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ECUADOR

Geography

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 area: 283,560 sq km

land area: 276,840 sq km

comparative area: slightly smaller than Nevada

note: includes Galapagos Islands

Land boundaries:

total: 2,010 km

border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Coastline: 2,237 km

Maritime claims:

continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands

territorial sea: 200 nm

International disputes: three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute

Climate: tropical along coast becoming cooler inland

Terrain: 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

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber

Land use:

arable land: 6%

permanent crops: 3%

meadows and pastures: 17%

forest and woodland: 51%

other: 23%

Irrigated land: 5,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:

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 note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

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People

Population: 11,466,291 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:

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.)

Population growth rate: 1.96% (1996 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:

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.)

Infant mortality rate: 34.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.09 years

male: 68.49 years

female: 73.82 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Ecuadorian(s)

adjective: Ecuadorian

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Languages: Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

total population: 90.1%

male: 92%

female: 88.2%

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Government

Name of country:

conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador

conventional short form: Ecuador

local long form: Republica del Ecuador

local short form: Ecuador

Data code: EC

Type of government: republic

Capital: Quito

Administrative divisions: 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

Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of Quito)

Constitution: 10 August 1979

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

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

Executive branch:

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

Legislative branch: unicameral

National Congress (Congreso Nacional): 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

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

Political parties and leaders:

Center-Right parties: 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)

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

Far-Left parties: 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

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

International organization participation: 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)

Diplomatic representation in US:

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

US diplomatic representation:

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

FAX: [593] (2) 502-052

consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Flag: 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

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Economy

Economic overview: 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.

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

GDP real growth rate: 2.3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $4,100 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:

agriculture: 13%

industry: 39%

services: 48% (1992 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1995)

Labor force: 2.8 million

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

Unemployment rate: 7.1% (1994)

Budget:

revenues: $3.3 billion

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 6.4% (1993)

Electricity:

capacity: 2,230,000 kW

production: 6.9 billion kWh

consumption per capita: 612 kWh (1993)

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

Illicit drugs: 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

Exports: $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%

Imports: $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

External debt: $12.6 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:

recipient: ODA, $153 million (1993)

note: received $12.7 million from the US and $160 million from other countries in 1995

Currency: 1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: 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)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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Transportation

Railways:

total: 965 km (single track)

narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways:

total: 43,709 km

paved: 5,245 km

unpaved: 38,464 km (1991 est.)

Waterways: 1,500 km

Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km

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

Merchant marine:

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.)

Airports:

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: 1 (1995 est.)

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Communications

Telephones: 586,300 (1994 est.)

Telephone system:

domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable

international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 272, FM 0, shortwave 39

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 33

Televisions: 940,000 (1992 est.)

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Defense

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

Manpower availability:

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.)

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

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