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Communications

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.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [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: $3.6 billion (1997) expenditures: $3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos

Debt - external [time series]

$12.6 billion (1996)

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 (Economy - overview) [time series]

Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. As an exporter of primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Growth has been uneven in recent years as the government has repeatedly initiated ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The populist government of Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz proposed a major currency reform in 1996, but popular discontent with new austerity measures and rampant official corruption undermined his government's position. Congress replaced BUCARAM with Fabian ALARCON in February 1997. ALARCON has adopted a minimalist economic program that puts off major decisions until the next elected government takes office in August 1998. Ecuador has joined the Word Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. Growth slowed to 2.0% in 1996, due to a lack of investment caused by political uncertainty and high domestic interest rates.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

2.754 million kW (1996)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

600 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production [time series]

9.27 billion kWh (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

sucres (S/) per US$1 - 3,674.9 (January 1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993), 1,534.0 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $4.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: petroleum 37%, bananas 20%, shrimp 13%, cocoa 2%, coffee 3% partners : US 39%, Latin America 25%, EU countries 22%, Asia 12%

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $47 billion (1996 est.)

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

agriculture : 13% industry: 38% services: 49% (1996 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $4,100 (1996 est.)

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

2% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals partners: US 32%, EU 19%, Latin America 35%, Asia 11%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.3% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

26% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

total: 3.4 million by occupation: agriculture 29%, manufacturing 18%, commerce 15%, services and other activities 38% (1990)

Unemployment rate [time series]

8.5% with widespread underemployment (1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Nevada

Climate [time series]

tropical along coast becoming cooler inland

Coastline [time series]

2,237 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 signed, but not ratified : none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Geography - note [time series]

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

Irrigated land [time series]

5,560 sq km (1993 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: 5% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 56% other: 15% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts

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)

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

Center-Left parties [time series]

Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leader]; Popular Democracy or DP [Jamil MAHUAD, leader]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]

Center-Right parties [time series]

Social Christian Party or PSC [Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president]; Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE [Freddy BRAVO]

Constitution [time series]

10 August 1979

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie ALEXANDER embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039 telephone : [593] (2) 562-890

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission : Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Fernando FLORES 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, Philadelphia, and San Francisco consulate(s): Newark

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997); Vice President Rosalia ARTEAGA Serrano de Cordova (since 10 August 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997); Vice President Rosalia ARTEAGA Serrano de Cordova (since 10 August 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government note : in an unusual, out of cycle change in executive power, Congress on 11 February 1997 elected then Congress President ALARCON to be Interim President until August 1998 after ousting former President BUCARAM because of "mental incapacity;" ARTEAGA remained vice president cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 19 May 1996; runoff election held 7 July 1996; note - because of the February 1997 unusual change in executive power, the next presidential elections will take place in 1998 election results : runoff election; percent of vote - Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz 54%, Jaime NEBOT 46%; note - in February 1997, Congress elected ALARCON to be Interim President until August 1998, with 57 of 82 Congressmen voting in favor of him

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

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

Far-Left parties [time series]

Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Juan Jose CASTELLO, leader]

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by Congress

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (82 seats; 12 members are popularly elected at large nationally to serve four-year terms; 70 members are popularly elected by province for two-year terms) elections : last held 19 May 1996 (next to be held 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSC 27, PRE 19, DP 12, P-NP 8, ID 4, FRA 3, MPD 2, PCE 2, CFP 1, independents and other 4; note - defections by members of congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Quito

National holiday [time series]

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

Populist parties [time series]

Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM, leader]; Popular Revolutionary Action or APRE [Frank VARGAS Passos, leader]; Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP [Freddy EHLERS]

Suffrage [time series]

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

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$390.2 million (1996)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.1% (1996)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49 : 3,077,812 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 2,079,537 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 125,185 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 37% (male 2,252,260; female 2,174,004) 15-64 years: 59% (male 3,529,606; female 3,619,002) 65 years and over : 4% (male 248,105; female 282,147) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

24.04 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.28 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

33.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.44 years male: 68.83 years female: 74.17 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian

Net migration rate [time series]

0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

12,105,124 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.93% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.87 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute

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 EGYPT

Transportation

Airports [time series]

179 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 143 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m : 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 111 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total : 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 33 (1996 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total : 43,106 km paved: 7,932 km unpaved: 35,174 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 117,401 GRT/179,142 DWT ships by type: container 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 14, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [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