1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 283,560 sq km land: 276,840 sq km water: 6,720 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands
Area-comparative
slightly smaller than Nevada
Climate
tropical along coast becoming cooler inland
Coastline
2,237 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Environment-current issues
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes
Environment-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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Geography-note
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
Irrigated land
5,560 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Land use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 56% other: 15% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, timber
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% (male 2,253,920; female 2,175,402) 15-64 years: 60% (male 3,636,637; female 3,725,766) 65 years and over: 4% (male 254,432; female 290,415) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
23.16 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
5.17 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 55%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%
Infant mortality rate
32.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.8 years male: 69.19 years female: 74.54 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.1% male: 92% female: 88.2% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian
Net migration rate
0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
12,336,572 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
1.86% (1998 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 95%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.75 children born/woman (1998 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
Center-Left parties
Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leader]; Popular Democracy or DP [Jamil MAHUAD, leader]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosista Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM, leader]
Center-Right parties
Social Christian Party or PSC [Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president]; Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE [Freddy BRAVO]
Constitution
10 August 1979
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador local short form: Ecuador
Data code
EC
Executive branch
chief of state: President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997); Vice President Pedro AGUAYO (since 1 April 1998); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997); Vice President Pedro AGUAYO (since 1 April 1998); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government note: in an unusual, out of cycle change in executive power, Congress on 11 February 1997 elected then Congress President ALARCON to be Interim President until August 1998 after ousting former President BUCARAM because of "mental incapacity"; ARTEAGA remained vice president until March 1998 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 19 May 1996; runoff election held 7 July 1996; note-because of the February 1997 unusual change in executive power, the next presidential elections will take place 31 May 1998 election results: runoff election; percent of vote-Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz 54%, Jaime NEBOT 46%; note-in February 1997, Congress elected ALARCON to be Interim President until August 1998, with 57 of 82 Congressmen voting in favor of him
Far-Left parties
Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Juan Jose CASTELLO, leader]
FAX
[593] (2) 502-052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag 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
Government type
republic
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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MINUGUA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto Federico MASPONS GUZMAN 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, Philadelphia, and San Francisco consulate(s): Newark Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie ALEXANDER embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039 telephone: [593] (2) 562-890
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by Congress Political parties and leaders:
Leftist parties
Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [leader NA]
Legal system
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (82 seats; 12 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to serve four-year terms; 70 members are popularly elected by province for two-year terms) elections: last held 19 May 1996 (next to be held 31 May 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PSC 27, PRE 19, DP 12, P-NP 8, ID 4, FRA 3, MPD 2, PCE 2, CFP 1, independents and other 4; note - defections by members of congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
National capital
Quito
National holiday
Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of Quito)
Populist parties
Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM, leader]; Popular Revolutionary Action or APRE [Frank VARGAS Passos, leader]; Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP [Freddy EHLERS]
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Economy
Agriculture-products
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Budget
revenues: $3.6 billion (1997) expenditures: $3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Currency
1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos
Debt-external
$12.5 billion (1997)
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $153 million (1993) note: received $12.7 million from the US and $160 million from other countries in 1995
Economy-overview
Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. As an exporter of primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Growth has been uneven in recent years as the government has repeatedly initiated ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The populist government of Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz proposed a major currency reform in 1996, but popular discontent with new austerity measures and rampant official corruption undermined his government's position. Congress replaced BUCARAM with Fabian ALARCON in February 1997. ALARCON has adopted a minimalist economic program that puts off major decisions until the next elected government takes office in August 1998. Ecuador joined the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. Growth slowed to 2.0% in 1996, due to a lack of investment caused by political uncertainty and high domestic interest rates, but economic activity picked up in 1997. Exports and economic growth in 1998 may be adversely affected by lower world oil prices and, to a smaller extent, by El Nino.
Electricity-capacity
2.754 million kW (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita
600 kWh (1996)
Electricity-production
9.27 billion kWh (1996)
Exchange rates
sucres (S/) per US$1-4,498.0 (January 1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993)
Exports
total value: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: petroleum 30%, bananas 26%, shrimp 16%, cut flowers 2%, fish 1.9% partners: US 39%, Latin America 25%, EU countries 22%, Asia 12%
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$53.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: 12% industry: 37% services: 51% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$4,400 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
3.4% (1997 est.)
Imports
total value: $2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997) commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals partners: US 32%, EU 19%, Latin America 35%, Asia 11%
Industrial production growth rate
2.4% (1997 est.)
Industries
petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Inflation rate-consumer price index
31% (1997 est.)
Labor force
total: 4.2 million by occupation: agriculture 29%, manufacturing 18%, commerce 15%, services and other activities 38% (1990)
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.)
Unemployment rate
6.9% with widespread underemployment (August 1997 est.)
Transportation
Airports
183 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 52 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 18 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 131 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 38 under 914 m: 90 (1997 est.)
Heliports
1 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 43,249 km paved: 5,752 km unpaved: 37,497 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,423 GRT/137,272 DWT ships by type: liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 14, passenger 3 (1997 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo
Railways
total: 965 km (single track) narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge
Waterways
1,500 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$411 million (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
2.1% (1997)
Military manpower-availability
males age 15-49: 3,168,489 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 2,139,516 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-military age
20 years of age
Military manpower-reaching military age annually
males: 127,810 (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute
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