2000 Edition

Background

The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). 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.

Area

land

276,840 sq km

note

includes Galapagos Islands

total

283,560 sq km

water

6,720 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Nevada

Climate

tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Coastline

2,237 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Chimborazo 6,267 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 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

border countries

Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

total

2,010 km

Land use

arable land

6%

forests and woodland

56%

other

15% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

5%

permanent pastures

18%

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, hydropower

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.23% (male 2,379,541; female 2,301,543) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 3,794,515; female 3,880,367) 65 years and over: 4.37% (male 262,701; female 301,425) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

26.51 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

5.52 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%

Infant mortality rate

35.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.99 years (2000 est.)

male

68.26 years

total population

71.06 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

88.2% (1995 est.)

male

92%

total population

90.1%

Nationality

adjective

Ecuadorian

noun

Ecuadorian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

12,920,092 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.04% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio

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: 0.87 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.18 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

22 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, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Gwen CLARE

embassy

Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito

mailing address

APO AA 34039

telephone

(2) 562-890

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI

telephone

(202) 234-7200

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Gustavo NOBOA (since 22 January 2000) following coup which deposed President MAHUAD; Vice President Pedro PINTO (since 28 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

results of the last election prior to the coup were: Jamil MAHUAD elected president; percent of vote - 51%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (no reelection); election last held 31 May 1998; runoff election held 12 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)

head of government

President Gustavo NOBOA (since 22 January 2000) following coup which deposed President MAHUAD; Vice President Pedro PINTO (since 28 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

note

a military-indigenous coup toppled democratically elected President Jamil MAHAUD on 21 January 2000; the military quickly handed power over to Vice President Gustavo NOBOA on 22 January; Congress then elected a new vice president from a slate of candidates submitted by NOBOA; the new administration is scheduled to complete the remainder of MAHAUD's term, due to expire in January 2003

FAX

(202) 667-3482

(2) 502-052

consulate(s) general

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

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 which 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court

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)

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

elections

last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP ; Democratic Left or ID ; Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE ; Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP ; Popular Democracy or DP ; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Jaime HURTADO Gonzalez]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA ; Roldosist Party or PRE ; Social Christian Party or PSC

note

political blocs include: far left - MPD; populist - CFP and P-NP; populist left - PRE; center left - ID, DP, and FRA; center right - PSC and PCE

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE

Suffrage

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$5.1 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)

revenues

planned $5.1 billion (not including revenue from potential privatizations)

Currency

1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$15.3 billion (1999)

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 aftermath of El Nino and depressed oil market of 1997-98 drove Ecuador's economy into a free-fall in 1999. The beginning of 1999 saw the banking sector collapse, which helped precipitate an unprecedented default on external loans later that year. Continued economic instability drove a 70% depreciation of the currency throughout 1999, which eventually forced a desperate government to dollarize the currency regime in 2000. The move stabilized the currency, but did not stave off the ouster of the government. The new president, Gustavo NOBOA has yet to complete negotiations for a long sought IMF accord. He will find it difficult to push through the reforms necessary to make dollarization work in the long-run.

Electricity - consumption

8.981 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

9.657 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

27.96%

hydro

72.04%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

sucres (S/) per US$1 - 24,860.7 (January 2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995)

Exports

$4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish

Exports - partners

US 39%, Colombia 7%, Italy 6%, Peru 5%, Chile 3% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $54.5 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

14%

industry

36%

services

50% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-8% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 37.6% (1994)

Imports

$2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, raw materials, fuels; consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 39%, Colombia 11%, Japan 9%, Venezuela 5%, Mexico 3% (1998)

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)

59.9% (1999 est.)

Labor force

4.2 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

12% with widespread underemployment (November 1998 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

8 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 392, FM 27, shortwave 29 (1998)

Radios

4.15 million (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

facilities generally inadequate and unreliable

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

748,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

49,776 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

15 (including one station on the Galapagos Islands) (1997)

Televisions

1.55 million (1997)

Airports

182 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

57 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

125 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 89 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

8,165 km

total

43,197 km

unpaved

35,032 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

chemical tanker 2, liquified gas 1, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 22 (1999 est.)

total

29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,151 GRT/388,750 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

narrow gauge

812 km 1.067-m gauge

total

812 km (single track)

Waterways

1,500 km

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$720 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,296,678 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,224,033 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

130,869 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

demarcation of the agreed-upon border with Peru was completed in May 1999

Illicit drugs

significant transit country for cocaine and derivatives of coca originating in Colombia and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub; increased activity on frontiers by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents

EGYPT