2,062,468; female 1,996,679)
15-64 years:: 60% (male 3,403,197; female 3,489,728)
65 years and over:: 5% (male 241,217; female 273,002) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.88 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

34.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective:: Ecuadorian

Languages

Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)

Government

Republic

24 fields

Legislature, 82 seatsone dot, one seat

PSC 27PRE 21DP 10Pachakutik Movement 7ID 5PLRE 3MPD 2APRE 2CFP 1independent and other 4

Name of country

conventional long form:: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form:: Ecuador
local long form:: Republica del Ecuador
local short form:: Ecuador

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

National holiday

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

Legal system

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN Cordovez (since 10 August 1992);
Vice President Eduardo PENA Trivino (since 18 October 1995);
president and vice president were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage;
runoff election held 5 July 1992;
results - Sixto DURAN-BALLEN elected as president (next election was held 19 May 1996; no presidential candidate received more than 50% of the vote; a runoff election between BUCARAM and NEBOT will be held on 7 July 1996);
note - former Vice President DAHIK resigned 11 October 1995 and left the country to escape arrest on corruption charges;
National Congress chose PENA as his successor in accordance with the constitution
cabinet:: Cabinet was appointed by the president

National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

elections last held 19 May 1996;
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (82 total) PSC 27, PRE 21, DP 10, Pachakutik Movement 7, ID 5, PLRE 3, MPD 2, APRE 2, CFP 1, independent and other 4

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by the Chamber of Representatives

Center-Right parties

Republican Unity Party (PUR);
Social Christian Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president;
Ecuadorian Conservative Party (PCE), President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN (two parties merged in 1995)

Center-Left parties

Democratic Left (ID), Andres VALLEJO Arcos, Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leaders;
Popular Democracy (DP), Rodrigo PAZ, leader;
Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party (PLRE), Medardo MORA, leader;
Radical Alfarista Front (FRA), Jaime ASPIAZU Seminario, director

Populist parties

Roldosist Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director;
Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP), Rodolfo BAQUERIZO Nazur, leader;
Popular Revolutionary Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS Passos, leader

Far-Left parties

Popular Democratic Movement (MPD), Juan Jose CASTELLO, leader;
Ecuadorian Socialist Party (PSE), Leon ROLDOS, leader;
Broad Leftist Front (FADI), Rene Mauge MOSQUERA, chairman;
Ecuadorian National Liberation (LN), Alfredo CASTILLO, director

Communists

Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE, pro-North Korea), Rene Mauge MOSQUERA, Secretary General; Communist Party of Ecuador/Marxist-Leninist (PCMLE, Maoist)

International 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, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Edgar TERAN Teran
chancery:: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:: [1] (202) 234-7200
consulate(s) general:: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s):: Newark

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Peter F. ROMERO
embassy:: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address:: APO AA 34039
telephone:: [593] (2) 562-890

FAX

[593] (2) 502-052; consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Flag

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

Economy

Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich | agricultural areas.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$4,100

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

2.3%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 6.4% (1993)

Inflation, consumer prices

25%

(1995)

Unemployment rate

7.1%

(1994)

GDP composition by sector(1992 est.)

agriculture 13%industry 39%services 48% (1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$3.3 billionExpenditures

$3.3 billion (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 2,230,000 kW

Electricity production

6.9 billionElectricity consumption per capita

612 (1993)

Economic 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 1995. 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 joined the World Trade Organization. Growth slowed to 2.3% in 1995 due in part to high domestic interest rates and shortages of electric power.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $44.6 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

2.8 million; by occupation: agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%, services and other activities 28% (1982)

Industries

petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber

Agriculture

bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane;
cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products;
balsa wood;
fish, shrimp

Illicit 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

Exports

$4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: petroleum 39%, bananas 17%, shrimp 16%, cocoa 3%, coffee 6%
partners:: US 42%, Latin America 29%, Caribbean, EU countries 17%

Imports

$3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994)

commodities:: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals
partners:: US 28%, EU 17%, Latin America 31%, Caribbean, Japan

External debt

$12.6 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $153 million (1993) note: received $12.7 million from the US and $160 million from other countries in 1995

Currency

1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

sucres (S/) per US$1 - 2914.8 (31 December 1995), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993), 1,534.0 (1992), 1,046.25 (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

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Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 188 in all

over 3 047 m

2 438 to 3 047 m

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

121

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

43,709Railways

965Waterways

1,500

Highways: paved: 5,245 km · unpaved: 38,464 km (1991 est.) · Railways: (single track) · narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge

Railways

total:: 965 km (single track)
narrow gauge:: 965 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways

total:: 43,709 km
paved:: 5,245 km
unpaved:: 38,464 km (1991 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km

Ports

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo

Merchant marine

total:: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 114,701 GRT/171,240 DWT
ships by type:: container 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 12, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)