Ecuador

Internet country code

.ec

Internet hosts

19,027 (2006)

Internet users

616,000 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable international: country code - 593; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,701,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6.246 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

7 (plus 14 repeaters) (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: $8.822 billion expenditures: planned $8.153 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (2005 est.)

Currency (code)

US dollar (USD)

Current account balance

$-566 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$18.09 billion (2005 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

42 note: data are for urban households (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

$216 million (2002)

Economy - overview

Ecuador has substantial petroleum resources, which have accounted for 40% of the country's export earnings and one-third of central government budget revenues in recent years. Consequently, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. 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. The currency depreciated by some 70% in 1999, and, on the brink of hyperinflation, the MAHAUD government announced it would dollarize the economy. A coup, however, ousted MAHAUD from office in January 2000, and after a short-lived junta failed to garner military support, Vice President Gustavo NOBOA took over the presidency. In March 2000, 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 growth returned to its pre-crisis levels in the years that followed. Under the administration of Lucio GUTIERREZ - January 2003 to April 2005 - Ecuador benefited from higher world petroleum prices. However, the government under Alfredo PALACIO has reversed economic reforms that reduced Ecuador's vulnerability to petroleum price swings and financial crises, allowing the central government greater access to oil windfalls and disbursing surplus retirement funds.

Electricity - consumption

10.55 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

65 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

140 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

11.27 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

25,000 (2005), 25,000 (2004), 25,000 (2003), 25,000 (2002), 25,000 (2001)

Exports

$9.224 billion (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp

Exports - partners

US 51.1%, Peru 8%, Germany 4.4%, Colombia 4.3% (2005)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$30.7 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$57.23 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 7% industry: 31.2% services: 61.8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,300 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 32% note: data for urban households only (October 2003)

Imports

$8.436 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment, electricity

Imports - partners

US 22.3%, Colombia 14.9%, Venezuela 7.8%, Brazil 6%, China 5.3% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

2.1% (2005 est.)

Industries

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force

4.6 million (urban) (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 8% industry: 24% services: 68% (2001)

Natural gas - consumption

50 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

50 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

9.769 billion cu m (2005)

Oil - consumption

155,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

387,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

493,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

4.512 billion bbl (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

41% (2003)

Public debt

40.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.148 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.7% official rate; but underemployment of 47% (2005 est.)

Area

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

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 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

8,650 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 4.81% other: 89.48% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500 meter isobath

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

name: Quito geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

10 August 1998

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Linda L. JEWELL 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 Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200 FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Jersey City (New Jersey), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC

Executive branch

chief of state: President Alfredo PALACIO (since 20 April 2005); Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; former President Lucio GUTIERREZ was removed from office by congress effective 20 April 2005 head of government: President Alfredo PALACIO (since 20 April 2005); Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: the president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 15 October 2006 with a runoff election scheduled for 26 November 2006 (next to be held October 2010) election results: results of the 15 October 2006 election; percent of vote - Alvaro NOBOA 26.8%; Rafael CORREA 22.8%; Gilmar GUTIERREZ 17.4%; Leon ROLDOS Aguilera 14.8%; Cynthia VITERI 9.6%; note - a runoff election will be held 26 November 2006 between NOBOA and CORREA

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, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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 October 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSC 25, ID 16, PRE 15, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD 5, DP 4, PS-FA 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

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 [Guillermo LANDAZURI]; National Action Institutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Movement [Gilberto TALAHUA]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; 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 [Leon FEBRES CORDERO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Victor GRANDA]

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]

Suffrage

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

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 by 1819 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. Seven presidents have governed Ecuador since 1996.

Manpower available for military service

males age 20-49: 2,792,770 females age 20-49: 2,849,519 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 20-49: 2,338,428 females age 20-49: 2,380,327 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 133,922 females age 20-49: 129,758 (2005 est.)

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes naval infantry, naval aviation, coast guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2004)

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 2,281,499/female 2,195,551) 15-64 years: 61.9% (male 4,178,653/female 4,210,766) 65 years and over: 5% (male 319,719/female 361,322) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

22.29 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,700 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

21,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 22.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 27.42 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.42 years male: 73.55 years female: 79.43 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.5% male: 94% female: 91% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 23.6 years male: 23.1 years female: 24 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian

Net migration rate

-3.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

13,547,510 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

1.5% (2006 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border and caused over 20,000 refugees to flee into Ecuador in 2004

Illicit drugs

significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru; 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

refugees (country of origin): 8,270 (Colombia) (2005)

Airports

359 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 98 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 261 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 228 (2006)

Heliports

1 (2006)

Merchant marine

total: 31 ships (1000 GRT or over) 184,819 GRT/300,339 DWT by type: chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 7, petroleum tanker 21, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 2 (Norway 1, Paraguay 1) registered in other countries: 1 (Georgia 1) (2006)

Pipelines

extra heavy crude 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refined products 1,185 km (2006)

Ports and terminals

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar

Railways

total: 966 km narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways

total: 43,197 km paved: 7,287 km unpaved: 35,910 km (2003)

Waterways

1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2005)