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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 272, FM 0, shortwave 39 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

318,000 telephones; 30 telephones/1,000 persons; domestic facilities generally inadequate and unreliable local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 33 televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP EGYPT

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 2,814,867; males fit for military service 1,903,979; males reach military age (20) annually 113,985 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 14% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); leading producer and exporter of bananas and balsawood; other agricultural exports - coffee, cocoa, fish, shrimp; other crops - rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; livestock products - cattle, sheep, hogs, beef, pork, dairy products; net importer of foodgrains, dairy products, and sugar

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.76 billion expenditures: $2.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $498 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-91), $2.39 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $64 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 2,230,000 kW production: 6.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 612 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

sucres (S/) per US$1 - 1,198.1 (December 1994), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993), 1,534.0 (1992), 1,046.25 (1991), 767.8 (1990), 767.78 (1990), 526.35 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: petroleum 39%, bananas 17%, shrimp 16%, cocoa 3%, coffee 6% partners: US 42%, Latin America 29%, Caribbean, EU countries 17%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$13.2 billion (yearend 1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

significant transit country for derivatives of coca originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; minor illicit producer of coca; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub

Imports [time series]

$3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals partners: US 28%, EU 17%, Latin America 31%, Caribbean, Japan

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 6.4% (1993); accounts for almost 35% of GDP, including petroleum

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

25% (1994)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $41.1 billion (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$3,840 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

3.9% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Growth has been uneven in recent years because of fluctuations in prices for Ecuador's primary exports - oil and bananas - as well as because of government policies designed to curb inflation. President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN launched a series of macroeconomic reforms when he came into office in August 1992 which included raising domestic fuel prices and utility rates, eliminating most subsidies, and bringing the government budget into balance. These measures helped to reduce inflation from 55% in 1992 to 25% in 1994. DURAN-BALLEN has a much more favorable attitude toward foreign investment than his predecessor and has supported several laws designed to encourage foreign investment. Ecuador has implemented free or complementary trade agreements with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as applied for World Trade Organization membership. Ecuador signed a standby agreement with the IMF and rescheduled its $7.6 billion commercial debt in 1994 thereby regaining access to multilateral lending. Growth in 1994 speeded up to 3.9%, based on increased exports of bananas and non-traditional products, while international reserves increased to a record $1.6 billion.

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.1% (1994)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 283,560 sq km land area: 276,840 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Nevada note: includes Galapagos Islands

Climate [time series]

tropical along coast becoming cooler inland

Coastline [time series]

2,237 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Tropical Timber 94

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute

Irrigated land [time series]

5,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 2,010 km, Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 17% forest and woodland: 51% other: 23%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, fish, timber

Note [time series]

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

21 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Capital [time series]

Quito

Center-Left parties [time series]

Democratic Left (ID), Andres VALLEJO Arcos, Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leaders; Popular Democracy (DP), Rodrigo PAZ, leader; Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party (PLRE), Medardo MORA, leader; Radical Alfarista Front (FRA), Jaime ASPIAZU Seminario, director populist parties: Roldista Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director; Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP), Rodolfo BAQUERIZO Nazur, leader; Popular Revolutionary Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS Passos, leader

Center-Right parties [time series]

Social Christian Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president; Republican Unity Party (PUR), President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN, leader; Ecuadorian Conservative Party (PCE), Vice President Alberto DAHIK, president

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE, pro-North Korea), Rene Mauge MOSQUERA, Secretary General; Communist Party of Ecuador/Marxist-Leninist (PCMLE, Maoist)

Constitution [time series]

10 August 1979

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Edgar TERAN Teran chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Newark

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN Cordovez (since 10 August 1992); Vice President Alberto DAHIK Garzoni (since 10 August 1992); election runoff election held 5 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Sixto DURAN-BALLEN elected as president and Alberto DAHIK elected as vice president cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[593] (2) 502-052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Far-Left parties [time series]

Popular Democratic Movement (MPD), Juan Jose CASTELLO, leader; Ecuadorian Socialist Party (PSE), Leon ROLDOS, leader; Broad Leftist Front (FADI), Rene Mauge MOSQUERA, chairman; Ecuadorian National Liberation (LN), Alfredo CASTILLO, director

Flag [time series]

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 that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Independence [time series]

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Congress (Congreso Nacional)) [time series]

elections last held 1 May 1994 (next to be held 1 May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (77 total) PSC 25, PRE 11, MPD 8, ID 7, DP 7, PCE 7, PUR 2, CFP 2, APRE 2, PSE 1, FRA 1, PLRE 1, LN 1, independents 2

National holiday [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

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

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. ROMERO embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039-3420 telephone: [593] (2) 562-890, 561-624, 561-749

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36% (female 1,928,977; male 1,990,036) 15-64 years: 60% (female 3,281,575; male 3,230,082) 65 years and over: 4% (female 244,862; male 215,418) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

25.08 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.55 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

37.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.8 million by occupation: agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%, services and other activities 28% (1982)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.35 years male: 67.83 years female: 72.99 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 87% male: 90% female: 84%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

10,890,950 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.95% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 175 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 15 with paved runways under 914 m: 107 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 31

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 43,709 km paved: 5,245 km unpaved: 38,464 km

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

1,500 km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 222,822 GRT/326,447 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 13, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 10

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km

Ports [time series]

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

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 965 km (single track) narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge