Map of Ecuador
Ecuador is a country in South America with its capital at Quito, home to about 18.29 million people across 257,204 km². The interactive map below plots 37 cities and towns, 5 rivers, 2 mountain summits and 4 ports recorded for Ecuador in YearMaps.
- Population
- 18.29 million
- Area
- 257,204 km²
- Capital
- Quito
- Continent
- South America
Interactive Map of Ecuador
Centred on Quito at 0.2130° S, 78.5020° W. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Ecuador
Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contains the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 1,000 kilometers (540 nmi; 620 mi) west of the mainland. The country's capital is Quito, and the largest city is Guayaquil.
The land that comprises modern-day Ecuador was once home to several groups of indigenous peoples that were gradually incorporated into the Inca Empire during the 15th century. The territory was colonized by the Spanish Empire during the 16th century, achieving independence in 1820 as part of Gran Colombia, from which it emerged as a sovereign state in 1830. The legacy of both empires is reflected in Ecuador's ethnically diverse population, with most of its 17.8 million people being mestizos, followed by large minorities of European, Indigenous, African, and Asian descent. Spanish is the official language spoken by a majority of the population, although 13 native languages are also recognized, including Quechua and Shuar.
Ecuador is a plurinational representative democratic presidential republic and a developing country whose economy is highly dependent on exports of commodities, primarily petroleum and agricultural products. The country is a founding member of the United Nations, Organization of American States, Mercosur, PROSUR, and the Non-Aligned Movement. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, between 2006 and 2016, poverty decreased from 36.7% to 22.5% and annual per capita GDP growth was 1.5 percent (as compared to 0.6 percent over the prior two decades). At the same time, the country's Gini index of economic inequality improved from 0.55 to 0.47.
One of 17 megadiverse countries in the world, Ecuador hosts many endemic plants and animals, such as those of the Galápagos Islands. In recognition of its unique ecological heritage, the new constitution of 2008 is the first in the world to recognize legally enforceable rights of nature.
In the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Ecuador ranks 58th out of 127 countries with a score of 11.6, which indicates a moderate level of hunger. In 2026 the United Nations reported that 2.6 million people in Ecuador are facing acute hunger amid an unprecedented crisis.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Ecuador (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Ecuador
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito -- the traditional name for the area -- became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty -- New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito -- gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew to become an independent republic in 1830, the traditional name was changed to the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador has had nearly 50 years of civilian governance, the period has been marked by political instability.
- Location
- Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru.
- Climate
- Tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands.
- Terrain
- Coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
- Highest point
- Chimborazo 6,267.
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 2,237 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 2,237 km; border countries: Colombia 708 km; Peru 1529 km.
- Natural resources
- Petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 21.5% (2023 est.); arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.); forest: 49.8% (2023 est.); other: 28.6% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts volcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m) is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (1,476 m), a shield volcano, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago.
- Geographic note
- Cotopaxi in the Andes is highest active volcano in world.
- Languages
- Spanish (Castilian; official) 98.6%, indigenous 3.9% (Quechua 3.2%, other indigenous 0.7%), foreign 2.8%, other 0.6% (includes Ecuadorian sign language) (2022 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 68.2%, Protestant 19% (Evangelical 18.3%, Adventist 0.6%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other 2.3%, none 8.2% don't know/no response 1% (2023 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 77.5%, Montubio 7.7%, Indigenous 7.7%, White 2.2%, Afroecuadorian 2%, Mulatto 1.4%, Black 1.3%, other 0.1% (2022 est.)
- Economy
- Highly informal South American economy; USD currency user; major banana exporter; hard hit by COVID-19; macroeconomic fragility from oil dependency; successful debt restructuring; China funding budget deficits; social unrest hampering economic activity.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Ecuador in Numbers
- Population
- 18.29 million
- GDP
- US$130.3 billion
- GDP per person
- US$7,125
- Life expectancy
- 77.6 years
- Population growth
- 0.85% a year
- Population density
- 73 per km²
- Urban population
- 63.4%
- Surface area
- 256,370 km²
- Forest cover
- 49.7%
- Arable land
- 3.7%
- Access to electricity
- 98.5%
- Internet users
- 77.2%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Ecuador in Depth
History
Various peoples had settled in the area of future Ecuador before the arrival of the Incas. The archeological evidence suggests that the Paleo-Indians' first dispersal into the Americas occurred near the end of the last glacial period, around 16,500–13,000 years ago. The first people who reached Ecuador may have journeyed by land from North and Central America or by boat down the Pacific Ocean coastline.
Even though their languages were unrelated, these groups developed similar groups of cultures, each based in different environments.
