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What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." 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. Although Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito have contributed to the mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three democratically elected Presidents. In September 2008, voters approved a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since gaining independence. General elections, under the new constitutional framework, are expected in April 2009.
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Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
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2 00 S, 77 30 W
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total: 283,561 sq km
country comparison to the world: 73
land:
276,841 sq km
water:
6,720 sq km
note:
includes Galapagos Islands
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slightly smaller than Nevada
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total: 2,010 km
border countries:
Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
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2,237 km
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territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf:
100 nm from 2,500-m isobath
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tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
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coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Chimborazo 6,267 m
note:
due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest point above sea-level
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petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
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arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops:
4.81%
other:
89.48% (2005)
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8,650 sq km (2003)
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432 cu km (2000)
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total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%)
per capita:
1,283 cu m/yr (2000)
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frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts
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deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
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party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
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14,573,101 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
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0-14 years: 31.1% (male 2,312,610/female 2,220,378)
15-64 years:
62.7% (male 4,506,908/female 4,636,703)
65 years and over:
6.2% (male 432,144/female 464,358) (2009 est.)
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total: 25 years
male:
24.4 years
female:
25.6 years (2009 est.)
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1.497% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
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20.77 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
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4.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
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-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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urban population: 66% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.93 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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total: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 103
male:
24.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
17.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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total population: 75.3 years
country comparison to the world: 81
male:
72.37 years
female:
78.37 years (2009 est.)
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2.51 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
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0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
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26,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
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1,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease:
leptospirosis (2009)
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noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective:
Ecuadorian
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mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
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Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
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Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91%
male:
92.3%
female:
89.7% (2001 census)
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1% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 179
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conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form:
Ecuador
local long form:
Republica del Ecuador
local short form:
Ecuador
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republic
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name: Quito
geographic coordinates:
0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference:
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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24 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, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
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24 May 1822 (from Spain)
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Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
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20 October 2008
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based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
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chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:
the president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for another consecutive term; election last held 26 April 2009 (next to be held 2013)
election results:
President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 51.7%; Lucio GUTIERREZ 28%; Alvaro NOBOA 11.6%; other 8.7%; note - official results pending
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unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held 15 October 2006 (next to be held 26 April 2009)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRIAN 28; PSP 24; PSC 13; ID 7; PRE 6; MUPP-NP 6; RED 5; UDC 5; other 6; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
note:
when a Constituent Assembly was convened to draft a new constitution, the National Congress was placed on indefinite recess and replaced by a legislative committee; the legislative committee will continue to function until a new National Assembly is elected in April 2009
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Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004, however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court by a simple majority resolution)
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Alianza PAIS Movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian Democratic Union or UDC [Diego ORDONEZ Guerrero]; Democratic Left or ID [Andres PAEZ Benalcazar]; Ethical and Democratic Network or RED [Leon ROLDOS]; Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement - New Country or MUPP-NP [Jorge GUAMAN]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Ciro GUZMAN Aldaz]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Gustavo AYALA Cruz]
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Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Marlon SANTI, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA CRUZ, president]
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CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga
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 (New Jersey), San Francisco
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chief of mission: Ambassador Heather HODGES
embassy:
Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
mailing address:
Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras
telephone:
[593] (2) 398-5000
FAX:
[593] (2) 398-5100
consulate(s) general:
Guayaquil
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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
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Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of public sector revenues in recent years. In 1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP contracting by more than 6%. Poverty increased significantly, the banking system collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew 5.5%, the highest five-year average in 25 years. The poverty rate declined but remained high at 38% in 2006. In 2006 the government imposed a windfall revenue tax on foreign oil companies, leading to the suspension of free trade negotiations with the US. These measures led to a drop in petroleum production in 2007. President Rafael CORREA raised the specter of debt default and followed through on those threats in December 2008 by defaulting on some commercial bond obligations. He also decreed a higher windfall revenue tax on private oil companies, then renegotiated their contracts to overcome the debilitating effect of the tax. This generated economic uncertainty; private investment has dropped and economic growth has slowed.
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$108 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$101.4 billion (2007 est.)
