Basic Facts

Official Name: República del Ecuador

Capital: Quito

Population: 15 million (2011)

People: mestizo 72%, montubio 7.4%, African descent 7.2%, indigenous 7%, white 6.1%, other 0.3%

Literacy Rate: 93.2%

Religion: Roman Catholic (80.4%)

Language: Spanish , Kichwa, Shuar (official)

Government: Republic; executive branch dominates government structure. President Rafael Correa Delgado (since January 15, 2007); Vice President Lenín Moreno Garcés (since January 15, 2007). (The president is both the chief of state and head of government.)

Provinces: 24 provinces: Azuay, Bolívar, Cañar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galápagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Ríos, Manabí, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Sucumbíos, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Lowest point: Pacific Coast (0 m / 0 ft)

Highest point: Volcán Chimborazo (6,310 m / 20,697 ft)

Economic Facts: As of 2012, unemployment is 4.8%, and underemployment 46.7%. Public debt is 22.1% of GDP. In 2012, 27.3% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Agriculture: flowers, bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (yucca / cassava and tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp.

Main exports: petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp.

Main industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Time: Mainland = GMT minus 5; Galapagos = GMT minus 6

Electricity: 110/120 Volts AC, standard North American plugs (two flat parallel blades) are used.

Here are some related tips to help plan your trip to Ecuador: The South American Explorers' Club, Tourist Information, Getting to and Away from Ambato, Galapagos Cruises: What's Included?, Holidays and Fiestas, Galápagos Giant Tortoise, Fish in the Galápagos, Red-Footed Booby, The Waved Albatross and Getting Around.