Introduction
Background
Ecuador was a successor country following the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830. Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territory in conflicts with its neighbors. The country has been politically unstable for much of its recent history, with 20 constitutions since gaining independence.
Geography
Area
total: 283,561 sq km
land: 276,841 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
Climate
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
People and Society
Population
17,483,326 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) 71.9%, Montubio 7.4%, Amerindian 7%, White 6.1%, Afroecuadorian 4.3%, Mulatto 1.9%, Black 1%, other 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages
Spanish (Castilian) 93% (official), Quechua 4.1%, other indigenous 0.7%, foreign 2.2%; note - (Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit) (2010 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 68.8%, Evangelical 15.4%, Adventist 1.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, other 1.3%, agnostic or atheist 1.4%, none 10.1%, don't know/no response 1% (2020 est.)
Population growth rate
0.99% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Quito
Executive branch
chief of state: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023); Vice President Verónica ABAD Rojas (since 23 November 2023); the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023); Vice President Verónica ABAD Rojas (since 23 November 2023)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (137 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 15 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by open-list proportional representation vote, and 6 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies for Ecuadorians living abroad by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - all Assembly members have alternates from the same party who cast votes when a primary member is absent, resigns, or is removed from office
Economy
Economic overview
highly informal South American economy; USD currency user; major banana exporter; hard hit by COVID-19; macroeconomic fragility from oil dependency; successful debt restructuring; China funding budget deficits; social unrest hampering economic activity
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$189.88 billion (2021 est.)
$182.165 billion (2020 est.)
$197.549 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$10,700 (2021 est.)
$10,400 (2020 est.)
$11,400 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
sugar cane, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, maize, rice, plantains, poultry, cocoa, potatoes
Industries
petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
Remittances
4.11% of GDP (2021 est.)
3.37% of GDP (2020 est.)
3% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$29.325 billion (2021 est.)
$22.401 billion (2020 est.)
$26.12 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
United States 30%, China 13%, Panama 8%, Chile 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, shrimp, bananas, refined petroleum, tuna (2021)
Imports
$28.567 billion (2021 est.)
$19.877 billion (2020 est.)
$25.89 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
United States 22%, China 18%, Colombia 9%, Panama 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, packaged medicines, soybean products (2019)
Exchange rates
1 (2021 est.)
1 (2020 est.)
1 (2019 est.)
1 (2018 est.)
1 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
