1996 Edition

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 that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Location

2 00 S, 77 30 W -- Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than Nevada

land area

276,840 sq km

note

includes Galapagos Islands

total area

283,560 sq km

Climate

tropical along coast becoming cooler inland

Coastline

2,237 km

Environment

current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution

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

natural hazards

frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts

Geographic coordinates

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Geographic note

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

International disputes

three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute

Irrigated land

5,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

total

2,010 km

Land use

arable land

6%

forest and woodland

51%

meadows and pastures

17%

other

23%

permanent crops

3%

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

Terrain

coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

highest point

Chimborazo 6,267 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 35% (male 2,062,468; female 1,996,679) 15-64 years: 60% (male 3,403,197; female 3,489,728) 65 years and over: 5% (male 241,217; female 273,002) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

25.06 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%

Infant mortality rate

34.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.82 years (1996 est.)

male

68.49 years

total population

71.09 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

88.2%

male

92%

total population

90.1%

Nationality

adjective

Ecuadorian

noun

Ecuadorian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

11,466,291 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.96% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

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: 0.88 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Center-Right parties

Republican Unity Party (PUR); Social Christian Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president; Ecuadorian Conservative Party (PCE), President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN (two parties merged in 1995)

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

Data code

EC

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Edgar TERAN Teran

consulate(s)

Newark

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco

telephone

[1] (202) 234-7200

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the president

chief of state and head of government

President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN Cordovez (since 10 August 1992); Vice President Eduardo PENA Trivino (since 18 October 1995); president and vice president were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage; runoff election held 5 July 1992; results - Sixto DURAN-BALLEN elected as president (next election was held 19 May 1996; no presidential candidate received more than 50% of the vote; a runoff election between BUCARAM and NEBOT will be held on 7 July 1996); note - former Vice President DAHIK resigned 11 October 1995 and left the country to escape arrest on corruption charges; National Congress chose PENA as his successor in accordance with the constitution

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)

International organization participation

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, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by the Chamber of Representatives

Legal system

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

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 19 May 1996; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (82 total) PSC 27, PRE 21, DP 10, Pachakutik Movement 7, ID 5, PLRE 3, MPD 2, APRE 2, CFP 1, independent and other 4

National holiday

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

Populist parties

Roldosist Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director; Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP), Rodolfo BAQUERIZO Nazur, leader; Popular Revolutionary Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS Passos, leader

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Type of government

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

telephone

[593] (2) 562-890

Agriculture

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

Budget

expenditures

$3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

revenues

$3.3 billion

Currency

1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos

Economic aid

note

received $12.7 million from the US and $160 million from other countries in 1995

recipient

ODA, $153 million (1993)

Economic 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 1995. 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 joined the World Trade Organization. Growth slowed to 2.3% in 1995 due in part to high domestic interest rates and shortages of electric power.

Electricity

capacity

2,230,000 kW

consumption per capita

612 kWh (1993)

production

6.9 billion kWh

Exchange rates

sucres (S/) per US$1 - 2914.8 (31 December 1995), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993), 1,534.0 (1992), 1,046.25 (1991)

Exports

$4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities

petroleum 39%, bananas 17%, shrimp 16%, cocoa 3%, coffee 6%

partners

US 42%, Latin America 29%, Caribbean, EU countries 17%

External debt

$12.6 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $44.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

13%

industry

39%

services

48% (1992 est.)

GDP per capita

$4,100 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2.3% (1995 est.)

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

$3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994)

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)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

25% (1995)

Labor force

2.8 million

by occupation

agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%, services and other activities 28% (1982)

Unemployment rate

7.1% (1994)

Branches

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

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $386 million, 2.1% of GDP (1995)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

2,968,361

males fit for military service

2,006,509

males reach military age (20) annually

121,241 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 272, FM 0, shortwave 39

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic

facilities generally inadequate and unreliable

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

586,300 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations

33

Televisions

940,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

188

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

8

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

7

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

13

with paved runways over 3 047 m

2

with paved runways under 914 m

121

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

5

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

32 (1995 est.)

Heliports

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

5,245 km

total

43,709 km

unpaved

38,464 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

container 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 12, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)

total

19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 114,701 GRT/171,240 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km

Ports

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

Railways

narrow gauge

965 km 1.067-m gauge

total

965 km (single track)

Waterways

1,500 km