The 2005 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

       highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

      Natural resources:

       petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

      Land use: arable land: 5.85% permanent crops: 4.93% other: 89.22% (2001)

      Irrigated land:

       8,650 sq km (1998 est.)

      Natural hazards:

       frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods;

       periodic droughts

      Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

      Environment - international agreements:

       party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,

       Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,

       Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer

       Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,

       Wetlands

       signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

      Geography - note:

       Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

      People Ecuador

      Population:

       13,363,593 (July 2005 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 33.5% (male 2,282,252/female 2,195,942)

       15–64 years: 61.5% (male 4,094,146/female 4,130,096)

       65 years and over: 4.9% (male 310,336/female 350,821) (2005 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 23.27 years

       male: 22.82 years

       female: 23.74 years (2005 est.)

      Population growth rate:

       1.24% (2005 est.)

      Birth rate:

       22.67 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

      Death rate:

       4.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       −6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

       total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 23.66 deaths/1,000 live births

       male: 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 18.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 76.21 years

       male: 73.35 years

       female: 79.22 years (2005 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       2.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       0.3% (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       21,000 (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       1,700 (2003 est.)

      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%, other 5%

      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% (2003 est.)

      Government Ecuador

      Country name:

       conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador

       conventional short form: Ecuador

       local long form: Republica del Ecuador

       local short form: 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 (since 20 April 2005);

       Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005);

       note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

       government; former President Lucio GUTIERREZ was removed from office

       by congress effective 20 April 2005

       head of government: President Alfredo PALACIO (since 20 April 2005);

       Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005);

       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 (no immediate

       reelection); election last held 20 October 2002; runoff election

       held 24 November 2002 (next to be held October 2006)

       election results: results of the 24 November 2002 runoff election -

       Lucio GUTIERREZ elected president; percent of vote - Lucio GUTIERREZ

       54.3%; Alvaro NOBOA 45.7%; note - Vice President Alfredo PALACIO

       assumed the presidency on 20 April 2005 after congress removed Lucio

       GUTIERREZ from office

      Legislative branch: