2019 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 late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in April 2017, and voters elected President Lenin MORENO.

Area

Land

276,841 sq km

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

Highest Point

Chimborazo 6,267

Lowest Point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Mean Elevation

1,117 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

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

Geographic Coordinates

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Geography Note

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

Irrigated Land

15,000 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Colombia 708 km, Peru 1529 km

Total

2,237 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

29.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

4.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

5.6% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

19.4% (2011 est.)

Forest

38.9% (2011 est.)

Other

31.4% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map References

South America

Maritime Claims

Continental Shelf

200 nm

Exclusive Economic Zone

200 nm

Territorial Sea

200 nm

Natural Hazards

frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (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 (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

Population Distribution

nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior in the Andean intermontane basins and valleys, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

26.64% (male 2,242,148 /female 2,153,776)

15 24 Years

18.19% (male 1,526,300 /female 1,474,626)

25 54 Years

39.82% (male 3,207,692 /female 3,362,464)

55 64 Years

7.67% (male 615,769 /female 649,777)

65 Years And Over

7.67% (male 599,221 /female 666,729) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

17.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

5.1% (2014)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

80.1% (2007/12)

Current Health Expenditure

8.4% (2016)

Death Rate

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Ecuador's high poverty and income inequality most affect indigenous, mixed race, and rural populations. The government has increased its social spending to ameliorate these problems, but critics question the efficiency and implementation of its national development plan. Nevertheless, the conditional cash transfer program, which requires participants' children to attend school and have medical check-ups, has helped improve educational attainment and healthcare among poor children. Ecuador is stalled at above replacement level fertility and the population most likely will keep growing rather than stabilize.An estimated 2 to 3 million Ecuadorians live abroad, but increased unemployment in key receiving countries - Spain, the United States, and Italy - is slowing emigration and increasing the likelihood of returnees to Ecuador. The first large-scale emigration of Ecuadorians occurred between 1980 and 2000, when an economic crisis drove Ecuadorians from southern provinces to New York City, where they had trade contacts. A second, nationwide wave of emigration in the late 1990s was caused by another economic downturn, political instability, and a currency crisis. Spain was the logical destination because of its shared language and the wide availability of low-skilled, informal jobs at a time when increased border surveillance made illegal migration to the US difficult. Ecuador has a small but growing immigrant population and is Latin America's top recipient of refugees; 98% are neighboring Colombians fleeing violence in their country.

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

10.4 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

9.6 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

55.6 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

45.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

75.5% of population

Improved Total

86.9% of population

Improved Urban

93.4% of population

Unimproved Rural

24.5% of population

Unimproved Total

13.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

6.6% of population

Education Expenditures

5% of GDP (2015)

Ethnic Groups

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 71.9%, Montubio 7.4%, Amerindian 7%, white 6.1%, Afroecuadorian 4.3%, mulatto 1.9%, black 1%, other 0.4% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.4% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<1000 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

44,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

18.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

15.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Spanish (Castilian) 93% (official), Quechua 4.1%, other indigenous 0.7%, foreign 2.2% (2010 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

80.3 years

Male

74.2 years

Total Population

77.1 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

93.3% (2016)

Male

95.4%

Total Population

94.4%

Major Infectious Diseases

Degree Of Risk

high (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

dengue fever and malaria (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

2.946 million Guayaquil, 1.848 million QUITO (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

59 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

28.8 years

Male

27.3 years

Total

28.1 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Ecuadorian

Noun

Ecuadorian(s)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

19.9% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.05 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

16,498,502 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.25% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 74%, Evangelical 10.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.4% (includes Mormon, Buddhist, Jewish, Spiritualist, Muslim, Hindu, indigenous, African American, Pentecostal), atheist 7.9%, agnostic 0.1% (2012 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

80.7% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

84.7% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

87% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

19.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

15.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

13% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

16 years (2015)

Male

15 years

Total

16 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.95 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.9 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.99 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.15 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

10.6% (2018 est.)

Male

6.4%

Total

7.9%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.66% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

64% of total population (2019)

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

Geographic Coordinates

0 13 S, 78 30 W

Name

Quito

Time Difference

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

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

yes

Citizenship By Descent Only

yes

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

3 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by the president of the republic through a referendum, by public petition of at least 1% of registered voters, or by agreement of at least one-third membership of the National Assembly; passage requires two separate readings a year apart and approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, and approval by absolute majority in a referendum; amendments such as changes to the structure of the state, constraints on personal rights and guarantees, or constitutional amendment procedures are not allowed; amended 2011, 2015, 2018; note - a 2015 constitutional amendment lifting presidential term limits was overturned by a February 2018 referendum (2018)

History

many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Republic of Ecuador

Conventional Short Form

Ecuador

Etymology

the country's position on the globe, straddling the Equator, accounts for its Spanish name

