Ecuador
in South America
South America

National active POI Bordering countries
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Dollar - USD
Spoken languages:
Spanish
Local electricity:
120 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
850 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
EC
Internet top level domain:
.ec
Country phone prefix:
+593
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Ecuador in South America

Safety Score: 3,3 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning please reconsider your need to travel to Ecuador.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Ecuador. Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03

Explore Ecuador

Ecuador with its capital Quito is located in South America (Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator). It covers some 283,562 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Nevada) with 16,290,900 citizens. Spanish is the official language used in Ecuador. As an interesting fact, is sharing borders with Colombia and Peru.

Ecuador is a country in South America with a Pacific Ocean coastline and the world's highest active volcano (Cotopaxi). Intercity buses travel to almost everywhere in Ecuador. Many cities have a central bus terminal, known as the terminal terrestre. Quito is a great place to learn Spanish. Quite a few private Spanish academies exist. Quality varies greatly, so check reviews online and speak to current students before enrolling. Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar as its currency. Other types of currency are not readily accepted. Water from the tap is unsafe to drink. Even Ecuadorians generally only drink bottled (or boiled) water. Ecuador offers great opportunities for hiking and climbing, unfortunately, some travelers have been attacked and robbed in remote sections of well known climbs. Travelers are urged to avoid solo hikes and to go in a large group for safety reasons. You can always ask tourist police officers, police officers or in Tourist information center for the dangerous regions. Outside the major cities and tourist areas, malaria can be a problem along the coast during the rainy season.

Popular Destinations in Ecuador

 

Riobamba
 

Quito
 

Machala
 

Guayaquil
 

Cuenca
 

Ambato

Administrative regions of Ecuador

About the country

Official logo of Ecuador tourism

Website: Ecuador Tourism

Phone: +593 2 2507 559
Fax: +593 2 2229 330
Mail: mtur1@ec-gov.net

The topography is coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente). The average density of population is about 57 per km². The climate in Ecuador can be described as tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations with tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands. Potential natural disasters are floods, frequent earthquakes, landslides, periodic droughts, volcanic activity and volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, .

To reach someone Ecuador dial +593 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".ec". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 120 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is USD.

Three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; the yellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice.

Flag of Ecuador

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 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in February 2013, and voters reelected President Rafael CORREA.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 75) 283,561sq km
Land (World Rank: 73) 276,841sq km
Water (World Rank: 61) 6,720sq km
Forest (World Rank: 93) 19.40%
Comparative slightly smaller than Nevada
Note includes Galapagos Islands
Coastline
2237
Landborder
2237
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 14) 6,267m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 139) 29.70%
Arable (World Rank: 154) 4.70%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 54) 5.60%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 93) 19.40%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 35) 15,000sq km
Map reference
South America
Environment
Issues
  • - deforestation
  • - desertification
  • - pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
  • - soil erosion
  • - water pollution
Agreement party
  • - Antarctic Treaty
  • - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
  • - Biodiversity
  • - Climate Change
  • - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
  • - Desertification
  • - Endangered Species
  • - Hazardous Wastes
  • - Ozone Layer Protection
  • - Ship Pollution
  • - Tropical Timber 83
  • - Tropical Timber 94
  • - Wetlands
Hazzards
  • - floods
  • - frequent earthquakes
  • - landslides
  • - periodic droughts
  • - volcanic activity
  • - volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha,
Location
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
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)

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 67) 16,290,900
Deathrate (World Rank: 190) 0.51%
Birthrate (World Rank: 100) 1.79%
Growthrate (World Rank: 86) 1.28%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 97) 2.19%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 142) 27.00
Female (World Rank: 135) 28.40
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 74) 2,250,000
0 14 female (World Rank: 74) 2,161,120
15 24 male (World Rank: 65) 1,519,260
15 24 female (World Rank: 66) 1,469,370
25 54 male (World Rank: 64) 3,145,950
25 54 female (World Rank: 64) 3,303,520
55 64 male (World Rank: 62) 599,032
55 64 female (World Rank: 62) 628,477
65 x male (World Rank: 60) 576,196
65 x female (World Rank: 64) 637,984
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 97) 1.64%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 76) 77years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 77) 80years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 78) 74years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 86) 1.67
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 121) 1.60
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 111) 84.70%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 108) 19.90%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 148) 86.90%

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 70) 24,950,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 69) 22,140,000,000kWh
Export (World Rank: 87) 46,000,000kWh
Import (World Rank: 79) 512,000,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 137) 56.90%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 48) 39.90%
Source renew (World Rank: 106) 3.20%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 26) 548,400bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 23) 400,700bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 17) 8,273,000,000bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 58) 146,500bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 46) 274,000bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 63) 25,940bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 42) 155,700bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 70) 497,000,000m³
Consumption (World Rank: 97) 1,002,000,000m³
Carbon footprint
38000000

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 75) 5% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 45) 2% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 35) 9% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 182) -8% of GDP
National symbol
Andean condor
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Ecuadorian
Noun
Ecuadorian(s)
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 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in February 2013, and voters reelected President Rafael 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; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; the yellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 65) 184,900,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 195) -1.50%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 131) 11,200USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 114) 6.40%
Source industry (World Rank: 52) 33.80%
Source service (World Rank: 129) 59.70%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 62) 7,874,000
In poverty (World Rank: 76) 25.60%
Products
Industries
  • - chemicals
  • - food processing
  • - petroleum
  • - textiles
  • - wood products
Agriculture
  • - balsa wood
  • - bananas
  • - beef
  • - cassava
  • - cattle
  • - cocoa
  • - coffee
  • - dairy products
  • - fish
  • - manioc
  • - pigs
  • - plantains
  • - pork
  • - potatoes
  • - rice
  • - sheep
  • - shrimp
  • - sugarcane
  • - tapioca
Exports
  • - bananas
  • - cacao
  • - coffee
  • - cut flowers
  • - fish
  • - petroleum
  • - shrimp
  • - wood
Imports
  • - fuels
  • - industrial materials
  • - lubricants
  • - nondurable consumer goods

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 53) 2,441,170
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 112) 15.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 154) 86.00
Assessment 0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 50) 8,693,740
Population (World Rank: 109) 54.10%

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 22) 104.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 14) 328
Heliports (World Rank: 64) 2.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 92) 965
Road
Total length (World Rank: 84) 43,670
Paved length (World Rank: 90) 6,472
Unpaved length (World Rank: 43) 37,198
Water
Total length (World Rank: 54) 1,500
Popular places in this country

This is a list of famous places in this country in alphabetical order.