2011 Edition

Background

What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." 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. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected Presidents. In September 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections, under the new constitutional framework, were held in April 2009, and voters re-elected President Rafael CORREA.

Area

283,561 sq km 276,841 sq km 6,720 sq km includes Galapagos Islands

total

283,561 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

Pacific Ocean 0 m Chimborazo 6,267 m due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea-level

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 Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

Environment - international agreements

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands none of the selected agreements

party to

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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%) 1,283 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

1,283 cu m/yr (2000)

total

16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%)

Geographic coordinates

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Geography - note

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

Irrigated land

8,650 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

2,010 km Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

border countries

Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

total

2,010 km

Land use

5.71% 4.81% 89.48% (2005)

arable land

5.71%

other

89.48% (2005)

permanent crops

4.81%

Location

Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

200 nm 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath

continental shelf

100 nm from 2,500-m isobath

territorial sea

200 nm

Natural hazards

frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts Ecuador experiences volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Sangay (elev. 5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (elev. 1,476 m), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago

volcanism

Ecuador experiences volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Sangay (elev. 5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (elev. 1,476 m), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

432 cu km (2000)

Age structure

30.1% (male 2,301,840/female 2,209,971) 63.5% (male 4,699,548/female 4,831,521) 6.4% (male 463,481/female 500,982) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

30.1% (male 2,301,840/female 2,209,971)

15-64 years

63.5% (male 4,699,548/female 4,831,521)

65 years and over

6.4% (male 463,481/female 500,982) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

19.96 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.2% (2004)

Death rate

5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 97% of population rural: 88% of population total: 94% of population urban: 3% of population rural: 12% of population total: 6% of population (2008)

rural

12% of population

total

6% of population (2008)

urban

3% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,200 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

37,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

19.65 deaths/1,000 live births 23.02 deaths/1,000 live births 16.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

16.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

19.65 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Life expectancy at birth

75.73 years 72.79 years 78.82 years (2011 est.)

female

78.82 years (2011 est.)

total population

75.73 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 91% 92.3% 89.7% (2001 census)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

89.7% (2001 census)

male

92.3%

total population

91%

Major cities - population

Guayaquil 2.634 million; QUITO (capital) 1.801 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever and malaria leptospirosis (2009)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria

water contact disease

leptospirosis (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

140 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

25.7 years 25 years 26.3 years (2011 est.)

female

26.3 years (2011 est.)

male

25 years

total

25.7 years

Nationality

Ecuadorian(s) Ecuadorian

adjective

Ecuadorian

noun

Ecuadorian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

1.48 physicians/1,000 population (2000)

Population

15,007,343 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.443% (2011 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96% of population rural: 84% of population total: 92% of population urban: 4% of population rural: 16% of population total: 8% of population (2008)

rural

16% of population

total

8% of population (2008)

urban

4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 13 years 14 years (2008)

female

14 years (2008)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.93 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.42 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

14.1% 11.7% 18.1% (2009)

female

18.1% (2009)

total

14.1%

Urbanization

67% of total population (2010) 2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

67% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

24 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, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Capital

Quito 0 13 S, 78 30 W UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

0 13 S, 78 30 W

name

Quito

time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

20 October 2008

Country name

Republic of Ecuador Ecuador Republica del Ecuador Ecuador

conventional long form

Republic of Ecuador

conventional short form

Ecuador

local long form

Republica del Ecuador

local short form

Ecuador

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Timothy ZUNIGA-BROWN Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras [593] (2) 398-5000 [593] (2) 398-5100 Guayaquil

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Timothy ZUNIGA-BROWN

consulate(s) general

Guayaquil

embassy

Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito

FAX

[593] (2) 398-5100

mailing address

Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras

telephone

[593] (2) 398-5000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Efrain Baus PALACIOS 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 234-7200 [1] (202) 667-3482 Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Haven, New Orleans, New York, Newark (New Jersey), Phoenix, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

chancery

2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Efrain Baus PALACIOS

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Haven, New Orleans, New York, Newark (New Jersey), Phoenix, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-3482

telephone

[1] (202) 234-7200

Executive branch

President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007) Cabinet appointed by the president the president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for another consecutive term; election last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013) President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 52%; Lucio GUTIERREZ 28.2%; Alvaro NOBOA 11.4%; other 8.4%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 52%; Lucio GUTIERREZ 28.2%; Alvaro NOBOA 11.4%; other 8.4%

elections

the president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for another consecutive term; election last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013)

head of government

President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007)

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; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Columbia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; the yellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice 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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

