Ecuador
Republic of EcuadorRepublica del Ecuador
republicIndependence 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
Ecuador as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 103 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the | Equator, between Colombia and Peru
18 fieldsLand useshare of 283,560 sq km
Location
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Terrain
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Environment-current issues
- deforestation;
- soil erosion;
- desertification;
- water pollution;
- pollution from oil production wastes
Environment-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
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1998 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 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.)
Sex ratio
- at 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.)
Government
Republic; President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997); President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997)
23 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 82 seats, elected 19 May 1996one dot, one seat
Country name
- 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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch
- chief 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
- head 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
Center-Right parties
Social Christian Party or PSC [Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president]; Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE [Freddy BRAVO]
Center-Left parties
- Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leader];
- Popular Democracy or DP [Jamil MAHUAD, leader];
- Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director];
- Roldosista Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM, leader]
Leftist parties
Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [leader NA]
Populist parties
- Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director];
- Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM, leader];
- Popular Revolutionary Action or APRE [Frank VARGAS Passos, leader];
- Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP [Freddy EHLERS]
Far-Left parties
Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Juan Jose CASTELLO, leader]
International 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 representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Alberto Federico MASPONS GUZMAN
- 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, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
- consulate(s):
- Newark
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Leslie ALEXANDER
- embassy:
- Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria, Quito
- mailing address:
- APO AA 34039
- telephone:
- [593] (2) 562-890
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
Economy
Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich | agricultural areas.
28 fieldsGDP-composition by sector(1996 est.)
Economy-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.
Labor force
- total:
- 4.2 million
- by occupation:
- agriculture 29%, manufacturing 18%, commerce 15%, services and other activities 38% (1990)
Industries
petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Agriculture-products
- bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane;
- cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products;
- balsa wood;
- fish, shrimp
Exports
- total value:
- $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
- commodities:
- 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)
- commodities:
- transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals
- partners:
- US 32%, EU 19%, Latin America 35%, Asia 11%
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $153 million (1993) note: received $12.7 million from the US and $160 million from other countries in 1995
Exchange 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)
Telephone system
- domestic:
- facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
- international:
- satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 18 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1997 est.)
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada | Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), | National Police
7 fieldsMilitary branches
Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsIllicit 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 EGYPT
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Ecuador.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/ecuador/1998.