Ecuador

Internet country code

.ec

Internet hosts

45,404 (2008)

Internet users

1.549 million (2006)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded domestic: fixed-line services provided by three state-owned enterprises; plans to transfer the state-owned operators to private ownership have repeatedly failed; fixed-line density stands at about 13 per 100 persons; mobile cellular use has surged and has a subscribership of nearly 75 per 100 persons international: country code - 593; landing point for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable that provides links to the west coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.805 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

10.086 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2000)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $13.46 billion expenditures: planned $11.96 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10.72% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.08% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

US dollar (USD)

Current account balance

$1.064 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$17.12 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

46 note: data are for urban households (2006)

Economy - 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 1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP contracted by more than 6%, with a significant increase in poverty. The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew 5.5%, the highest five-year average in 25 years. The poverty rate declined but remained high at 38% in 2006. In 2006 the government of Alfredo PALACIO (2005-07) seized the assets of Occidental Petroleum for alleged contract violations and imposed a windfall revenue tax on foreign oil companies, leading to the suspension of free trade negotiations with the US. These measures, combined with chronic underinvestment in the state oil company, Petroecuador, led to a drop in petroleum production in 2007. PALACIO's successor, Rafael CORREA, raised the specter of debt default - but Ecuador has paid its debt on time. He also decreed a higher windfall revenue tax on private oil companies, then sought to renegotiate their contracts to overcome the debilitating effect of the tax. This generated economic uncertainty; private investment has dropped and economic growth has slowed significantly.

Electricity - consumption

12.9 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

38.53 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports

861 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production

14.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000

Exports

$14.37 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood, fish

Exports - partners

US 41.9%, Peru 8.5%, Chile 4.9%, Russia 4.8%, Colombia 4.7% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$44.18 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$98.71 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 6.7% industry: 35.1% services: 58.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 35% note: data for urban households only (October 2006)

Imports

$12.76 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 23.7%, Colombia 10.3%, China 7.6%, Brazil 5.3%, Japan 4.3% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

1.4% (2007 est.)

Industries

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

4.51 million (urban) (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.04 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

280 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

280 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

9.369 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

160,500 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

421,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports

47,060 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

511,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

4.517 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Public debt

33.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.521 billion (30 November 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.456 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$16.31 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$8.926 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$4.395 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$7.974 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

8.8% (2007 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%) per capita: 1,283 cu m/yr (2000)

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-m 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)

Total renewable water resources

432 cu km (2000)

Administrative divisions

24 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, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, 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 Heather HODGES embassy: Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito mailing address: Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000 FAX: [593] (2) 398-5100 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: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Jersey City (New Jersey), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC

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 head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007) 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 on 26 November 2006 (next to be held in October 2010) election results: Rafael CORREA Delgado elected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 56.7%; Alvaro NOBOA 43.3%

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, 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, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 15 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRIAN 28; PSP 24; PSC 13; ID 7; PRE 6; MUPP-NP 6; RED 5; UDC 5; other 6; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties; as of 29 November 2007, Congress is on indefinite recess while a Constituent Assembly is convened

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Alianza PAIS Movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian Democratic Union or UDC [Diego ORDONEZ Guerrero]; Democratic Left or ID [Andres PAEZ Benalcazar]; Ethical and Democratic Network or RED [Leon ROLDOS]; Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement - New Country or MUPP-NP [Jorge GUAMAN]; 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 [Marlon SANTI, 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 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. In 2007, a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since gaining independence.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,536,602 females age 16-49: 3,559,188 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 3,030,664 females age 16-49: 3,037,892 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 144,821 female: 139,091 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2007)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for selective conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2008)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.1% (male 2,274,986/female 2,189,437) 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 4,355,909/female 4,381,141) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 340,861/female 385,316) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

21.54 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

4.21 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

1% of GDP (2001)

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: 21.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.81 years male: 73.94 years female: 79.84 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91% male: 92.3% female: 89.7% (2001 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Median age

total: 24.2 years male: 23.7 years female: 24.7 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian

Net migration rate

-7.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

13,927,650 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

0.935% (2008 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: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.59 children born/woman (2008 est.)

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 11,526 (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 (2007)

Airports

406 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 104 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 54 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 302 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 268 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 37 by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 1 (US 1) registered in other countries: 5 (China 1, Panama 4) (2008)

Pipelines

extra heavy crude oil 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,389 km; refined products 1,185 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar

Railways

total: 966 km narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 43,670 km paved: 6,472 km unpaved: 37,198 km (2006)

Waterways

1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2006)