Facts about Ecuador

Laguna Quilotoa Quinta in Ecuador

1. Quito: The capital city of Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered the best-preserved urban center in all of Latin America

2. Biodiversity: Ecuador is home to more than 1,600 bird species and 6,000 summer bird species, making it one of the 17 ‘megadiverse’ countries in the world. Ecuador is also the most biodiverse country in the world in terms of species per km2 and the 8th most biodiverse country in the world overall

3. Rights of nature: Ecuador was the first country in the world to make natural rights part of its constitution

4. Chimborazo: Ecuador’s highest point, Chimborazo (6,267 m), is a volcano that is the world’s furthest point from the center of the Earth – despite the fact that Chimborazo is not the highest mountain on Earth. The explanation behind this phenomenon is that due to its elliptical shape, the Earth bulges around the equator, bringing the surface further away from the center of the Earth than other parts of the planet

5. Length of days: Due to Ecuador’s location on the equator, there is very little difference in day length throughout the year. The sun therefore rises around 6:00 am on every day of the year

Fact: The Panama hat originates from Ecuador
Attribution: skinnydiver – Flickr.com

Fact: The world-famous ‘Panama hat’ originated in Ecuador – not Panama as the name suggests

 

6. Cotopaxi: Ecuador is home to the world’s highest active volcano, Cotopaxi, which measures approximately 5,900 m. Cotopaxi is also Ecuador’s most active volcano

7. Voter turnout: Electoral participation (i.e. voting) is mandatory for all Ecuadorians aged 18-65

8. Oil: 40% of Ecuador’s exports are oil

9. US dollars: As a result of an economic crisis, the currency in Ecuador has been the US dollar since 2000. However, due to a shortage of coins, the Ecuadorian government produces its own coins called ‘centavo’. Before the dollar, the country’s currency was the so-called ‘Sucre’, which was named after Bolivia’s 2nd president; Antonio José de Sucre.

10. Emigration: Due to economic instability in their home country, around 2-3 million Ecuadorians live abroad – many of them in Spain

Fact: The capital city of Quito in Ecuador has the most well-preserved city center in Latin America
Attribution: bob + LeRoc – Flickr.com

Ecuador’s capital Quito has the most well-preserved historic city center in all of Latin America

Geographic facts

  • Location: The western part of South America. Between Colombia and Peru with coastline facing the Pacific Ocean
  • Country borders: Colombia (590 km) and Peru (1,420 km)
  • Coastline: 2,237 km
  • Climate: Tropical along the coasts and in the low-lying parts of the Amazon. Inland and higher elevations, the climate is generally cooler
  • Landscape: Coastal plains in the west, mountains in the central interior (Andes) and flat or undulating jungle terrain in the east
  • Lowest point: 0 m (Pacific Ocean)
  • Highest point: 6,267 m (Chimborazo)
  • Natural resources: Petroleum, fish, timber and hydropower
  • Largest city: Guayaquil
  • Capital city: Quito
  • Total area (square kilometers): n/a
  • Land areas (km2): n/a
  • Urban areas (km2): n/a
  • Agricultural land (km2): n/a
  • Agricultural area (% of total area): n/a
  • Forest area (% of land area): n/a
  • Plant species (higher), endangered: n/a
  • CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita): n/a

Demographic facts

Population

  • Population density (people per km2 total area): 3.142.466,00 (2023)
  • Population of largest city: 1,05 (2023)
  • Population growth (annual %): 18.190.484,00 (2023)
  • Population, total: 25,20 (2022)
  • Population growth in urban areas (annual %): 1,39 (2023)
  • Population in urban areas (% of total population): 46,70 (2022)
  • Population in rural areas (% of total population): 0,42 (2023)
  • Population growth in rural areas (annual %): 97,30 (2023)
  • Etniske grupper: 71.9% mestits (a mix of white and indigenous Indians), 7.4% Montubio, 7.2% Afro-Ecuadorian, 7% Native American, 6.1% white and 0.4% other
  • Sprog: Spanish (the official language) and indigenous languages (Quechua, Shuar)
  • Religioner: 95% Roman Catholics and 5% others
  • Net immigration: 10,50 (2022)

Birth and death rates

  • Fertility rate, total (births per woman): 2,00 (2022)
  • Birth rate, gross (per 1,000 inhabitants): 16,58 (2022)
  • Teenage mothers (% of women aged 15-19 who have had children or are pregnant): 2,54 (2020)
  • Death rate, gross (per 1,000 people): 4,85 (2022)
  • Life expectancy at birth, women (years): 80,48 (2022)
  • Life expectancy at birth, men (years): 75,31 (2022)
  • Life expectancy at birth, all (years): 77,89 (2022)
  • Mortality caused by traffic accidents (per 100,000 inhabitants): 97,17 (2022)
  • Mortality, women (per 1,000 adult women): 20,10 (2019)
  • Mortality, male (per 1,000 adult males): 75,71 (2022)
  • Suicide rate, women (per 100,000 women): 132,00 (2022)
  • Mortality, infant (per 1,000 live births): 11,60 (2019)

