1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (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: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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: 35% (male 2,250,690; female 2,172,302) 15-64 years: 60% (male 3,745,390; female 3,833,841) 65 years and over: 5% (male 261,090; female 299,183) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
22.26 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
5.06 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 55%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%
Infant mortality rate
30.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 72.16 years male: 69.54 years female: 74.9 years (1999 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
0.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
12,562,496 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.78% (1999 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: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.63 children born/woman (1999 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 note: a new province, Orellana, was reported to have been formed in 1998
Capital
Quito
Constitution
10 August 1998
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 Jamil MAHUAD (since 10 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo NOBOA (since 10 August 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jamil MAHUAD (since 10 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo NOBOA (since 10 August 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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 31 May 1998; runoff election held 12 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: Jamil MAHUAD elected president; percent of vote--51%
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
CAN, 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, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: BRAVO] director] EHLERS] Gonzalez]
Legal system
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (121 seats; 79 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to serve four-year terms; 42 members are popularly elected by province--two per province--for four-year terms) elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--DP 32, PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3, MPD 2, CFP 1; note--defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
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
Economy
Agriculture--products
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Budget
revenues: planned $5.1 billion not including revenue from potential privatizations expenditures: $5.1 billion (1999)
Currency
1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos
Debt--external
$12.5 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient
$695.7 million (1995)
Economy--overview
Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. In recent years, growth has been uneven due to ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The populist government of Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz proposed a major currency reform in 1996, but popular discontent with BUCARAM'S austerity measures and rampant official corruption led to his replacement by National Congress with Fabian ALARCON in February 1997. ALARCON adopted a minimalist economic program that put off necessary reforms until August 1998 when President Jamil MAHUAD was elected. MAHAUD inherited an economy in crisis due to mismanagement, El Nino damage to key export sectors such as agriculture, and low world commodity prices in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. MAHAUD announced a fiscal austerity package and expressed interest in an IMF agreement but faces major difficulties in promoting economic growth, including possible political objections to further reform.
Electricity--consumption
8.45 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
8.45 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 17.16% hydro: 82.84% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
sucres (S/) per US$1--7,133.1 (January 1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994)
Exports
$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities
petroleum 30%, bananas 26%, shrimp 16%, cut flowers 2%, fish 1.9%
Exports--partners
US 39%, Latin America 25%, EU countries 22%, Asia 12%
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$58.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 12% industry: 37% services: 51% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$4,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
1% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 37.6% (1994)
Imports
$2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities
transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals
Imports--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 prices)
43% (1998 est.)
Labor force
4.2 million
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 29%, manufacturing 18%, commerce 15%, services and other activities 38% (1990)
Population below poverty line
35% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
12% with widespread underemployment (November 1998 est.)
Communications
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
15 (including one station on the Galapagos Islands) (1997)
Televisions
940,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
183 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 56 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 127 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 90 (1998 est.)
Heliports
1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 42,874 km paved: 5,752 km unpaved: 37,122 km (1998 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 99,078 GRT/162,423 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 17, passenger 3 (1998 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
$720 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
3.4% (1998)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 3,259,534 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,199,704 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
20 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 130,208 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
on October 26, 1998, Peru and Ecuador concluded treaties on commerce and navigation and on boundary integration, to complete a package of agreements settling the long-standing boundary dispute between them; demarcation of the agreed-upon boundary was scheduled to begin in mid-January 1999
Illicit drugs
significant transit country for derivatives of coca originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub