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South America :: Ecuador

- ## Introduction :: ECUADOR

- 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.

- ## Geography :: ECUADOR

- Location:
  Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
  Geographic coordinates:
  2 00 S, 77 30 W
  Map references:
  South America
  Area:
  total: 283,561 sq km
  land: 276,841 sq km
  water: 6,720 sq km
  note: includes Galapagos Islands
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Nevada
  Land boundaries:
  total: 2,237 km
  border countries (2): Colombia 708 km, Peru 1,529 km
  Coastline:
  2,237 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath
  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)
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
  note: because the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea level
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 29.7%
  arable land 4.7%; permanent crops 5.6%; permanent pasture 19.4%
  forest: 38.9%
  other: 31.4% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  8,534 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  424.4 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 9.92 cu km/yr (13%/6%/81%)
  per capita: 716.1 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts
  volcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (elev. 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, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (elev. 1,476 m), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago
  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
  Geography - note:
  Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

- ## People and Society :: ECUADOR

- Nationality:
  noun: Ecuadorian(s)
  adjective: Ecuadorian
  Ethnic groups:
  mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 71.9%, Montubio 7.4%, Amerindian 7%, white 6.1%, Afroecuadorian 4.3%, mulato 1.9%, black 1%, other 0.4% (2010 est.)
  Languages:
  Spanish (Castillian) 93% (official), Quechua 4.1%, other indigenous 0.7%, foreign 2.2%
  note: (Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit) (2010 est.)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 74%, Evangelical 10.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.4% (includes Mormon Buddhist, Jewish, Spiritualist, Muslim, Hindu, indigenous religions, African American religions, Pentecostal), atheist 7.9%, agnostic 0.1%
  note: data represents persons at least 16 years of age from five Ecuadoran cities (2012 est.)
  Demographic profile:
  Ecuador's high poverty and income inequality most affect indigenous, mixed race, and rural populations. The government has increased its social spending to ameliorate these problems, but critics question the efficiency and implementation of its national development plan. Nevertheless, the conditional cash transfer program, which requires participants' children to attend school and have medical check-ups, has helped improve educational attainment and healthcare among poor children. Ecuador is stalled at above replacement level fertility and the population most likely will keep growing rather than stabilize.
  An estimated 2 to 3 million Ecuadorians live abroad, but increased unemployment in key receiving countries - Spain, the United States, and Italy - is slowing emigration and increasing the likelihood of returnees to Ecuador. The first large-scale emigration of Ecuadorians occurred between 1980 and 2000, when an economic crisis drove Ecuadorians from southern provinces to New York City, where they had trade contacts. A second, nationwide wave of emigration in the late 1990s was caused by another economic downturn, political instability, and a currency crisis. Spain was the logical destination because of its shared language and the wide availability of low-skilled, informal jobs at a time when increased border surveillance made illegal migration to the US difficult. Ecuador has a small but growing immigrant population and is Latin America's top recipient of refugees; 98% are neighboring Colombians fleeing violence in their country.
  Population:
  15,868,396 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27.99% (male 2,265,935/female 2,175,864)
  15-24 years: 18.56% (male 1,494,206/female 1,451,152)
  25-54 years: 39.16% (male 3,027,989/female 3,185,924)
  55-64 years: 7.23% (male 563,259/female 584,730)
  65 years and over: 7.05% (male 533,796/female 585,541) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 55.6%
  youth dependency ratio: 45.1%
  elderly dependency ratio: 10.4%
  potential support ratio: 9.6% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 26.7 years
  male: 26 years
  female: 27.3 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.35% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Birth rate:
  18.51 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Death rate:
  5.06 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 63.7% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  Guayaquil 2.709 million; QUITO (capital) 1.726 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 17.38 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 20.51 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 14.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 76.56 years
  male: 73.6 years
  female: 79.67 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Total fertility rate:
  2.25 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Health expenditures:
  7.5% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Physicians density:
  1.72 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 93.4% of population
  rural: 75.5% of population
  total: 86.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 6.6% of population
  rural: 24.5% of population
  total: 13.1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 87% of population
  rural: 80.7% of population
  total: 84.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 13% of population
  rural: 19.3% of population
  total: 15.3% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.41% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  37,500 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  1,600 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  18% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  6.4% (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Education expenditures:
  4.4% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 94.5%
  male: 95.4%
  female: 93.5% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 14 years
  male: 14 years
  female: 14 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 227,599
  percentage: 8% (2008 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 11.1%
  male: 9%
  female: 15% (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96

