Ecuador in a nutshell

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República del Ecuador

Quito (1.4 mln inhabitants)

Democratic republic

Spanish

256 370 km² / 99 000 sq mi. This corresponds to about 6 times the area of Switzerland or Denmark.

Ecuador is located - nomen est omen - at the equator.

Chimborazo, 6310 m (20700 ft)

Río Guayas

13.5 mln (2006), of which 38% live on the Andean highlands, 51% at the tropical coast of the Pacific Ocean and 11% in the Amazon rainforest. About 7% are of indigenous origin, mostly Kichwa. 77% are Mestizo and 10% have European ancestors.

In average 48 inhabitants/km². For comparison: in Switzerland 170 inhabitants share one km², in Denmark 125. Ecuador has the highest average population density of South America. The population is, however, distributed quite unevenly. In fact, in the Amazon jungle you find only 4 inhabitants on one km².

70 years

9%

72% Catholics, 28% others

USD 3270 per capita (2007).

Ecuador is, as measured by its GDP, the second poorest nation in South America. The economy depends heavily on oil production which provides 60% of the total export earnings. Other major income stems from flowers and tropical fruits. In the year 2000, Ecuador gave up its own currency and has been using US Dollars since then. They hope that the new monetary policy improves the nation's economic stability and paves the way out of poverty.