Official Name: Republic of Ecuador
Area: 256.370 sq km , 98.985 sq mi
Population: 13.810.000
Official Language: Spanish
Religion: Roman Catholic (95%)
Capital: Quito
President: Rafael Correa (2007)
Currency: US $ (USD)

Geography and Climate

• Ecuador borders on Colombia and Peru
• Climate: tropical along the coast and in the Amazon region, and cooler in the highlands
• Terrain: coastal plain (Costa), inter-Andean highlands (Sierra), rolling eastern rainforest plain (Oriente) & the Galapagos Island Archipelago
•  Highest point: Chimborazo Volcano, 6,310 meters
• Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity, and periodic droughts
• Natural resources: oil, fish, timber, and various minerals
• Largest cities: Guayaquil, 2,597,600 (metro. area), 2,013,500 (city proper); Cuenca, 285,700
• Administrative division: 21 provinces divided into 199 cantons

People

• Birth rate: 21.9 per 1000 people (est. 2007)
• Life expectancy: 76.6 (est. 2007)
• Density: 129 people per sq mi
• Ethnicity: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white, 65%), Amerindians (25%), Euro-Americans (6%), Afro-Americans (3%), and Oriental (1%), others (indigenous nationalities)
• Languages spoken: Spanish (official), Quichua (most widely spoken indigenous language), English (spoken by professionals)
• Literacy rate: 93% (est. 2003)

Economy

• GDP: 41%
• Real growth rate: 2.6% (est. 2007)
• Arable rate: 6%
• Agriculture: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, pork, beef, dairy products; fish, shrimp, balsa wood.
• Labor force: 4.6 million (est. 2007)
• Population distribution by occupation: 8% - agriculture, 24% - industry, 68% - services (est. 2001)
• Export: petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp
• Import: vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment, electricity
• Main trading partners: U.S., Peru, Italy, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Panama

Communications and Transportation

• Railroads: 966 km (est. 2006)
• Highways: 43,197 km
• Roads paved: 18,9% (est. 2000)
• Waterways: 1,500 km (most inaccessible)
• Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
• Airports: 406