Geography
According to the CIA World Factbook, Ecuador has a total area of 283,571 km2 (109,487 sq mi), including the Galápagos Islands. Of this, 276,841 km2 (106,889 sq mi) is land and 6,720 km2 (2,595 sq mi) water. The total area, according to the Ecuadorian government's foreign ministry, is 256,370 km2 (98,985 sq mi). The Galápagos Islands are sometimes considered part of Oceania, which would thus make Ecuador a transcontinental country under certain definitions. Ecuador is bigger than the South America countries Uruguay, Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana.
bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and has 2,337 km (1,452 mi) of coastline.
Economy
Ecuador has a developing economy that is highly dependent on commodities, namely petroleum and agricultural products. The country is classified as an upper-middle-income country. Ecuador's economy is the eighth largest in Latin America and experienced an average growth of 4.6% between 2000 and 2006. From 2007 to 2012, Ecuador's GDP grew at an annual average of 4.3 percent, above the average for Latin America and the Caribbean, which was 3.5%, according to the United Nations' Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Ecuador was able to maintain relatively superior growth during the 2008 financial crisis. In January 2009, the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE) put the 2010 growth forecast at 6.88%.
Demographics
Ecuador's population is ethnically diverse and the 2021 estimates put Ecuador's population at 17,797,737. The largest ethnic group (as of 2010) is the Mestizos, who are mixed race people of Amerindian and European descent, typically from Spanish colonists, and constitute about 71% of the population (although including the Montubio, a term used for coastal Mestizo population, brings this up to about 79%).
The White Ecuadorians are a minority, accounting for 6.1% of the population of Ecuador, and can be found throughout all of Ecuador, primarily around the urban areas.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Ecuador (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ecuador: Key Facts
| Currency | United States dollar |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Spanish, Northern Quichua, Shuar |
| Head of state | Daniel Noboa |
| Head of government | Daniel Noboa |
| Form of government | republic, presidential system |
| Calling code | +593 |
| Internet domain | .ec |
| Highest point | Chimborazo |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean |
| Established | 16 February 1840 |
Facts from Wikidata Q736 (CC0).
History of Ecuador: Empires and States
The atlas records 4 polities whose mapped territory included part of Ecuador, from The Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) in 1475 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| The Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) | 1475–1539 CE | Most |
| The Spanish Empire | 1534–1821 CE | Most |
| Gran Colombia | 1822–1833 CE | Most |
| Republic of Ecuador | 1834–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Ecuador
Ecuador on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Ecuador
Ecuador is a country on the Equator in northwestern South America. Several places in the country have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Galapagos Islands and the cities of Quito and Cuenca, which lie in the Andes that run from north to south through the country. The Ecuadorian Andes are also home to some of the highest active volcanoes such as the Cotopaxi.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Ecuador (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Ecuador
37 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guayaquil | 2.51 million | Guayas | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Quito | 1.70 million | Pichincha | National capital |
| 3 | Cuenca | 286,878 | Azuay | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Ambato | 281,425 | Napo | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Portoviejo | 213,601 | Manabi | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Machala | 213,034 | El Oro | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Manta | 183,166 | Manabi | Populated place |
| 8 | Sangolquí | 178,582 | Pichincha | Populated place |
| 9 | Esmeraldas | 173,101 | Esmeraldas | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Riobamba | 172,464 | Chimborazo | Admin-1 capital |
| 11 | Ibarra | 146,741 | Imbabura | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Loja | 126,368 | Loja | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Milagro | 109,970 | Guayas | Populated place |
| 14 | Latacunga | 94,972 | Cotopaxi | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Tulcán | 83,000 | Carchi | Admin-1 capital |
| 16 | Babahoyo | 76,279 | Los Rios | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Azogues | 69,087 | Cañar | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Chone | 44,751 | Manabi | Populated place |
| 19 | Salinas | 43,862 | Guayas | Populated place |
| 20 | Jipijapa | 35,901 | Manabi | Populated place |
| 21 | Tena | 31,126 | Tungurahua | Admin-1 capital |
| 22 | Cayambe | 27,881 | Pichincha | Populated place |
| 23 | Guaranda | 27,866 | Bolivar | Admin-1 capital |
| 24 | Puyo | 24,881 | Pastaza | Admin-1 capital |
| 25 | Macas | 23,687 | Morona Santiago | Admin-1 capital |
The other 12 (population, region, role)
- San Lorenzo · 20,209 · Esmeraldas · Populated place
- Piñas · 16,981 · El Oro · Populated place
- San Gabriel · 16,066 · Carchi · Populated place
- Zamora · 15,276 · Zamora Chinchipe · Admin-1 capital
- Alausí · 14,294 · Chimborazo · Populated place
- Muisne · 13,393 · Esmeraldas · Populated place
- Macará · 13,035 · Loja · Populated place
- Valdez · 11,441 · Esmeraldas · Populated place
- Santa Cruz · 11,262 · Gal · Populated place
- Puerto Baquerizo Moreno · 6,030 · Galápagos · Admin-1 capital
- Puerto Villamil · 2,200 · Gal · Populated place
- Yaupi · 293 · Morona Santiago · Populated place
Highest Mountains in Ecuador
2 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chimborazo | 6,267 m | 20,561 ft | South America |
| 2 | Volcán Wolf | 1,707 m | 5,600 ft | South America |
Chimborazo
Mountain · 6,267 m
Chimborazo is a mountain rising to 6,267 metres (20,561 ft) in Ecuador, in the South America region.