CAN, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (according to the Constitution, justices are elected through a procedure overseen by the Judiciary Council); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitucional (Constitutional Court justices are appointed by a commission composed of two delegates each from the Executive, Legislative, and Transparency branches of government)

Legal system

civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (124 seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms) last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAIS 59, PSP 19, PSC 11, PRIAN 7, MPD 5, PRE 3, other 20; note - defections by members of National Assembly are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAIS 59, PSP 19, PSC 11, PRIAN 7, MPD 5, PRE 3, other 20; note - defections by members of National Assembly are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

elections

last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013)

National anthem

"Salve, Oh Patria!" (We Salute You Our Homeland) Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE adopted 1948; Juan Leon MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung

lyrics/music

Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE

name

"Salve, Oh Patria!" (We Salute You Our Homeland)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

Andean condor

Political parties and leaders

Alianza PAIS movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Democratic Left or ID [Dalton BACIGALUPO]; Ethical and Democratic Network or RED [Martha ROLDOS]; Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or PRIAN [Vicente TAIANO]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement - New Country or MUPP-NP [Rafael ANTUNI]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Luis VILLACIS]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Pulley, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Rafael QUINTERO]; Warrior's Spirit Movement [Jaime NEBOT]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Marlon SANTI, president]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Manuel CHUGCHILAN, president]; National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Luis Alberto ANDRANGO Cadena, president]; National Teacher's Union or UNE [Mariana PALLASCO]

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal, compulsory for 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

$21.5 billion $23.7 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$23.7 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$21.5 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate

8.68% (31 December 2010) 9.19% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9% (31 December 2010 est.) 9.203% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.917 billion (2010 est.) -$179.8 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$14.32 billion (30 June 2011 est.) $14.73 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

46.9 (June 2010) 50.5 (2006) data are for urban households

Economy - overview

Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and approximately one-third of public sector revenues in recent years. In 1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP contracting by 5.3%. Poverty increased significantly, the banking system collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt. In March 2000, the Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew an average of 5.2% per year, the highest five-year average in 25 years. After moderate growth in 2007, the economy reached a growth rate of 7.2% in 2008, in large part due to high global petroleum prices and increased public sector investment. President Rafael CORREA, who took office in January 2007, defaulted in December 2008 on Ecuador's sovereign debt, which, with a total face value of approximately US$3.2 billion, represented about 80% of Ecuador's private external debt. In May 2009, Ecuador bought back 91% of its "defaulted" bonds via an international auction. Economic policies under the CORREA administration - including an announcement in late 2009 of its intention to terminate 13 bilateral investment treaties, including one with the United States - have generated economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment. The Ecuadorian economy contracted 0.4% in 2009 due to the global financial crisis and to the sharp decline in world oil prices and remittance flows. Growth picked up to a 3.7% rate in 2010, according to Ecuadorian government estimates.

Electricity - consumption

14.75 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

21 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.099 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

18.06 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001

Exports

$18.06 billion (2010 est.) $14.41 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, wood, fish

Exports - partners

US 37.3%, Panama 13%, Peru 6.2%, Colombia 4.5%, Russia 4.2%, Chile 4.2% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

6.4% 35.9% 57.7% (2010 est.)

agriculture

6.4%

industry

35.9%

services

57.7% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,800 (2010 est.) $7,600 (2009 est.) $7,700 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2010 est.) 0.4% (2009 est.) 7.2% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$58.91 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$115 billion (2010 est.) $111.4 billion (2009 est.) $111 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1% 35.3% data for urban households only (June 2010)

highest 10%

35.3%

lowest 10%

1%

Imports

$19.64 billion (2010 est.) $14.27 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 29.6%, Colombia 9.3%, China 8.1%, Venezuela 5.9%, Brazil 5.3% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

3.1% (2010 est.)

Industries

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2010 est.) 5.2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

4.645 million (urban) (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

8.3% 21.2% 70.4% (2005)

agriculture

8.3%

industry

21.2%

services

70.4% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$5.263 billion (31 December 2010) $4.248 billion (31 December 2009) $4.562 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

296 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

296 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

7.985 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

201,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

364,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

80,430 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

485,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

6.51 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

33.1% (June 2010)

Public debt

23.2% of GDP (2010 est.) 19.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.622 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.792 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$21.22 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $18.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6.848 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $7.962 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$12.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $11.95 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$16.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $12.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.421 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.201 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

36.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (2010 est.) 8.5% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

many TV and radio stations are privately-owned; the government owns and runs one national television station and controls two others, as well as multiple radio stations; Ecuador has multiple television networks and TV channels, and a large number of local channels; more than 400 radio stations; broadcast media required by law to give the government free air time to broadcast programs produced by the state (2007)