- ## Government :: ECUADOR

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
  conventional short form: Ecuador
  local long form: Republica del Ecuador
  local short form: Ecuador
  note: the country's position on the globe, straddling the equator, accounts for its name
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  name: Quito
  geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
  time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  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
  Independence:
  24 May 1822 (from Spain)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
  Constitution:
  many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008; amended 2011 (2011)
  Legal system:
  civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in indigenous communities
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18-65 years of age, universal and compulsory; 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters, voluntary
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Jorge GLAS Espinel (since 24 May 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Jorge GLAS Espinel (since 24 May 2013)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 February 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
  election results: President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado (Alianza PAIS Movement) 57.2%, Guillermo LASSO (CREO) 22.7%, Lucio GUTIERREZ (PSP) 6.8%, Mauricio RODAS (SUMA) 3.9%, other 9.4%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (137 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 15 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote, and 6 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies for Ecuadorians living abroad by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 17 February 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAIS 100, CREO 11, PSC 6, AVANZA 5, MUPP 5, PSP 5, other 5; note - defections by members of National Assembly are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (consists of 21 judges including the chief justice and organized into 5 specialized chambers); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitucional (consists of 9 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: justices of National Court of Justice elected by the Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body of law professionals; judges elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the executive, legislative, and Citizen Participation branches of government; judges appointed for 9-year non-renewable terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years
  subordinate courts: Fiscal Tribunal; Election Dispute Settlement Courts, provincial courts (one for each province); cantonal courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Alianza PAIS movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]
  Avanza Party or AVANZA [Ramiro GONZALEZ]
  Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO [Guillermo LASSO]
  Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]
  Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP [Rafael ANTUNI]
  Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]
  Popular Democracy Movement or MPD [Luis VILLACIS]
  Roldosist Party or PRE
  Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]
  Socialist Party [Fabian SOLANO]
  Society United for More Action or SUMA [Mauricio RODAS]
  Warrior's Spirit Movement [Jaime NEBOT]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Humberto CHOLANGO]
  Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Manuel CHUGCHILAN, president]
  National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN
  National Teacher's Union or UNE [Mariana PALLASCO]
  International organization participation:
  CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Francisco BORJA Cevallos (since 18 May 2015)
  chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
  FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Haven (CT), New Orleans, New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Francisco
  consulate(s): Boston, Dallas, Denver (CO), San Juan (Puerto Rico)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Adam E. NAMM (since 26 April 2012)
  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
  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 Columbia, 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
  note: similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms
  National symbol(s):
  Andean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red
  National anthem:
  name: "Salve, Oh Patria!" (We Salute You, Our Homeland)
  lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
  note: adopted 1948; Juan Leon MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung

- ## Economy :: ECUADOR

- Economy - overview:
  Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and approximately 25% of public sector revenues in recent years.
  In 1999/2000, Ecuador's economy suffered from a banking crisis, with GDP contracting by 5.3% and poverty increasing significantly. In March 2000, the 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 an average of 4.3% per year, the highest five-year average in 25 years. After moderate growth in 2007, the economy reached a growth rate of 6.4% in 2008, buoyed by high global petroleum prices and increased public sector investment. President Rafael CORREA Delgado, who took office in January 2007, defaulted in December 2008 on Ecuador's sovereign debt, which, with a total face value of approximately US$3.2 billion, represented about 30% of Ecuador's public external debt. In May 2009, Ecuador bought back 91% of its "defaulted" bonds via an international reverse auction.
  Economic policies under the CORREA administration - for example, an announcement in late 2009 of its intention to terminate 13 bilateral investment treaties, including one with the United States - have generated economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment. China has become Ecuador's largest foreign lender since Quito defaulted in 2008, allowing the government to maintain a high rate of social spending; Ecuador contracted with the Chinese government for more than $9.9 billion in forward oil sales, project financing, and budget support loans as of December 2013.
  Foreign investment levels in Ecuador continue to be the lowest in the region as a result of an unstable regulatory environment, weak rule of law, and the crowding-out effect of public investments. In 2014, oil output increased slightly and production is expected to remain steady in 2015, although prices will likely remain lower than in previous years. Faced with a 2013 trade deficit of $1.1 billion, Ecuador erected technical barriers to trade in December 2013, causing tensions with its largest trading partners. Ecuador also decriminalized intellectual property rights violations in February 2014. In March, 2015 Ecuador imposed tariff surcharges from 5%-45% on an estimated 32% of imports for 15 months.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $180.2 billion (2014 est.)
  $173.9 billion (2013 est.)
  $166.2 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 64
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $100.8 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.6% (2014 est.)
  4.6% (2013 est.)
  5.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $11,200 (2014 est.)
  $10,800 (2013 est.)
  $10,400 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Gross national saving:
  27.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  27.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
  27.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 60.2%
  government consumption: 14.1%
  investment in fixed capital: 27.4%
  investment in inventories: 0.1%
  exports of goods and services: 29.9%
  imports of goods and services: -31.6%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 6%
  industry: 34.4%
  services: 59.6% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; fish, shrimp; balsa wood
  Industries:
  petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
  Industrial production growth rate:
  4%
  note: excludes oil refining (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Labor force:
  7.214 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 27.8%
  industry: 17.8%
  services: 54.4% (2012 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  5% (2014 est.)
  4.7% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Population below poverty line:
  25.6% (December 2013 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1.4%
  highest 10%: 35.4%
  note: data for urban households only (2012 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  48.5 (December 2013)
  50.5 (December 2010)
  note: data are for urban households
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Budget:
  revenues: $39.5 billion
  expenditures: $44.7 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  39.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -5.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Public debt:
  30% of GDP (2014 est.)
  23.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.6% (2014 est.)
  2.7% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Central bank discount rate:
  8.17% (31 December 2011)
  8.68% (31 December 2010)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  8.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8.17% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Stock of narrow money:
  $10.81 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $9.274 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Stock of broad money:
  $34.53 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $28.44 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $34.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $28.01 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $5.911 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $5.779 billion (31 December 2011)
  $5.263 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Current account balance:
  -$840 million (2014 est.)
  -$1.29 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Exports:
  $27.33 billion (2014 est.)
  $25.69 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Exports - commodities:
  petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, wood, fish
  Exports - partners:
  US 44.6%, Chile 9.9%, Peru 7.5% (2013)
  Imports:
  $26.4 billion (2014 est.)
  $26.33 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Imports - commodities:
  industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods
  Imports - partners:
  US 29.2%, China 12.9%, Colombia 8.5%, Panama 6.8%, Peru 4.1% (2013)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $6.811 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $4.352 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Debt - external:
  $21.74 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $19.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $14.28 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $13.68 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $6.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $6.33 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Exchange rates:
  the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001