Work, income and education

  • Wage earners, total (% of total labor force): n/a
  • Income share of the highest 10%: 33,20 (2023)
  • Income share of the lowest 10%: 1,60 (2023)
  • Unemployment, total (% of total labor force): 11,30 (2020)
  • Labor force, total: 8.893.065,00 (2023)
  • Workforce with basic education (% of the workforce): 59,33 (2023)
  • Labor force with medium education (% of labor force): 68,77 (2023)
  • Number of poor cf. national poverty limits (% of the population): 0,40 (2022)
  • Proportion of the population with moderate or severe food insecurity (%): 37,30 (2021)
  • School enrolments, primary school (gross %): 18,63 (2023)
  • Youth unemployment, all young people (% of total labor force aged 15 - 24): 64,79 (2023)
  • Young people not in education, employment or training, total (% of all young people): 3,51 (2023)
  • Literacy/literacy, total adults (% of population over 15): 1.164.299,73 (2022)

    Spending

  • Household (and NPIS) consumption expenditure (US$): 167.547.654.551,97 (2023)
  • Electricity consumption (kWh per inhabitant): 1.375,86 (2014)
  • Inhabitants using the Internet (% of the population): 72,69 (2023)
  • Mobile subscriptions (per 100 people): 47,00 (2018)
  • Number of smokers, total (over 15 years): 17,00 (1987)
  • Alcohol consumption per capita (litres of pure alcohol, expected estimates, +15 years): 7,75 (2023)

Business and tourism

  • Employers, total (% of total labor force): 2,50 (2022)
  • New companies (number of registrations): 2,52 (2018)
  • New businesses (new registrations per 1,000 inhabitants aged 15 - 64): -21.525,00 (2023)
  • Listed companies, total: 26,00 (2000)
  • Business conditions (0 = lowest grade to 100 = highest grade): 956,00 (2000)
  • International tourism, number of arrivals: 2.108.000,00 (2019)
  • International tourism, number of departures: 1.515.000,00 (2019)
  • Railway lines (total route kilometers): 956,00 (2000)
  • Railways, number of passengers transported (million passenger-kilometres): 35,21 (2023)

Health

  • Hospital beds (per 1,000 inhabitants): 1,30 (2021)
  • Suicide rate, men (per 100,000 men): 3,60 (2019)
  • Nurses and midwives (per 1,000 inhabitants): 2,23 (2017)
  • Doctors (per 1,000 inhabitants): 71,66 (2021)
  • Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population aged 15 - 49): 131,02 (2023)

Facts Ecuador's economy

GDP and GNI

  • BNP (US$): 5,86 (2023)
  • GDP growth (annual %): 57,72 (2019)
  • GDP per capita (US$): 118.844.826.000,00 (2023)
  • GDP, KPP (US$): 2,36 (2023)
  • BNI (US$): 6.533,35 (2023)
  • GNI growth (annual %): 288.687.741.566,65 (2023)
  • Gross savings (% of GDP): 116.176.116.000,00 (2023)

Inflation, interest rates and consumer prices

  • Deposit rate (%): 14,76 (2021)
  • Lending rate (%): 2,22 (2023)
  • Inflation, consumer prices (annual %): 26,86 (2023)
  • Consumer Price Index (2010 = 100): 131,02 (2023)

Trade and production

  • Trade (% of GDP): 57,85 (2023)
  • Vareeksport (US$): 14.791.563.000,00 (2023)
  • Vareimport (US$): 31.126.000.000,00 (2023)
  • Food exports (% of merchandise exports): 46,37 (2022)
  • Food imports (% of goods imports): 12,56 (2022)
  • Food Production Index (2004 - 2006 = 100): 98,86 (2022)
  • Index of animal production (2004 - 2006 = 100): 13,70 (2019)

Industry

  • Industry (including construction), value added (% of GDP): 1,70 (2023)
  • Industry (including construction), value added (US$): 23,50 (2023)
  • Industry, value added (% of GDP): 93,93 (2022)
  • Industry, value added (US$): 12,45 (2023)

Military

  • Armed forces, total: 42.000,00 (2020)
  • Military expenditure (% of GDP): 30.898.000.000,00 (2023)
  • Military Expenditure (US$): 2,16 (2022)

Others

  • Current health expenditure (% of GDP): 14,76 (2021)
  • Labor tax and contribution (% of company profit): 31.918.313.000,00 (2023)
  • Development Assistance (ODA) received per capita (US$): 2.488.610.000,00 (2022)
  • Social contributions (% of income): 20,90 (2022)