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Background:
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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 25 years of civilian
governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political
instability. Protests in Quito have contributed to the mid-term ouster
of Ecuador's last three democratically elected Presidents. |
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Location:
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Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
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Geographic coordinates:
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2 00 S, 77 30 W
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Map references:
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South America
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Area:
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total: 283,560 sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Nevada
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
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Coastline:
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2,237 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500 meter isobath
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Climate:
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tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
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Terrain:
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coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 4.81%
other: 89.48% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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8,650 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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432 cu km (2000)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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Total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%)
Per capita: 1,283 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution;
pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of
the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
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Population:
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13,755,680 (July 2007 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 32.6% (male 2,282,319/female 2,196,685)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 4,271,848/female 4,301,149)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 330,302/female 373,377) (2007 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 23.9 years
male: 23.4 years
female: 24.3 years (2007 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.554% (2007 est.)
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Birth rate:
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21.91 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Death rate:
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4.21 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-2.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.039 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.993 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.885 male(s)/female
total population: 1.002 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 22.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 76.62 years
male: 73.74 years
female: 79.63 years (2007 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.63 children born/woman (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.3% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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21,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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1,700 (2003 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
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Languages:
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Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.7% (2001 census)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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24 May 1822 (from Spain)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
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Constitution:
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10 August 1998
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President
Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:
the president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms);
election last held 15 October 2006 with a runoff election on 26
November 2006 (next to be held in October 2010)
election results: Rafael CORREA Delgado elected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 56.7%; Alvaro NOBOA 43.3%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members
are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 15 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRIAN 28; PSP 24; PSC
13; ID 7; PRE 6; MUPP-NP 6; RED 5; UDC 5; other 6; note - defections by
members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent
changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties; as of 29
November 2007, Congress is on indefinite recess |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new
justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004,
however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court via a
simple-majority resolution) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alianza PAIS Movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian
Democratic Union or UDC [Diego ORDONEZ Guerrero]; Concentration of
Popular Forces or CFP; Democratic Left or ID [Andres PAEZ Benalcazar];
Ethical and Democratic Network or RED [Leon ROLDOS]; National Action
Institutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik
Plurinational Unity Movement - New Country or MUPP-NP [Gilberto
TALAHUA]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua];
Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Ciro GUZMAN Aldaz]; Roldosist Party
or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC
[Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Gustavo
AYALA Cruz] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Luis
MACAS, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F. Napoleon
SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE
[Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of Indigenous
Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA CRUZ, president]
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International organization participation:
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CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Jersey City (New Jersey), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Linda L. JEWELL
embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address: APO AA 34039
telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890
FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
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Flag description:
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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, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of
arms |
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Economy - overview:
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Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which
have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and
one-fourth of public sector revenues in recent years. In the late
1990s, Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis, with natural
disasters and sharp declines in world petroleum prices driving
Ecuador's economy into free fall in 1999. Real GDP contracted by more
than 6%, with poverty worsening significantly. The banking system also
collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year.
In March 2000, with inflation rising at an annual rate of 80%, Congress
approved a series of structural reforms that also provided the
framework for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender.
Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in
the years that followed. However, the government of Alfredo PALACIO
(2005-07) reversed economic reforms that reduced Ecuador's
vulnerability to petroleum price swings and financial crises, and in
2006, seized the assets of Occidental Petroleum for alleged contract
violations and increased taxes on other foreign oil companies.
PALACIO's successor and former Economy Minister, Rafael CORREA, has
repeatedly raised the specter of another debt default, rejected a
partially negotiated free trade agreement with the US, and decreed
additional tax hikes on private oil companies. Consequently, foreign
direct investment remains below 2001-04 levels, and economic growth has
slowed significantly. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$98.28 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$43.76 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.8% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$7,100 (2007 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 10%
industry: 35%
services: 54% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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4.55 million (urban) (2007 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 8%
industry: 24%
services: 68% (2001)
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Unemployment rate:
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9.8% (2007 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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38.3% (2006)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 35%
note: data for urban households only (October 2006)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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46
note: data are for urban households (2006)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.2% (2007 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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26.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $13.1 billion
expenditures: planned $11.3 billion (2007 est.)
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Public debt:
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30.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains,
sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood;
fish, shrimp |
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Industries:
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petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1.4% (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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12.94 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 81%
hydro: 19%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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8.855 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - exports:
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16 million kWh (2005)
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Electricity - imports:
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1.723 billion kWh (2005)
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Oil - production:
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532,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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155,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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420,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)
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Oil - imports:
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44,680 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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4.63 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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249.4 million cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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249.4 million cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2005)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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9.369 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Current account balance:
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-$600 million (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$13.3 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp
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Exports - partners:
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US 53.6%, Peru 8.2%, Colombia 5.6%, Chile 4.4% (2006)
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Imports:
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$13 billion (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment, electricity
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Imports - partners:
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US 23.1%, Colombia 13.3%, Brazil 7.3%, Panama 4% (2006)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$209.5 million (2005)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$3.618 billion (30 November 2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$17.56 billion (31 October 2007)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$14.67 billion (2006 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$8.442 billion (2006 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$4.04 billion (2006)
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Currency (code):
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US dollar (USD)
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Currency code:
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USD
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Exchange rates:
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1 the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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1.754 million (2006)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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8.485 million (2006)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic:
fixed-line services provided by three state-owned enterprises; plans to
transfer the state-owned operators to private ownership have repeatedly
failed; fixed-line density stands at about 13 per 100 persons; mobile
cellular use has surged and has a subscribership of nearly 65 per 100
persons
international: country code - 593; landing point for
the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable that provides 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) (2007) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
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Radios:
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5 million (2001)
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Television broadcast stations:
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7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2000)
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Televisions:
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2.5 million (2001)
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Internet country code:
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.ec
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Internet hosts:
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28,420 (2007)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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31 (2001)
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Internet users:
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1.549 million (2006)
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Airports:
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406 (2007)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 104
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 54 (2007)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 302
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 268 (2007)
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Heliports:
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1 (2007)
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Pipelines:
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extra heavy crude oil 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,389 km; refined products 1,185 km (2007)
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Railways:
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total: 966 km
narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
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Roadways:
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total: 43,197 km
paved: 6,467 km
unpaved: 36,730 km (2004)
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Waterways:
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1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2006)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 33 ships (1000 GRT or over) 190,931 GRT/306,280 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 22, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Philippines 1, US 1)
registered in other countries: 3 (China 1, Panama 2) (2007)
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Ports and terminals:
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Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2007)
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Military service age and obligation:
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20 years of age for selective conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2006)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 20-49: 2,792,770
females age 20-49: 2,849,519 (2005 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 20-49: 2,338,428
females age 20-49: 2,380,327 (2005 est.)
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males age 18-49: 133,922
females age 20-49: 129,758 (2005 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2.8% (2006)
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Disputes - international:
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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 |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin):
9,851 (Colombia); note - UNHCR estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians
are seeking asylum in Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees
for fear of deportation (2006) |
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Illicit drugs:
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significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and
Peru, with over half 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 |
This page was last updated on 12 February, 2008
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