Factbook dossier
Background
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito -- the traditional name for the area -- 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 to become an independent republic in 1830, the traditional name was changed to 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 has had nearly 50 years of civilian governance, the period has been marked by political instability.
Location
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Area
total : 283,561 sq km land: 276,841 sq km water: 6,720 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Natural hazards
frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts volcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m) 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, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago
Population
total: 18,479,841 (2025 est.) male: 9,097,614 female: 9,382,227
Ethnic groups
Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 77.5%, Montubio 7.7%, Indigenous 7.7%, White 2.2%, Afroecuadorian 2%, Mulatto 1.4%, Black 1.3%, other 0.1% (2022 est.)
Languages
Spanish (Castilian; official) 98.6%, indigenous 3.9% (Quechua 3.2%, other indigenous 0.7%), foreign 2.8%, other 0.6% (includes Ecuadorian sign language) (2022 est.) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note 1: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census note 2: Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit
Religions
Roman Catholic 68.2%, Protestant 19% (Evangelical 18.3%, Adventist 0.6%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other 2.3%, none 8.2% don't know/no response 1% (2023 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Quito geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6) etymology: named after the Quitu, a Pre-Columbian people who lived in the area; the meaning of their name is unknown
Executive branch
chief of state: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023) head of government: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election/appointment process: 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) most recent election date: 9 February 2025, with a runoff on 13 April 2025 election results: 2025: Daniel NOBOA Azin reelected president; percent of vote in the first round - Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 44.2%, Luisa GONZ LEZ Alcivar (MRC) 44%, Leonidas IZA (MUPP) 5.3%, other 6.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 55.6%, Luisa GONZ LEZ Alcivar 44.4% 2023: Daniel NOBOA Azin elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Luisa GONZ LEZ Alcivar (MRC) 33.6%, Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 23.5%, Christian Gustavo ZURITA Ron (Construye) 16.4%, Jan Tomislav TOPIĆ Feraud (Por Un Pa s Sin Miedo) 14.7%, Otto Ram n SONNENHOLZNER Sper (Avanza) 7.1%, other 4.7%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 51.8%, Luisa GONZ LEZ Alcivar 48.2% 2021: Guillermo LASSO Mendoza elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 32.7%, Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 19.7%, Yaku PEREZ Guartambel (MUPP) 19.4%, Xavier HERVAS Mora (ID) 15.7%, other 12.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 52.5%, Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 47.5% expected date of next election: 28 February 2029 note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government note 2: though eligible for a second term, former president Guillermo LASSO announced that he would not run in the 2023 election; President Daniel NOBOA Azin is serving out the remainder of the presidential term (2021 2025)
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 151 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/9/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Citizen Revolution Movement (RC) - Renewal Movement (RETO) (67); National Democratic Action (ADN) (66); Pachakutik (9); Other (9) percentage of women in chamber: 45% expected date of next election: February 2029 note 1: all Assembly members have alternates from the same party who cast votes when a primary member is absent, resigns, or is removed from office note 2: on 18 May 2023, Ecuador s National Electoral Council announced that the legislative and presidential elections - originally scheduled for February 2025 - would be held on 20 August 2023 after President Guillermo LASSO dissolved the National Assembly by decree on 17 May 2023; a return to a regular election cycle will occur in February 2025
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$252.728 billion (2024 est.) $257.889 billion (2023 est.) $252.861 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$13,900 (2024 est.) $14,300 (2023 est.) $14,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.5% (2024 est.) 2.2% (2023 est.) 3.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
USA 22%, China 21%, Panama 12%, Japan 3%, Peru 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
USA 27%, China 20%, Colombia 7%, Brazil 4%, Peru 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Ecuadorian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador): Ground Force (Fuerza Terrestre), Naval Force (Fuerza Naval; includes naval infantry, naval aviation, coast guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza A rea Ecuatoriana) (2025) note: the National Police of Ecuador (Polic a Nacional del Ecuador) is under the Ministry of Government/Interior
Military expenditures
2.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)