2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.9% (male 2,430,303; female 2,351,166) 15-64 years: 60.6% (male 4,116,289; female 4,198,667) 65 years and over: 4.5% (male 284,082; female 329,727) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

205 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 18

total

61

under 914 m

18 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

144 914 to 1,523 m: 31

under 914 m

113 (2002)

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

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. Geography Ecuador

Birth rate

24.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

planned $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

revenues

$5.6 billion

Capital

Quito

Climate

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

Coastline

2,237 km

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

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Death rate

5.29 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$14.4 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Kristie Anne KENNEY

embassy

Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito

mailing address

APO AA 34039

telephone

[593] (2) 256-2890

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Raul GANGOTENA Rivadeneira

consulate(s) general

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

Disputes - international

none

Distribution of family income - Gini index

43.7 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$120 million (2001)

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 (WTrO) in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. 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 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. Gustavo NOBOA, who assumed the presidency in January 2000, has managed to pass substantial economic reforms and mend relations with international financial institutions. Ecuador completed its first standby agreement since 1986 when the IMF Board approved a 10 December 2001 disbursement of $96 million, the final installment of a $300 million standby credit agreement. In February 2003, newly installed president Lucio GUTIERREZ faced a budget gap and massive foreign debt. He has pledged to use oil revenues to pay off debt and is seeking additional IMF support.

Electricity - consumption

69.96 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

75.23 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

81%

hydro

19%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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 in ecologically sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands

Environment - international agreements

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

sucres per US dollar - 25,000 (2002), 25,000 (2001), 24,988.4 (2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.57 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January 2003); Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

results of the 24 November 2002 runoff election - Lucio GUTIERREZ elected president; percent of vote - Lucio GUTIERREZ 54.3%; Alvaro NOBOA 45.7%

elections

the president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (no reelection); election last held 20 October 2002; runoff election held 24 November 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)

head of government

President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January 2003); Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$4.9 billion (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 39%, Colombia 5.6%, South Korea 5.1%, Germany 5%, Italy 4.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-3482

[593] (2) 250-2052

chancery

2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

consulate(s) general

Guayaquil

telephone

[1] (202) 234-7200

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Ecuador

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 Economy Ecuador

GDP

purchasing power parity - $42.65 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

11%

industry

33%

services

56% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.4% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Geography - note

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world People Ecuador

Government type

republic

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Ecuador

Highways

paved

8,164 km

total

43,197 km

unpaved

35,033 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,700 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

20,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

33.8% (1995)

lowest 10%

2.2%

Illicit drugs

significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; dollarization may raise the volume of money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$6 billion (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw materials, fuels; consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 28.6%, Colombia 14.4%, Japan 6%, Chile 4.5%, Brazil 4.1% (2002)

Independence

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

Industrial production growth rate

5.1% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

26.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

37.28 deaths/1,000 live births

total

31.97 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.ec

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

31 (2001)

Internet users

328,000 (2002) Transportation Ecuador

Irrigated land

8,650 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

3.7 million (urban)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

total

2,010 km

Land use

arable land

5.69%

other

89.16% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

5.15%

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PSC 25, PRE 15, ID 16, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD 5, DP 4, PS 3, independents 7; 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 20 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.86 years (2003 est.)

male

69.06 years

total population

71.89 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91% (2003 est.) Government Ecuador

male

94%

total population

92.5%

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

Median age

female

23 years (2002)

male

22 years

total

22.5 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Chile 1, Greece 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 23, specialized tanker 1

total

33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 239,276 GRT/392,048 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$720 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (FY98) Transnational Issues Ecuador

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

3,555,068 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

2,395,178 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

137,433 (2003 est.)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective

Ecuadorian

noun

Ecuadorian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

160 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

160 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

106.5 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Net migration rate

-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

421,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

2.358 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 71 km; oil 1,575 km; refined products 1,185 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM]; Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos]; National Action Institutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [leader NA]; Pachakutik Movement [Miguel LLUCO]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [leader NA]; Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan Manuel FUERTES]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Leonidas IZA, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA CRUZ, president]; Popular Front or FP [Luis VILLACIS]

Population

13,710,234 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.91% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Radios

5 million (2001)

Railways

narrow gauge

966 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)

total

966 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

Suffrage

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

Telephone system

domestic

facilities generally inadequate and unreliable

general assessment

generally elementary but being expanded

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,115,272 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

384,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

2.5 million (2001)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.7%; note - widespread underemployment (2001 est.)

Waterways

1,500 km