Ecuador flag

Country in South America

Ecuador

Ecuador sits on the equator, packing volcanoes, Amazon jungle, colonial cities, and the famed Galápagos Islands into one of South America's most compact and biodiverse countries.

CapitalQuito
LanguageSpanish
CurrencyUnited States dollar
Population18.1M

Key Facts

CapitalQuito
RegionNorthwestern South America / Andean
GovernmentUnitary presidential republic
Independence1822
Area283,561 km2
Population density70/km2
Time zoneECT (UTC-5)
Calling code+593
Drives onRight

Quick View

HDI
0.740
Safety index
43.0
Internet access
77%
Life expectancy
77.9

Sources: World Bank, Numbeo, UN.

Top 3 Highest Mountains

Chimborazo6,263 m
Cotopaxi5,897 m
Cayambe5,790 m

Religion (est.)

  • Christianity92%
  • No religion5%
  • Indigenous faiths2%
  • Other1%

Why Visit

Galápagos IslandsLiving laboratory of evolution where Darwin developed his theory of natural selection.
Avenue of VolcanoesDouble row of volcanoes along the Andes including Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.
Amazon RainforestYasuni National Park is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
Quito Old TownUNESCO-listed colonial centre at 2,850 m altitude with well-preserved Spanish architecture.
Cloud ForestTransitional ecosystems between Andes and Amazon teeming with orchids and hummingbirds.

Top 3 Cities by Population

Guayaquil
2.7M
Quito
1.8M
Cuenca
330k

Climate Overview

14CJan avg.
14CJul avg.
1,274 mmYearly rainfall
Tropical coastal, highland, AmazonianClimate

Other Quick Info

CurrencyUnited States dollar
Official languageSpanish
National day10 August
Electricity120V, Type A/B