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  Ecuador  
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


Map of Ecuador

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing Rank Order Rank Order
   Introduction    Ecuador
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
South America
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 283,560 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
water: 6,720 sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
2,237 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands
territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 5.69%
permanent crops: 5.15%
other: 89.16% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
8,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
   People    Ecuador
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13,710,234 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 22.5 years
male: 22 years
female: 23 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.91% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.29 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 31.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 37.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 71.89 years
male: 69.06 years
female: 74.86 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,700 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 94%
female: 91% (2003 est.)
   Government    Ecuador
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Quito
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
10 August 1998
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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
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
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
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%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)
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
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Carlos A. JATIVA
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
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
FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $41.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 11%
industry: 33%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
43.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.7 million (urban)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.7%; note - widespread underemployment (2001 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $5.6 billion
expenditures: planned $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.1% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.74 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 34.8%
hydro: 65.2%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.989 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
421,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.358 billion bbl (January 2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
106.5 billion cu m (January 2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.9 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 38.3%, Peru 7.3%, Colombia 7.0%, Italy 4.3%, Venezuela 3.6%, Chile (2001)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$6 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw materials, fuels; consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 24.7%, Colombia 14.4%, Japan 6.6%, Venezuela 5.5%, Chile 5.0%, Brazil (2001)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$14.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$120 million (2001)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
USD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
sucres per US dollar - 25,000 (2002), 25,000 (2001), 24,988.4 (2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.57 (1998)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Ecuador
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,115,272 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
384,000 (1999)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ec
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
31 (2001)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
328,000 (2002)
   Transportation    Ecuador
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 966 km
narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 43,197 km
paved: 8,165 km
unpaved: 35,032 km (2001)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
1,500 km
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 239,276 GRT/392,048 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Chile 1, Greece 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 23, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
205 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 61
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 144
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 113 (2002)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
   Military    Ecuador
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age:
Definition Field Listing
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 3,555,068 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 2,395,178 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males: 137,433 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$720 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.4% (FY98)
   Transnational Issues    Ecuador
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
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 1 August, 2003


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