One World
Nations Online

Ecuador Flag detail
Home Earth Continents The Americas Ecuador
 

___ Ecuador

Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador
Cotopaxi is perhaps the best known volcano of Ecuador, the active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains is located in the Latacunga canton of Cotopaxi Province, about 50 km south of Quito.
Image: Simon Matzinger
 
Flag of Ecuador
Flag of Ecuador
Location map of Ecuador. Where in the world is Ecuador?
Location map of Ecuador
A virtual guide to Ecuador, a republic in northwestern South America. The country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean in west, by Colombia in north and by Peru in south east and south and it shares maritime borders with Costa Rica.

Ecuador covers an area of 283,561 km², compared, it is somewhat smaller than Italy (301,318 km²) or slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Nevada.

The world famous Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic origin, are situated 926 km (575 mi) west of continental Ecuador, the islands are a province of Ecuador.

Ecuador has a population of 16.7 million people (2017). Capital city is Quito, largest city is Guayaquil. Spoken languages are Spanish and Quechua (both official). Main religion is predominantly Roman Catholic (80%).
 

Republic of Ecuador | República del Ecuador


Country Profile



Background:
Advanced indigenous cultures flourished in Ecuador long before the area was conquered by the Inca empire in the 15th century. In 1534, the Spanish arrived and defeated the Inca armies.

The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). 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.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

related countries: Spain, Venezuela

 

Official Name:
República del Ecuador
short form: Ecuador
int'l long form: Republic of Ecuador

ISO Country Code: ec, ecu

Time:
Local Time = UTC -5h
Actual Time: Sun-Mar-17  14:48

Country Calling Code: +593

Capital City: Quito (pop. 1.4 million)

Other Cities:
Cuenca, Guayaquil (largest city in Ecuador)

Government:
Republic.
Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain).
Constitution: 10 August 1998.

Geography:
Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru.
Area: 283,561 km² (109.483 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Jungle east of the Andes, a rich agricultural coastal plain west of the Andes, high-elevation valleys through the mountainous center of the country and an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Climate: Varied, mild year-round in the mountain valleys; tropical, hot and humid in coastal and Amazonian jungle lowlands.

People:
Nationality: Ecuadorian(s).
Population: 16.7 million (2017)
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 65%, Indigenous 25%, Caucasian and others 7%, African 3%.
Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic (95%), but religious freedom recognized.
Languages: Spanish (official), indigenous languages, especially Quichua, the Ecuadorian dialect of Quechua.
Literacy: 90%

Natural resources: Petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower.

Agriculture products: Bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp.

Industries: Petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals.

Exports - commodities: petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, wood, fish

Exports - partners: USA 39.5%, Chile 6.2%, Peru 5.1%, Vietnam 4.3%, Colombia 4.3% (2015)

Imports - commodities: industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods

Imports - partners: USA 27.1%, China 15.3%, Colombia 8.3%, Panama 4.9% (2015)

Currency: US Dollar (USD)

Ecuador in numbers
More statistical data for Ecuador.

 
Seat of government, the Carondelet Palace in Quito, Ecuador
The Carondelet Palace in the Historic Center of Quito is the seat of government of the Republic of Ecuador.
Image: UN Women

Political system
Ecuador is a republic and maintains a presidential, unicameral representative democracy with the usual three branches of power: executive (government), legislative (national assembly), and judicial (judiciary). The President is both, head of state and head of government. The national assembly has the power to pass laws. The supreme court is independent of the executive and legislative branches.


Official Sites of Ecuador

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Presidencia de la República del Ecuador
The Presidency of Ecuador (in Spanish).

Sistema Nacional de Información (SNI)
Governmental information portal (in Spanish).

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana
Ministery of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Ecuador (in Spanish).

Diplomatic Missions
Embassy of Ecuador
Washington D.C.
Embassies and Consulates in Ecuador
Address list of Foreign Diplomatic Missions in Ecuador.
Diplomatic Missions of Ecuador
Diplomatic Missions of Ecuador Abroad.

Statistics
Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos
The National Institute of Statistics and Census.

Ecuador in numbers
Key statistic figures Ecuador.


Maps

Map of Ecuador
Political Map of Ecuador.
Administrative Map of Ecuador
Map showing Ecuador's administrative divisions.
Google Earth Google Earth Ecuador
Searchable map and satellite view of Ecuador and Galapagos.
Google Earth Google Earth Quito
Searchable map and satellite view of Ecuador's capital city.
Google Earth Google Earth Guayaquil
Searchable map and satellite view of Ecuador's largest city.

Map of South America
Reference map of South America.

 

News

According to RSF, media freedom declined steadily during Rafael Correa’s three consecutive terms as president (from 2007 to 2017). Correa constantly controlled the media agenda and did not hesitate to personally and publicly target critical media outlets.

La Hora
National and international news, Quito (Español).
Hoy Digital
National and international news, Quito (Español).
El Telégrafo
National and international news, Guayaquil (Español).
eluniverso.com
National and international news, Guayaquil (Español).
 

Bookmark/share this page
Instagram

Arts & Culture


Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana "Benjamín Carrión"
Government portal to Art and Culture of Ecuador, painting, music, theater, dance and all the other expressions.

Indigenous Communities in Ecuador
The principal indigenous groups of the Amazon region: Huaoranis and Los Tagaeri, Achuar, Shuar, Cofán, Siona-Secoya, Shiwiar and Záparo.
The principle indigenous groups of the highlands are the Quichua, Cañaris, and Saraguros. In northern Ecuador, live the Awa community. On the Pacific coast, live the Chachis, Cayapas, Tsáchilas, and Huancavilcas.

Conaie
Confederation of Indigenous Nations of Ecuador (CONAIE).
XxEcuarunari (seite ist down)
Confederation of Peoples of Kichua Nationality of Ecuador.
Saraguros
The Saraguros, indigenous Andean people.