Local Long Form

Republica del Ecuador

Local Short Form

Ecuador

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Michael J. FITZPATRICK (since 18 June 2019)

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

Chancery

2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Francisco Benjamin Esteban CARRION Mena (since 24 January 2018)

Consulate's General

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Haven (CT), New Orleans, New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Francisco

Fax

[1] (202) 667-3482

Telephone

[1] (202) 234-7200

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Chief Of State

President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 24 May 2017); Vice President Otto Ramon SONNENHOLZNER Sper (since 11 December 2018); note - Vice President Jorge GLAS Espinel (since 24 May 2013) was jailed for corruption and absent from office for more than 3 months, causing him to be constitutionally stripped of his office; Vice President Maria Alejandra VICUNA Munoz (since 6 January 2018) resigned from office 4 December 2018; president is both chief of state and head of government

Election Results

Lenin MORENO Garces elected president in second round; percent of vote - Lenin MORENO Garces (Alianza PAIS Movement) 51.1%, Guillermo LASSO (CREO) 48.9%

Elections Appointments

president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 February 2017 with a runoff on 2 April 2017 (next to be held in 2021)

Head Of Government

President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 24 May 2017); Vice President Otto Ramon SONNENHOLZNER Sper (since 11 December 2018)

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 Colombia, 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

Government Type

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

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (consists of 21 judges, including the chief justice and organized into 5 specialized chambers); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitucional (consists of 9 judges)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

justices of National Court of Justice elected by the Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body of law professionals; judges elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the executive, legislative, and Citizen Participation branches of government; judges appointed for 9-year non-renewable terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years

Subordinate Courts

Fiscal Tribunal; Election Dispute Settlement Courts, provincial courts (one for each province); cantonal courts

Legal System

civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in indigenous communities

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (137 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 15 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote, and 6 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies for Ecuadorians living abroad by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - PAIS 39.1%, CREO-SUMA 20.1%, PSC 15.9%, ID 3.8%, MUPP 2.7%, other 10.7; seats by party - PAIS 74, CREO-SUMA 34, PSC 15, ID 4, MUPP 4, PSP 2, Fuerza Ecuador 1, independent 3; composition - men 85, women 52, percent of women 38%; 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 19 February 2017 (next to be held in 2021)

National Anthem

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; national colors: yellow, blue, red

Political Parties And Leaders

Alianza PAIS movement [Lenin Voltaire MORENO Garces] Avanza Party or AVANZA [Ramiro GONZALEZ] Citizen Revolution Movement or MRC [Rafael CORREA] Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO [Guillermo LASSO] Democratic Left or ID Forward Ecuador Movement [Alvaro NOBOA] Fuerza Ecuador [Abdala BUCARAM] (successor to Roldosist Party) Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP [Marlon Rene SANTI Gualinga] Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Gilmar GUTIERREZ Borbua] Popular Democracy Movement or MPD [Luis VILLACIS] Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO] Socialist Party [Patricio ZABRANO] Society United for More Action or SUMA [Mauricio RODAS]

Suffrage

18-65 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters, voluntary

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

38.08 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

33.43 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-4.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2010

8.68%

31 December 2011

8.17%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

8.69%

31 December 2017

7.92%

Current Account Balance

2016

$1.442 billion

2017

-$349 million

Debt External

31 December 2016

$38.14 billion

31 December 2017

$39.29 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

December 2017

48.5

Economy Overview

Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which accounted for about a third of the country's export earnings in 2017. Remittances from overseas Ecuadorian are also important.In 1999/2000, Ecuador's economy suffered from a banking crisis that lead to some reforms, including adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in most of the years that followed. China has become Ecuador's largest foreign lender since 2008 and now accounts for 77.7% of the Ecuador’s bilateral debt. Various economic policies under the CORREA administration, such as an announcement in 2017 that Ecuador would terminate 13 bilateral investment treaties - including one with the US, generated economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment.Faced with a 2013 trade deficit of $1.1 billion, Ecuador imposed tariff surcharges from 5% to 45% on an estimated 32% of imports. Ecuador’s economy fell into recession in 2015 and remained in recession in 2016. Declining oil prices and exports forced the CORREA administration to cut government oulays. Foreign investment in Ecuador is low as a result of the unstable regulatory environment and weak rule of law.n April of 2017, Lenin MORENO was elected President of Ecuador by popular vote. His immediate challenge was to reengage the private sector to improve cash flow in the country. Ecuador’s economy returned to positive, but sluggish, growth. In early 2018, the MORENO administration held a public referendum on seven economic and political issues in a move counter to CORREA-administration policies, reduce corruption, strengthen democracy, and revive employment and the economy. The referendum resulted in repeal of taxes associated with recovery from the earthquake of 2016, reduced restrictions on metal mining in the Yasuni Intangible Zone - a protected area, and several political reforms.

