1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 283,560 sq km land area: 276,840 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Nevada note: includes Galapagos Islands
Climate
tropical along coast becoming cooler inland
Coastline
2,237 km
Environment
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Tropical Timber 94
International disputes
three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute
Irrigated land
5,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
total 2,010 km, Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Land use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 17% forest and woodland: 51% other: 23%
Location
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Map references
South America
Maritime claims
continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands territorial sea: 200 nm
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, timber
Note
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
Terrain
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 36% (female 1,928,977; male 1,990,036) 15-64 years: 60% (female 3,281,575; male 3,230,082) 65 years and over: 4% (female 244,862; male 215,418) (July 1995 est.)
Birth rate
25.08 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
5.55 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic divisions
mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%
Infant mortality rate
37.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force
2.8 million by occupation: agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%, services and other activities 28% (1982)
Languages
Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.35 years male: 67.83 years female: 72.99 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 87% male: 90% female: 84%
Nationality
noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
10,890,950 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
1.95% (1995 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 95%
Total fertility rate
2.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Government
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
Capital
Quito
Center-Left parties
Democratic Left (ID), Andres VALLEJO Arcos, Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leaders; Popular Democracy (DP), Rodrigo PAZ, leader; Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party (PLRE), Medardo MORA, leader; Radical Alfarista Front (FRA), Jaime ASPIAZU Seminario, director populist parties: Roldista Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director; Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP), Rodolfo BAQUERIZO Nazur, leader; Popular Revolutionary Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS Passos, leader
Center-Right parties
Social Christian Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president; Republican Unity Party (PUR), President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN, leader; Ecuadorian Conservative Party (PCE), Vice President Alberto DAHIK, president
Communists
Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE, pro-North Korea), Rene Mauge MOSQUERA, Secretary General; Communist Party of Ecuador/Marxist-Leninist (PCMLE, Maoist)
Constitution
10 August 1979
Digraph
EC
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Edgar TERAN Teran 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, and San Francisco consulate(s): Newark
Executive branch
chief of state and head of government: President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN Cordovez (since 10 August 1992); Vice President Alberto DAHIK Garzoni (since 10 August 1992); election runoff election held 5 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Sixto DURAN-BALLEN elected as president and Alberto DAHIK elected as vice president cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Far-Left parties
Popular Democratic Movement (MPD), Juan Jose CASTELLO, leader; Ecuadorian Socialist Party (PSE), Leon ROLDOS, leader; Broad Leftist Front (FADI), Rene Mauge MOSQUERA, chairman; Ecuadorian National Liberation (LN), Alfredo CASTILLO, director
FAX
[593] (2) 502-052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag
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
Independence
24 May 1822 (from Spain)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Legal system
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral
Member of
AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador local short form: Ecuador
National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
elections last held 1 May 1994 (next to be held 1 May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (77 total) PSC 25, PRE 11, MPD 8, ID 7, DP 7, PCE 7, PUR 2, CFP 2, APRE 2, PSE 1, FRA 1, PLRE 1, LN 1, independents 2
National holiday
Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of Quito)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Type
republic
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. ROMERO embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039-3420 telephone: [593] (2) 562-890, 561-624, 561-749
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 14% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); leading producer and exporter of bananas and balsawood; other agricultural exports - coffee, cocoa, fish, shrimp; other crops - rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; livestock products - cattle, sheep, hogs, beef, pork, dairy products; net importer of foodgrains, dairy products, and sugar
Budget
revenues: $2.76 billion expenditures: $2.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Currency
1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $498 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-91), $2.39 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $64 million
Electricity
capacity: 2,230,000 kW production: 6.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 612 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates
sucres (S/) per US$1 - 1,198.1 (December 1994), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993), 1,534.0 (1992), 1,046.25 (1991), 767.8 (1990), 767.78 (1990), 526.35 (1989)
Exports
$3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: petroleum 39%, bananas 17%, shrimp 16%, cocoa 3%, coffee 6% partners: US 42%, Latin America 29%, Caribbean, EU countries 17%
External debt
$13.2 billion (yearend 1993 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Illicit 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
Imports
$3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals partners: US 28%, EU 17%, Latin America 31%, Caribbean, Japan
Industrial production
growth rate 6.4% (1993); accounts for almost 35% of GDP, including petroleum
Industries
petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
25% (1994)
National product
GDP - purchasing power parity - $41.1 billion (1994 est.)
National product per capita
$3,840 (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate
3.9% (1994 est.)
Overview
Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Growth has been uneven in recent years because of fluctuations in prices for Ecuador's primary exports - oil and bananas - as well as because of government policies designed to curb inflation. President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN launched a series of macroeconomic reforms when he came into office in August 1992 which included raising domestic fuel prices and utility rates, eliminating most subsidies, and bringing the government budget into balance. These measures helped to reduce inflation from 55% in 1992 to 25% in 1994. DURAN-BALLEN has a much more favorable attitude toward foreign investment than his predecessor and has supported several laws designed to encourage foreign investment. Ecuador has implemented free or complementary trade agreements with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as applied for World Trade Organization membership. Ecuador signed a standby agreement with the IMF and rescheduled its $7.6 billion commercial debt in 1994 thereby regaining access to multilateral lending. Growth in 1994 speeded up to 3.9%, based on increased exports of bananas and non-traditional products, while international reserves increased to a record $1.6 billion.
Unemployment rate
7.1% (1994)
Communications
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 272, FM 0, shortwave 39 radios: NA
Telephone system
318,000 telephones; 30 telephones/1,000 persons; domestic facilities generally inadequate and unreliable local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Television
broadcast stations: 33 televisions: NA
Transportation
Airports
total: 175 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 15 with paved runways under 914 m: 107 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 31
Highways
total: 43,709 km paved: 5,245 km unpaved: 38,464 km
Inland waterways
1,500 km
Merchant marine
total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 222,822 GRT/326,447 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 13, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 10
Pipelines
crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
Ports
Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo
Railroads
total: 965 km (single track) narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge
Military and Security
Branches
Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP ________________________________________________________________________ EGYPT
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 2,814,867; males fit for military service 1,903,979; males reach military age (20) annually 113,985 (1995 est.)