The Last Shaman
Joe Seamans, a writer, paid a visit to the Huaorani.
Indigenous Peoples in Ecuador
Site created by Marc Becker, with links to Indigenous Organizations of Ecuador.

 


 Native Indian - Amazonia
Native Indian - Amazonia
© Embassy of Ecuador

Business & Economy


Banco Central del Ecuador
Central Bank Ecuador.
Bolsa de Valores de Quito
Information about the Quito Stock Exchange including daily transaction information, activities, and statistics.

Cámara de Comercio de Quito
Quito Chamber of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce in Ecuador
List of Ecuador Chambers of Commerce.

Camari
Agriculture and handcrafted products of communities from different areas in Ecuador.


__Transportation
Airlines
Avianca Ecuador
A nationally branded Latin American airline based in Quito.
LATAM Ecuador
A subsidiary of LATAM Airlines (Chile), based in Guayaquil.
Tame
Línea Aérea del Ecuador, Ecuador's flag carrier and the largest airline in the country.

Railway
Empresa de Ferrocarriles Ecuatorianos
The national railway of Ecuador.
 

Indian Market, Ecuador
Indian Market
© Embassy of Ecuador
Bartolomé Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Bartolomé Island and Pinnacle Rock to the right, Galapagos Islands.
Image: Peter Gene

Travel and Tour Consumer Information


Destination Ecuador - Travel and Tour Guides


Discover Ecuador: Quito (capital city): Compañía de Jesús, iconic baroque Jesuit church. Church of Saint Francis, monumental baroque church. Plaza de la Independencia, plaza and park in the heart of old Quito. TelefériQo, gondola lift for spectacular views over Quito's mountainous landscape.
Cuenca (capital of the Azuay Province), Inmaculada Concepción Cathedral, 19th century cathedral church in Cuenca.
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, plaza where you can stand with a foot in each hemisphere of the Earth.
Volcanos: Cotopaxi, an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, surrounded by a national park. Quilotoa, a water-filled caldera.
National Parks: Cajas National Park, high-altitude area with lakes and evergreen cloud forests. Machalilla National Park, national park with a beautiful beach and a Silver Island (Isla de la Plata).
Islands: Galápagos Islands archipelago: Baltra, Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Santiago.

Ecuador Travel Information
Ecuador & Galapagos official Travel Information and Travel Guide.
Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador
Official website of the Ministry of Tourism Ecuador (in Spanish).

Ecuador Country Information
About Ecuador by the Embassy of Ecuador.


Cities
More about Quito
With a searchable map/satellite view of Ecuador's capital city.
Portal de Turismo Quito
Official city guide of Quito.
Quito
The Municipality of Quito (Español).
Cuenca (Cuenca de los Andes)
The city of Cuenca, regarded as the most European city in Ecuador.
More about Guayaquil
With a searchable map/satellite view of Ecuador's largest city.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil City Guide.

Hotel
Hotel Cafe Cultura
One of the best hotels in Quito.

Ecuador World Heritage Sites:

World Heritage Site City of Quito
The capital of Ecuador was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca settlement. Despite of an earthquake in 1917, Quito has the best-preserved, least altered historic center in Latin America.
World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
Cuenca is an example of an early urban planning. The city was founded in 1557 and built according to the drafts of the Spanish King Charles V.
World Heritage Site Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System
The Great Inca Road, an extensive network of paths and tracks covering more than 30,000 km used by the Incas for trade, defence and communication. The Inca Road System runs on two north-south roads from present day Colombia, through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.
World Heritage Site Galápagos Islands
The isolated 'living museum and showcase of evolution' that inspired Charles Darwin of his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Historic center of Cuenca, Ecuador
Historic center of Cuenca, capital city of Azuay province.
Image: amalavida.tv
 
 

Education


Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar
Quito
Universidad Nacional de Loja
Loja
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Quito, founded in December 1534 (in Spanish).
 
 

Environment & Nature


Charles Darwin Foundation
The foundation is dedicated to the conservation of the Galapagos ecosystems. Site with comprehensive information on Galapagos.

Escuela Politécnica Nacional - Instituto Geofísico
Research center for monitoring of active volcanos and tectonic faults in Ecuador (in Spanish).

WWF Ecuador
World Wide Fund for Nature in Ecuador (in Spanish).
 
 

History


Archivo Nacional del Ecuador
National Archive of Ecuador (in Spanish).
History of Ecuador
Ecuador's history by Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador.
Cronología de la Historia Resumida del Ecuador
The article on Ecuador's history above in Spanish.
History of Ecuador
History of Ecuador by Wikipedia.
 
 

Search

Ecua Net
Directorio del Ecuador (in Spanish).

Explored
Ecuador Online.

Sources and additional Information about Ecuador


Amnesty International: Ecuador

BBC Country Profile: Ecuador

GlobalEDGE: Ecuador

The Heritage Foundation: Ecuador

Human Rights Watch: Ecuador

OEC: Ecuador

Reporters Without Borders: Ecuador

Wikipedia: Ecuador

The World Factbook -- Ecuador
 
 Support UNICEF

Other Countries of South America:
Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | French Guiana
Guyana | Paraguay | Peru | Suriname | Uruguay | Venezuela

Major Cities in South America:
Asunción, Belo Horizonte, Bogotá D.C., Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Cayenne, Curitiba, Fortaleza,
Georgetown, Kourou, La Paz, Lima, Manaus, Montevideo, Paramaribo, Porto Alegre, Port of Spain, Quito, Recife,
Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Santiago, São Paulo, Sucre

Countries of Middle and Central America:
Belize | Costa Rica | El Salvador | Guatemala | Honduras | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama
 
 
up