Exchange Rates

the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001

Exports

2016

$16.8 billion

2017

$19.62 billion

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

US 31.5%, Vietnam 7.6%, Peru 6.7%, Chile 6.5%, Panama 4.9%, Russia 4.4%, China 4% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

20.8% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

14.4% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

60.7% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-21.3% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

24.3% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

1% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

6.7% (2017 est.)

Industry

32.9% (2017 est.)

Services

60.4% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$104.3 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$11,700

2016

$11,400

2017

$11,500

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$190.9 billion

2016

$188.6 billion

2017

$193 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

0.1%

2016

-1.2%

2017

2.4%

Gross National Saving

2015

24.7% of GDP

2016

26.4% of GDP

2017

25.9% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

35.4% (2012 est.)

Lowest 10

1.4%

Imports

2016

$15.86 billion

2017

$19.31 billion

Imports Commodities

industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods

Imports Partners

US 22.8%, China 15.4%, Colombia 8.7%, Panama 6.4%, Brazil 4.4%, Peru 4.2% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

-0.6% (2017 est.)

Industries

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

1.7%

2017

0.4%

Labor Force

8.086 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

26.1%

Industry

18.4%

Services

55.5% (2017 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2015

$6.615 billion

31 December 2016

$6.065 billion

31 December 2017

$6.838 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

21.5% (December 2017 est.)

Public Debt

2016

43.2% of GDP

2017

45.4% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$4.259 billion

31 December 2017

$2.395 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$9.281 billion

31 December 2017

$9.578 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2012

$6.33 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$16.63 billion

31 December 2017

$17.25 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$35.56 billion

31 December 2017

$39.3 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$9.281 billion

31 December 2017

$9.578 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

32% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

5.2%

2017

4.6%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

37.54 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

383,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

517,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

8.273 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

99.8% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

99.9% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

100% (2016)

Population Without Electricity

500,000 (2016)

Electricity Consumption

22.68 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

211 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

43% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

54% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

82 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

8.192 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

26.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

453.1 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

477.8 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

10.9 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

265,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

25,870 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

153,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

137,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

10 (2017 est.)

Total

1,683,783

Broadcast Media

about 60 media outlets are recognized as national; the Ecuadorian Government controls 12 national outlets and multiple radio stations; there are multiple TV networks and many local channels, as well as more than 300 radio stations; many TV and radio stations are privately owned; broadcast media is required by law to give the government free airtime to broadcast programs produced by the state; the Ecuadorian Government is the biggest advertiser and grants advertising contracts to outlets that provide favorable coverage; an antimonopoly law and communication law limit ownership and investment in the media by non-media businesses (2019)

Internet Country Code

.ec

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

54.1% (July 2016 est.)

Total

8,693,739

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line services with digital networks provided by multiple telecommunications operators; fixed-line teledensity stands at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular use has surged and subscribership has reached 85 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

fixed-line service and sophisticated 4G LTE ultra-broadband network; much of the country's fixed-line structure is influenced by topographical challenges associated with the Andes Mountains; Ecuador has a small telecom market with a dominant mobile sector; the state-owned incumbent CNT dominates the fixed-line market, and therefore the DSL broadband market as well (2018)

International

country code - 593; landing points for the PAN-AM, PCCS, America Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable and SAm-1 submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, and extending onward to the Caribbean and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

15 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

2,415,204

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

85 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

13,881,562

Airports

432 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

18 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

5 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

26 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

4 (2017)

Total

104 (2017)

Under 914 M

51 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

37 (2013)

Total

328 (2013)

Under 914 M

291 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

HC (2016)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

container ship 1, general cargo 6, oil tanker 34, other 96 (2018)

Total

137

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

86,128,720 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

5,762,485 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

35 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

7 (2015)

Pipelines

485 km extra heavy crude, 123 km gas, 2131 km oil, 1526 km refined products (2017)

Ports And Terminals

Container Port's Teus

Guayaquil (1,871,591) (2017)

Major Seaport S

Esmeraldas, Manta, Puerto Bolivar

River Port S

Guayaquil (Guayas)

Railways

Narrow Gauge

965 km 1.067-m gauge (2017)

Total

965 km (2017)

Roadways

Paved

8,161 km (2015)

Total

43,216 km (2015)

Unpaved

35,055 km (2015)

Waterways

1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2012)

Maritime Threats

the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters as at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen; after several years with no incidents, there has been an increase over the last two years with four attacks reported in 2018

Military And Security Forces

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) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

2.72% of GDP

2015

2.44% of GDP

2016

2.21% of GDP

2017

2.36% of GDP

2018

2.38% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for selective conscript military service; conscription has been suspended; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; Air Force 18-22 years of age, Ecuadorian birth requirement; 1-year service obligation (2012)

Disputes International

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border

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

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

50,532 (Colombia) (2018), 120,587 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2019)