Contents
Ecuador |  | ||
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Past | Ecuador | ||
| 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 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito have contributed to the mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three democratically elected Presidents. | ||
Environment | Ecuador | ||
| Location: | Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru | ||
| Geographic coordinates: | 2 00 S, 77 30 W | ||
| Map references: | South America | ||
| Area: | total: 283,560 sq km | ||
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Nevada | ||
| Land boundaries: | total: 2,010 km | ||
| Coastline: | 2,237 km | ||
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 200 nm | ||
| Climate: | tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands | ||
| Terrain: | coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente) | ||
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | ||
| Natural resources: | petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower | ||
| Land use: | arable land: 5.71% | ||
| Irrigated land: | 8,650 sq km (2003) | ||
| Total renewable water resources: | 432 cu km (2000) | ||
| Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): | Total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%) | ||
| Natural hazards: | frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts | ||
| 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 | ||
| Geography - note: | Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world | ||
People | Ecuador | ||
| Population: | 13,755,680 (July 2007 est.) | ||
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 32.6% (male 2,282,319/female 2,196,685) | ||
| Median age: | total: 23.9 years | ||
| Population growth rate: | 1.554% (2007 est.) | ||
| Birth rate: | 21.91 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) | ||
| Death rate: | 4.21 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) | ||
| Net migration rate: | -2.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) | ||
| Gender ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | ||
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 22.1 deaths/1,000 live births | ||
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 76.62 years | ||
| Total fertility rate: | 2.63 children born/woman (2007 est.) | ||
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.3% (2003 est.) | ||
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 21,000 (2003 est.) | ||
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 1,700 (2003 est.) | ||
| Nationality: | noun: Ecuadorian(s) | ||
| Ethnic groups: | mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3% | ||
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 95%, other 5% | ||
| Languages: | Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua) | ||
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write | ||
Government | Ecuador | ||
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador | ||
| Government type: | republic | ||
| Capital: | name: Quito | ||
| 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 | ||
| Independence: | 24 May 1822 (from Spain) | ||
| National holiday: | Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809) | ||
| Constitution: | 10 August 1998 | ||
| Legal system: | based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction | ||
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters | ||
| Executive branch: | 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 | ||
| Legislative branch: | unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms) | ||
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004, however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court via a simple-majority resolution) | ||
| Political parties and leaders: | Alianza PAIS Movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian Democratic Union or UDC [Diego ORDONEZ Guerrero]; Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP; Democratic Left or ID [Andres PAEZ Benalcazar]; Ethical and Democratic Network or RED [Leon ROLDOS]; National Action Institutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement - New Country or MUPP-NP [Gilberto TALAHUA]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Ciro GUZMAN Aldaz]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Gustavo AYALA Cruz] | ||
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Luis MACAS, 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] | ||
| International organization participation: | CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, 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, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ||
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga | ||
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Linda L. JEWELL | ||
| 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 | ||
Business | Ecuador | ||
| Business - overview: | Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of public sector revenues in recent years. In the late 1990s, Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis, with natural disasters and sharp declines in world petroleum prices driving Ecuador's economy into free fall in 1999. Real GDP contracted by more than 6%, with poverty worsening significantly. The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. In March 2000, with inflation rising at an annual rate of 80%, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided the framework for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed. However, the government of Alfredo PALACIO (2005-07) reversed economic reforms that reduced Ecuador's vulnerability to petroleum price swings and financial crises, and in 2006, seized the assets of Occidental Petroleum for alleged contract violations and increased taxes on other foreign oil companies. PALACIO's successor and former Economy Minister, Rafael CORREA, has repeatedly raised the specter of another debt default, rejected a partially negotiated free trade agreement with the US, and decreed additional tax hikes on private oil companies. Consequently, foreign direct investment remains below 2001-04 levels, and economic growth has slowed significantly. | ||
