Ecuador General Info / FAQ

National name: República del Ecuador
 
President: Rafael Correa (2007)
 
 
Land area: 106,888 sq mi (276,840 sq km); total area: 109, 483 sq mi (283,560 sq km)
 
Population (2007 est.): 13,755,680 (growth rate: 1.6%); birth rate: 21.9/1000; infant mortality rate: 22.1/1000; life expectancy: 76.6; density per sq mi: 129
 
Capital (2003 est.):Quito 1,780,700 (metro. area), 1,443,900 (city proper)
Largest cities: Guayaquil, 2,597,600 (metro. area), 2,013,500 (city proper); Cuenca, 285,700
 
Monetary unit: U.S. dollar
 
Languages:Spanish (official), Quechua, other Amerindian languages
 
Ethnicity/race:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
Religion:Roman Catholic 95%
 
Literacy rate: 93% (2003 est.)
 
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2006 est.): $61.52 billion; per capita $4,500. Real growth rate: 4.1%. Inflation: 3.4%. Unemployment: 10.6% official rate; but underemployment of 47%. Arable land: 6%. Agriculture: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp. Labor force: 4.6 million (urban); agriculture 8%, industry 24%, services 68% (2001). Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals. Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower. Exports: $12.56 billion (2006 est.): petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp. Imports: $10.81 billion (2006 est.): vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment, electricity. Major trading partners: U.S., Panama, Peru, Italy, Colombia, China, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Mexico (2004).
 
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 1.7 million (2005); mobile cellular: 6.246 million (2005). Radio broadcast stations: AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001). Television broadcast stations: 7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001). Televisions: 2.5 million (2001). Internet hosts: 19,027 (2006). Internet users: 616,000 (2005).
 
Transportation: Railways: total: 966 km (2004). Highways: total: 43,197 km; paved: 8,164 km; unpaved: 35,033 km (2002). Waterways: 1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2003). Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar. Airports: 359 (2006 est.).
 
International disputes: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border and caused over 20,000 refugees to flee into Ecuador in 2004.
 
 
ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: For US citizens, a U.S. passport with remaining validity of at least six months is required to enter Ecuador. A valid U.S. passport is required to depart Ecuador.  Tourists must also provide evidence of return or onward travel, such as an airline ticket .  U.S. citizens traveling on regular passports for tourism or business do not need a visa for a stay of 90 days or less.  Those planning a longer visit must obtain a visa in advance of arrival.