$98.93 billion (2006 est.)
note:
data are in 2008 US dollars
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$54.69 billion (2008 est.)
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6.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
2.5% (2007 est.)
3.9% (2006 est.)
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$7,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$7,200 (2007 est.)
$7,100 (2006 est.)
note:
data are in 2008 US dollars
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agriculture: 6.7%
industry:
34.3%
services:
59% (2008 est.)
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4.64 million (urban) (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
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agriculture: 8.3%
industry:
21.2%
services:
70.4% (2005)
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7.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
8.8% (2007 est.)
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38.3% (2006)
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lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%:
43.3%
note:
data for urban households only (2007)
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46 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 39
43.7 (1995)
note:
data are for urban households
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22.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
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revenues: $21.09 billion
expenditures:
planned $21.35 billion (2008 est.)
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25.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
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8.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
2.3% (2007 est.)
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9.14% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
10.72% (31 December 2007)
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9.71% (31 December 2008)
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$5.907 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
$4.395 billion (31 December 2007)
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$9.383 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
$7.974 billion (31 December 2007)
|
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$10.13 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 71
$8.926 billion (31 December 2007)
|
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$4.562 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
$4.266 billion (31 December 2007)
$4.04 billion (31 December 2006)
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bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
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petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
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5.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
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16.75 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
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9.888 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
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38.53 million kWh (2007 est.)
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861 million kWh (2007 est.)
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505,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
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178,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
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417,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
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54,190 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
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4.66 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
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260 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
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260 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
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0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 187
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
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8.919 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
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$1.194 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$1.65 billion (2007 est.)
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$19.15 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$14.87 billion (2007 est.)
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petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood, fish
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US 45.3%, Peru 9.2%, Chile 8.1%, Panama 4.8%, Colombia 4.2% (2008)
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$17.79 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$13.05 billion (2007 est.)
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industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods
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US 19.1%, Venezuela 13.8%, Colombia 9.9%, China 8.4%, Brazil 4.8%, Japan 4.1% (2008)
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$4.473 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$3.521 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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$18.11 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 74
$NA (31 December 2007)
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$16.99 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$16.31 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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$8.487 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$10.77 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000
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1.91 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 58
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11.595 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 52
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general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic:
fixed-line services provided by three state-owned enterprises; plans to transfer the state-owned operators to private ownership have repeatedly failed; fixed-line density stands at about 14 per 100 persons; mobile cellular use has surged and has a subscribership of nearly 85 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 593; landing point for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable that provides links to the west coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
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AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
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7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2000)
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.ec
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57,785 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
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1.31 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 80
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420 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
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total: 103
over 3,047 m:
3
2,438 to 3,047 m:
3
1,524 to 2,437 m:
18
914 to 1,523 m:
25
under 914 m:
54 (2009)
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total: 317
914 to 1,523 m:
38
under 914 m:
279 (2009)
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2 (2009)
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extra heavy crude 435 km; gas 5 km; oil 1,374 km; refined products 1,301 km (2008)
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total: 965 km
country comparison to the world: 90
narrow gauge:
965 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
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total: 43,670 km
country comparison to the world: 84
paved:
6,472 km
unpaved:
37,198 km (2006)
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1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54
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|
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total: 37
country comparison to the world: 80
by type:
cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned:
1 (US 1)
registered in other countries:
5 (China 1, Panama 4) (2008)
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Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
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Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2007)
|
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|
|
20 years of age for selective conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2008)
|
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|
|
males age 16-49: 3,536,602
females age 16-49:
3,559,188 (2008 est.)
|
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|
|
males age 16-49: 2,708,470
females age 16-49:
3,165,489 (2009 est.)
|
|
|
|
|
male: 148,010
female:
143,291 (2009 est.)
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2.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 55
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| Transnational Issues ::Ecuador |
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organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border, which thousands of Colombians also cross to escape the violence in their home country
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refugees (country of origin): 11,526 (Colombia); note - UNHCR estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians are seeking asylum in Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees for fear of deportation (2007)
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significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with much of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents
(2008)
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