Internet country code

.ec

Internet hosts

67,975 (2010)

Internet users

3.352 million (2009)

Telephone system

generally elementary but being expanded fixed-line services provided by multiple telecommunications operators; fixed-line teledensity stands at about 14 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular use has surged and subscribership reached about 95 per 100 persons in 2009 country code - 593; landing points for the PAN-AM and South America-1 submarine cables that provide links to the west coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

domestic

fixed-line services provided by multiple telecommunications operators; fixed-line teledensity stands at about 14 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular use has surged and subscribership reached about 95 per 100 persons in 2009

general assessment

generally elementary but being expanded

international

country code - 593; landing points for the PAN-AM and South America-1 submarine cables that provide links to the west coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.086 million (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

14.781 million (2010)

Airports

428 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

55 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

17

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

25

over 3,047 m

3

total

105

under 914 m

55 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

284 (2010)

914 to 1,523 m

39

total

323

under 914 m

284 (2010)

Heliports

2 (2010)

Merchant marine

cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 9, petroleum tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 1 7 (Bolivia 1, Panama 6) (2010)

registered in other countries

7 (Bolivia 1, Panama 6) (2010)

total

41

Pipelines

extra heavy crude 434 km; gas 5 km; oil 1,378 km; refined products 1,262 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar

Railways

965 km 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2010)

total

965 km

Roadways

43,670 km 6,472 km 37,198 km (2007)

total

43,670 km

unpaved

37,198 km (2007)

Waterways

1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

3,728,906 3,844,918 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

3,844,918 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,728,906

Manpower fit for military service

2,834,213 3,269,535 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

3,269,535 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,834,213

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

152,593 147,143 (2010 est.)

female

147,143 (2010 est.)

male

152,593

Military branches

Ecuadorian Armed Forces: Ecuadorian Land Force (Fuerza Terrestre Ecuatoriana, FTE), Ecuadorian Navy (Fuerza Naval del Ecuador (FNE), includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2011)

Ecuadorian Armed Forces

Ecuadorian Land Force (Fuerza Terrestre Ecuatoriana, FTE), Ecuadorian Navy (Fuerza Naval del Ecuador (FNE), includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2011)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for selective conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2008)

Disputes - international

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border, which thousands of Colombians also cross to escape the violence in their home country

Illicit drugs

significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with much of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents (2011)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

11,526 (Colombia); note - UNHCR estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians are seeking asylum in Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees for fear of deportation (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

11,526 (Colombia); note - UNHCR estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians are seeking asylum in Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees for fear of deportation (2007)

Trafficking in persons

Ecuador is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; the majority of trafficking victims are believed to be women and children trafficked within the country from border and central highland areas to urban centers for nonconsensual commercial sexual exploitation, as well as for domestic servitude, forced begging, and forced labor in mines and other hazardous work; children are forced to work as domestic servants, street vendors, and beggars and some are forced to engage in criminal activity, such as drug trafficking and robbery; Ecuadorian women are subjected to forced prostitution in Colombia, Peru, and Western Europe; Ecuador is a destination country for Colombian, Peruvian, and to a lesser extent, Chinese women and girls subjected to sex trafficking Tier 2 Watch List - the government did not show evidence of increased efforts to address forced labor and sex trafficking crimes involving adults, or trafficking-related complicity of local government officials, and government protections for adult victims remained inadequate; the government did, however, sustain modest law enforcement measures against child sex trafficking offenders, and continued to work with civil society and the private sector to raise awareness of forced labor and sex trafficking of children (2011)

current situation

Ecuador is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; the majority of trafficking victims are believed to be women and children trafficked within the country from border and central highland areas to urban centers for nonconsensual commercial sexual exploitation, as well as for domestic servitude, forced begging, and forced labor in mines and other hazardous work; children are forced to work as domestic servants, street vendors, and beggars and some are forced to engage in criminal activity, such as drug trafficking and robbery; Ecuadorian women are subjected to forced prostitution in Colombia, Peru, and Western Europe; Ecuador is a destination country for Colombian, Peruvian, and to a lesser extent, Chinese women and girls subjected to sex trafficking

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - the government did not show evidence of increased efforts to address forced labor and sex trafficking crimes involving adults, or trafficking-related complicity of local government officials, and government protections for adult victims remained inadequate; the government did, however, sustain modest law enforcement measures against child sex trafficking offenders, and continued to work with civil society and the private sector to raise awareness of forced labor and sex trafficking of children (2011)