Ecuador

Republic of EcuadorRepublica del Ecuador

republicIndependence 24 May 1822 (from Spain)

Ecuador as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 111 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 the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Populationas each edition published it

12.92 million July 2000 est. · 10.51m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.04% 2000 est. · 2.07% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 22.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.06 years 2000 est. · 69.61 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.18 children per woman 2000 est. · 3.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

35.13 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 61 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,300 1999 est. · $1,100 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-8% 1999 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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 that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999.

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 5%permanent pastures 18%forests and woodland 56%other 15% (1993 est.)irrigated 5,560 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

283,560sq km

land: 276,840 sq kmwater: 6,720 sq kmnote: includes Galapagos Islandsslightly smaller than Nevada

Coastline

2,237km

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

Highest point

6,267m

Chimborazolowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

Geographic coordinates

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Map references

South America

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)

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Natural hazards

frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts

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:: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

People

15 fields

Population

12,920,092

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 2.04% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

26.51Death

5.52Net migration

-0.56

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)71.06

68.26 · 73.99

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)90.1%

92% · 88.2%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 65%Amerindian 25%Spanish and others 7%black 3%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 36.23% (male 2,379,541; female 2,301,543)
15-64 years:: 59.4% (male 3,794,515; female 3,880,367)
65 years and over:: 4.37% (male 262,701; female 301,425) (2000 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:: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

35.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.18 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective:: Ecuadorian

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Government

Republic; President Gustavo NOBOA (since 22 January 2000) following coup which deposed President MAHUAD; President Gustavo NOBOA (since 22 January 2000) following coup which deposed President MAHUAD

19 fields

National Congress or Congreso Nacional, 121 seats, elected 31 May 1998one dot, one seat

DP 32PSC 27PRE 24ID 18P-NP 9FRA 5PCE 3MPD 2CFP 1

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

republic

Capital

Quito

Administrative divisions

22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia);
Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Independence

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

National holiday

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

Constitution

10 August 1998

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:: President Gustavo NOBOA (since 22 January 2000) following coup which deposed President MAHUAD;
Vice President Pedro PINTO (since 28 January 2000);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Gustavo NOBOA (since 22 January 2000) following coup which deposed President MAHUAD;
Vice President Pedro PINTO (since 28 January 2000);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (no reelection);
election last held 31 May 1998;
runoff election held 12 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results:: results of the last election prior to the coup were: Jamil MAHUAD elected president; percent of vote - 51%

note: a military-indigenous coup toppled democratically elected President Jamil MAHAUD on 21 January 2000; the military quickly handed power over to Vice President Gustavo NOBOA on 22 January;

Congress then elected a new vice president from a slate of candidates submitted by NOBOA; the new administration is scheduled to complete the remainder of MAHAUD's term, due to expire in January 2003

Legislative branch

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (121 seats; 79 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to serve four-year terms; 42 members are popularly elected by province - two per province - for four-year terms)

elections:: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - DP 32, PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3, MPD 2, CFP 1;
note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM];
Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos];
Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE [Freddy BRAVO];
Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP [Nina PACARI and Freddy EHLERS];
Popular Democracy or DP [Ramiro RIVERA];
Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Jaime HURTADO Gonzalez];
Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director];
Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director];
Social Christian Party or PSC [Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president]

note: political blocs include: far left - MPD; populist - CFP and P-NP; populist left - PRE; center left - ID, DP, and FRA; center right - PSC and PCE

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Antonio VARGAS]

International organization participation

CAN, 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, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI
chancery:: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX:: [1] (202) 667-3482
consulate(s) general:: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Gwen CLARE
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 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 which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Economy

Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas.

31 fields

Real growth rate

-8%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: 2.4% (1997 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

59.9%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

12%

with widespread underemployment (November 1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

50%

(1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1999 est.)

agriculture 14%industry 36%services 50% (1999 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

39%

Colombia

11%

Japan

Italy

Peru

Venezuela

Chile

Mexico

Exports $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)Imports $2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1999)(1998)

Electricity

fossil fuel 27.96%hydro 72.04%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

9.657 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

8.981 billion (1998)

Economy - overview

Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments.

In recent years, growth has been uneven due to ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The aftermath of El Nino and depressed oil market of 1997-98 drove Ecuador's economy into a free-fall in 1999. The beginning of 1999 saw the banking sector collapse, which helped precipitate an unprecedented default on external loans later that year.

Continued economic instability drove a 70% depreciation of the currency throughout 1999, which eventually forced a desperate government to dollarize the currency regime in 2000. The move stabilized the currency, but did not stave off the ouster of the government. The new president, Gustavo NOBOA has yet to complete negotiations for a long sought IMF accord. He will find it difficult to push through the reforms necessary to make dollarization work in the long-run.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $54.5 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1999 est.)

Labor force

4.2 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)

Budget

revenues:: planned $5.1 billion (not including revenue from potential privatizations)
expenditures:: $5.1 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish

Imports

$2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, raw materials, fuels; consumer goods

Debt - external

$15.3 billion (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$695.7 million (1995)

Currency

1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

sucres (S/) per US$1 - 24,860.7 (January 2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

49,776

(1995)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

748,000

(1995)

Telephone system

domestic:: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
international:: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 392, FM 27, shortwave 29 (1998)

Radios

4.15 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

15 (including one station on the Galapagos Islands) (1997)

Televisions

1.55 million (1997)

Transportation

10 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 57Unpaved 125

Networkskm

Highways

43,197Railways

812Waterways

1,500

Highways: paved: 8,165 km · unpaved: 35,032 km (1999 est.) · Railways: (single track) · narrow gauge: 812 km 1.067-m gauge

Railways

total:: 812 km (single track)
narrow gauge:: 812 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways

total:: 43,197 km
paved:: 8,165 km
unpaved:: 35,032 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km

Ports and harbors

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

Merchant marine

total:: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,151 GRT/388,750 DWT
ships by type:: chemical tanker 2, liquified gas 1, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 22 (1999 est.)

Airports

182 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Military

Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police (Policia Nacional)

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4%

(FY98)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

demarcation of the agreed-upon border with Peru was completed in May 1999

Illicit drugs

significant transit country for cocaine and derivatives of coca originating in Colombia and Peru;
importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics;
important money-laundering hub;
increased activity on frontiers by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Ecuador.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/ecuador/2000.

How to cite ← 1999 edition 2001 edition →