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $98.28 billion (2007 est.) | ||
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $43.76 billion (2007 est.) | ||
| GDP - real growth rate: | 1.8% (2007 est.) | ||
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $7,100 (2007 est.) | ||
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 10% | ||
| Labor force: | 4.55 million (urban) (2007 est.) | ||
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 8% | ||
| Unemployment rate: | 9.8% (2007 est.) | ||
| Population below poverty line: | 38.3% (2006) | ||
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2% | ||
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 46 | ||
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.2% (2007 est.) | ||
| Investment (gross fixed): | 26.4% of GDP (2007 est.) | ||
| Budget: | revenues: $13.1 billion | ||
| Public debt: | 30.4% of GDP (2007 est.) | ||
| Agriculture - products: | bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp | ||
| Industries: | petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals | ||
| Industrial production growth rate: | 1.4% (2007 est.) | ||
| Electricity - production: | 12.94 billion kWh (2005) | ||
| Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 81% | ||
| Electricity - consumption: | 8.855 billion kWh (2005) | ||
| Electricity - exports: | 16 million kWh (2005) | ||
| Electricity - imports: | 1.723 billion kWh (2005) | ||
| Oil - production: | 532,700 bbl/day (2005 est.) | ||
| Oil - consumption: | 155,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) | ||
| Oil - exports: | 420,600 bbl/day (2004 est.) | ||
| Oil - imports: | 44,680 bbl/day (2004) | ||
| Oil - proved reserves: | 4.63 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.) | ||
| Natural gas - production: | 249.4 million cu m (2005 est.) | ||
| Natural gas - consumption: | 249.4 million cu m (2005 est.) | ||
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) | ||
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2005) | ||
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 9.369 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) | ||
| Current account balance: | -$600 million (2007 est.) | ||
| Exports: | $13.3 billion (2007 est.) | ||
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp | ||
| Exports - partners: | US 53.6%, Peru 8.2%, Colombia 5.6%, Chile 4.4% (2006) | ||
| Imports: | $13 billion (2007 est.) | ||
| Imports - partners: | US 23.1%, Colombia 13.3%, Brazil 7.3%, Panama 4% (2006) | ||
| Economic aid - recipient: | $209.5 million (2005) | ||
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $3.618 billion (30 November 2007 est.) | ||
| Debt - external: | $17.56 billion (31 October 2007) | ||
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $14.67 billion (2006 est.) | ||
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $8.442 billion (2006 est.) | ||
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $4.04 billion (2006) | ||
| Currency (code): | US dollar (USD) | ||
| Currency code: | USD | ||
| Exchange rates: | 1 the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000 | ||
| Fiscal year: | calendar year | ||
Communications | Ecuador | ||
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 1.754 million (2006) | ||
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 8.485 million (2006) | ||
| Telephone system: | general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded | ||
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001) | ||
| Radios: | 5 million (2001) | ||
| Television broadcast stations: | 7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2000) | ||
| Televisions: | 2.5 million (2001) | ||
| Internet country code: | .ec | ||
| Internet hosts: | 28,420 (2007) | ||
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 31 (2001) | ||
| Internet users: | 1.549 million (2006) | ||
Transportation | Ecuador | ||
| Airports: | 406 (2007) | ||
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 104 | ||
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 302 | ||
| Heliports: | 1 (2007) | ||
| Pipelines: | extra heavy crude oil 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refined products 1,185 km (2006) | ||
| Railways: | total: 966 km | ||
| Roadways: | total: 43,197 km | ||
| Waterways: | 1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2006) | ||
| Merchant marine: | total: 33 ships (1000 GRT or over) 190,931 GRT/306,280 DWT | ||
| Ports and terminals: | Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar | ||
Security | Ecuador | ||
| Military branches: | Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2007) | ||
| Military service age and obligation: | 20 years of age for selective conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2006) | ||
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 20-49: 2,792,770 | ||
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 20-49: 2,338,428 | ||
| Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males age 18-49: 133,922 | ||
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 2.8% (2006) | ||
International | Ecuador | ||
| 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 | ||
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: | refugees (country of origin): 9,851 (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 (2006) | ||
| Illicit drugs: | significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with over half 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 | ||
| This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008 Source: The World Factbook | |||
