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Communications

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]

exchange rate conversion - $386 million, 2.1% of GDP (1995)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,968,361 males fit for military service: 2,006,509 males reach military age (20) annually: 121,241 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 272, FM 0, shortwave 39

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

586,300 (1994 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

940,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.3 billion expenditures: $3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $153 million (1993) note: received $12.7 million from the US and $160 million from other countries in 1995

Economic 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 1995. 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 joined the World Trade Organization. Growth slowed to 2.3% in 1995 due in part to high domestic interest rates and shortages of electric power.

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 - 2914.8 (31 December 1995), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993), 1,534.0 (1992), 1,046.25 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$4 billion (f.o.b., 1994) 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]

$12.6 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $44.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 13% industry: 39% services: 48% (1992 est.)

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

$4,100 (1995 est.)

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

2.3% (1995 est.)

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]

$3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals partners: US 28%, EU 17%, Latin America 31%, Caribbean, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.4% (1993)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

25% (1995)

Labor force [time series]

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

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Geographic coordinates [time series]

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

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 border countries: 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

Terrain [time series]

coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente) lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

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

Center-Right parties [time series]

Republican Unity Party (PUR); Social Christian Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president; Ecuadorian Conservative Party (PCE), President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN (two parties merged in 1995)

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

Data code [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 Eduardo PENA Trivino (since 18 October 1995); president and vice president were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage; runoff election held 5 July 1992; results - Sixto DURAN-BALLEN elected as president (next election was held 19 May 1996; no presidential candidate received more than 50% of the vote; a runoff election between BUCARAM and NEBOT will be held on 7 July 1996); note - former Vice President DAHIK resigned 11 October 1995 and left the country to escape arrest on corruption charges; National Congress chose PENA as his successor in accordance with the constitution cabinet: Cabinet was 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)

International organization participation [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, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by the Chamber of Representatives

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [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 19 May 1996; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (82 total) PSC 27, PRE 21, DP 10, Pachakutik Movement 7, ID 5, PLRE 3, MPD 2, APRE 2, CFP 1, independent and other 4

National holiday [time series]

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

Populist parties [time series]

Roldosist Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director; Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP), Rodolfo BAQUERIZO Nazur, leader; Popular Revolutionary Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS Passos, leader

Suffrage [time series]

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

Government type (Type of government) [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 telephone: [593] (2) 562-890

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35% (male 2,062,468; female 1,996,679) 15-64 years: 60% (male 3,403,197; female 3,489,728) 65 years and over: 5% (male 241,217; female 273,002) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

25.06 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

34.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.09 years male: 68.49 years female: 73.82 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

11,466,291 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.96% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.88 male(s)/female all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 188 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: 13 with paved runways under 914 m: 121 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32 (1995 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 43,709 km paved: 5,245 km unpaved: 38,464 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 114,701 GRT/171,240 DWT ships by type: container 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 12, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)

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 [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

1,500 km