Ecuador

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

31 (2001)

Internet country code

.ec

Internet users

328,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Radios

5 million (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,115,272 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

384,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

2.5 million (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $5.6 billion expenditures: planned $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

$14 billion (2001) (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$120 million (2001) (2001)

Economy - overview

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 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.

Electricity - consumption

9.667 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

10.395 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 25% hydro: 75% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

sucres per US dollar - 25,000.0 (January 2002), 25,000.0 (2001), 24,988.4 (2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997) note: on 13 March 2000, the National Congress approved a new exchange system whereby the US dollar was adopted as the main legal tender in Ecuador for all purposes; on 20 March 2000, the Central Bank of Ecuador started to exchange sucres for US dollars at a fixed rate of 25,000 sucres per US dollar; since 30 April 2000, all transactions are denominated in US dollars

Exports

$4.8 billion (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish

Exports - partners

US 38%, Peru 6%, Chile 5%, Colombia 5%, Italy 3% (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $39.6 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 11% industry: 25% services: 64% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.3% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 34% (1995) (1995)

Imports

$4.8 billion (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw materials, fuels; consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 25%, Colombia 13%, Japan 8%, Venezuela 8%, Brazil 4% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

5.1% (2001 est.)

Industries

petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

22% (2001 est.)

Labor force

3.7 million (urban)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

14%; note - widespread underemployment (2001 est.)

Area

total: 283,560 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands water: 6,720 sq km land: 276,840 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

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands

Environment - international agreements

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

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 (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Land use

arable land: 5.69% permanent crops: 5.15% other: 89.16% (1998 est.)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands territorial sea: 200 NM

Natural hazards

frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Terrain

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

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

Capital

Quito

Constitution

10 August 1998

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local short form: Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI 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

Executive branch

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%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

International organization participation

CAN, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court)

Legal system

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (123 seats; 20 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to serve four-year terms; 103 members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held 20 October 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - DP 32, PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3, MPD 2, CFP 1; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM]; Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos]; Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE [Jacinto JIJON Y CAMANO]; Independent National Movement or MIN [Eliseo AZUERO]; Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP [Miguel LLUCO]; 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Background

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.

Military branches

Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$720 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,468,678 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,337,944 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 132,978 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 35.4% (male 2,415,764; female 2,337,095) 15-64 years: 60.2% (male 4,007,495; female 4,090,957) 65 years and over: 4.4% (male 276,482; female 319,701) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

25.47 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2001)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

232 (2001)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

20,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

33.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.61 years female: 74.57 years (2002 est.) male: 68.79 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.1% male: 92% female: 88.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian

Net migration rate

-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

13,447,494 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

1.96% (2002 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio

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 (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.05 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

205 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

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

total: 144 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 113 (2002)

Heliports

1 (2002)

Highways

total: 43,197 km paved: 8,165 km unpaved: 35,032 km (2001)

Merchant marine

total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 239,876 GRT/393,680 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

Pipelines

crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km

Ports and harbors

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo

Railways

total: 965 km narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2000 est.)

Waterways

1,500 km