The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that
emerged from the collapse of Gran
Colombia
in 1830 (the others are
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. Although
Ecuador
marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by
political instability. Seven presidents have governed
Ecuador
since 1996.
Geography of Ecuador
Location:
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at
the Equator, between
Colombia
and
Peru
Coordinates:
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Area:
total: 283,560 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands water: 6,720 sq km land: 276,840 sq km
Area comparative:
slightly smaller than Nevada
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
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
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water
pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive
areas of the Galapagos Islands
Geography - note:
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest
active volcano in world
Population of
Ecuador
Population:
13,547,510 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 2,281,499/female 2,195,551) 15-64 years: 61.9% (male 4,178,653/female 4,210,766) 65 years and over: 5% (male 319,719/female 361,322)
Median age:
23.6 years
Growth rate:
1.5%
Infant mortality:
22.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.42 years male: 73.55 years female: 79.43 years
Fertility rate:
2.68 children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian
25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially
Quechua)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.5% male: 94% female: 91%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic
of Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Quito
Administrative divisions:
22 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, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:
24 May 1822 (from
Spain
)
National holiday:
Independence Day (independence of Quito),
10 August (1809)
Constitution:
10 August 1998
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: President Alfredo PALACIO; Vice
President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar; note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government 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)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100
seats; members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms)
Judicial branch:
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)
Economy
Ecuador
has substantial petroleum resources, which have accounted for 40% of the
country's export earnings and one-third of central government budget revenues
in recent years. Consequently, fluctuations in world market prices can have a
substantial domestic impact. 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. The currency depreciated by
some 70% in 1999, and, on the brink of hyperinflation, the MAHAUD government
announced it would dollarize the economy. A coup, however, ousted MAHAUD from
office in January 2000, and after a short-lived junta failed to garner
military support, Vice President Gustavo NOBOA took over the presidency. In
March 2000, 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 growth returned to its pre-crisis
levels in the years that followed. Under the administration of Lucio
GUTIERREZ - January 2003 to April 2005 -
Ecuador
benefited from higher world petroleum prices. However, the government under
Alfredo PALACIO has reversed economic reforms that reduced Ecuador's
vulnerability to petroleum price swings and financial crises, allowing the
central government greater access to oil windfalls and disbursing surplus
retirement funds.
GDP:
$56.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP growth rate:
3.9%
GDP per capita:
$4,300
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 7% industry: 31.2% services: 61.8%
Inflation rate:
2.1%
Labor force:
4.6 million (urban)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8% industry: 24% services: 68%
Unemployment:
10.7% official rate; but underemployment of 47% (2005
est.)