- ## Energy :: ECUADOR

- Electricity - production:
  22.85 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Electricity - consumption:
  19.38 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Electricity - exports:
  12 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Electricity - imports:
  238 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  5.336 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  56% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  42% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  1.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Crude oil - production:
  527,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  Crude oil - exports:
  413,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Crude oil - imports:
  154,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  8.24 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  207,300 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  255,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  28,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  135,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Natural gas - production:
  517 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Natural gas - consumption:
  517 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  6.003 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  37.23 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72

- ## Communications :: ECUADOR

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 2.44 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 16.6 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: elementary fixed-line service but increasingly sophisticated mobile-cellular network
  domestic: fixed-line services provided by multiple telecommunications operators; fixed-line teledensity stands at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular use has surged and subscribership has reached 100 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 593; landing points for the PAN-AM and South America-1 submarine cables that provide 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) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  multiple TV networks and many local channels, as well as more than 300 radio stations; many TV and radio stations are privately owned; the government owns or controls 5 national TV stations and multiple radio stations; broadcast media required by law to give the government free air time to broadcast programs produced by the state (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2000)
  Internet country code:
  .ec
  Internet users:
  total: 5.9 million
  percent of population: 37.6% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59

- ## Transportation :: ECUADOR

- Airports:
  432 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 104
  over 3,047 m: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
  914 to 1,523 m: 26
  under 914 m: 51 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 328
  914 to 1,523 m: 37
  under 914 m:
  291 (2013)
  Heliports:
  2 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  extra heavy crude 527 km; gas 71 km; oil 2,131 km; refined products 1,526 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 965 km
  narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Roadways:
  total: 43,670 km
  paved: 6,472 km
  unpaved: 37,198 km (2007)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Waterways:
  1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Merchant marine:
  total: 44
  by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 9, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 1
  registered in other countries: 4 (Panama 3, Peru 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Esmeraldas, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
  river port(s): Guayaquil (Guayas)
  container port(s) (TEUs): Guayaquil (1,405,762)

- ## Military :: ECUADOR

- Military branches:
  Ecuadorian Armed Forces: Ecuadorian Land Force (Fuerza Terrestre Ecuatoriana, FTE), Ecuadorian Navy (Fuerza Naval del Ecuador (FNE), includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for selective conscript military service; conscription has been suspended; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; Air Force 18-22 years of age, Ecadorian birth requirement; 1-year service obligation (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 3,728,906
  females age 16-49: 3,844,918 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,834,213
  females age 16-49: 3,269,535 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 152,593
  female: 147,143 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  2.83% of GDP (2012)
  3.2% of GDP (2011)
  2.83% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 24

- ## Transnational Issues :: ECUADOR

- 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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 121,317 (Colombia) (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with much 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 (2008)

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