Chimborazo (Spanish: [tʃimboˈɾaso] ) is a stratovolcano in Ecuador and the Cordillera Occidental range of the Andes. Its last known eruption is believed to have occurred around AD 550.
Chimborazo is the highest mountain in Ecuador and the 39th-highest peak in the entire Andes. Although not the tallest mountain on Earth relative to sea level—it reaches a height of 6,263 m (20,548 ft), well below that of Mount Everest at 8,849 m (29,032 ft)—its summit is the farthest point on Earth's surface from its center due to its location along the equatorial bulge.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Chimborazo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 6,267 m (20,561 ft)
- Global rank
- #41 of 641 indexed
- Region
- South America (#10)
- Country
- Ecuador
- Coordinates
- -1.4693°, -78.8175°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Chimborazo ranks #41 by elevation, below Magen Gangri (6,282 m) and above Denali (6,194 m).
- Ranges:
- Wilhelmina Gebergte (South America), Tumuc-Humac Mountains (South America)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Nevado del Ruiz (5,311 m), Nevado Huascarán (6,768 m), Ritacuba Blanco (5,410 m)
More about Chimborazo
Geography
Chimborazo is in the Chimborazo Province of Ecuador, 150 km (93 mi) south-southwest of the city of Quito, Ecuador. It is a neighbor to 5,018 m (16,463 ft) high Carihuairazo, another inactive stratovolcano. Chimborazo's summit rises 2,500 m (8,202 ft) above the surrounding highlands (~3,500 to 4,000 m (11,483 to 13,123 ft)) with a ≈20 km (12 mi) wide base.
Under clear conditions, the summit of Chimborazo can be seen from the coastal city Guayaquil, nearly 140 km (87 mi) away. The nearest cities are Riobamba (~30 km to the southeast), Ambato (~30 km to the northeast) and Guaranda (~25 km to the southwest).
Geology
Chimborazo is an ice-capped inactive volcano. It is a double volcano composed of one volcanic edifice on top of another. Chimborazo shows four summits; Whymper, Veintimilla, Politecnica, and Nicolas Martínez. The Whymper peak is the highest point on the mountain at 6,263 meters. The Veintimilla peak is about 6,234 m (20,453 ft) high. The Politecnica peak is 5,820 m (19,094 ft) high. The last peak, Nicolas Martínez, is 5,570 m (18,274 ft) high and was named after the father of Ecuadorian mountaineering. The volcano is categorized as a stratovolcano. This type of volcano is characterized as having low slopes at the bottom that gradually get steeper the higher up the mountain. Chimborazo has a circumference of 78 miles (126 km) and a diameter of 30 miles (48 km).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Chimborazo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Chimborazo: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 4,122 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Andes |
Facts from Wikidata Q14081 (CC0).
Volcán Wolf
Mountain · 1,707 m
Volcán Wolf is a mountain rising to 1,707 metres (5,600 ft) in Ecuador, in the South America region.
Wolf Volcano (Spanish: Volcán Wolf), also known as Mount Whiton, is the highest peak in the Galápagos Islands. It is situated on Isabela Island and reaches 1,710 m (5,610 ft). It is a shield volcano with a characteristic upturned soup bowl shape.
The volcano was named after Theodor Wolf, a German geologist who studied the Galápagos Islands in the 19th century. Wolf Island in the north of the Galápagos is also named after the geologist.
Wolf Volcano's height makes it an ultra prominent peak (a peak with a topographic prominence of over 1,500 m (4,900 ft)).
Adapted from Wikipedia: Volcán Wolf (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,707 m (5,600 ft)
- Global rank
- #465 of 641 indexed
- Region
- South America (#37)
- Subregion
- Galapagos Islands
- Country
- Ecuador
- Coordinates
- 0.0581°, -91.3461°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Volcán Wolf ranks #465 by elevation, below Sorak-san (1,708 m) and above Gora Kamen (1,701 m).
- Ranges:
- Sierra Madre Oriental (North America), Sierra Madre Occidental (North America)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Cerro Chirripó (3,820 m), Volcán Barú (3,475 m), Chimborazo (6,267 m)
- Settlements below:
- Salinas (1,179 km), Manta (1,186 km), Portoviejo (1,217 km)
More about Volcán Wolf
Geology
In a process similar to the formation of the Hawaiian islands, the Galapagos (along with associated hotspot) appear to be created from a mantle plume. This plume stays in place while the Nazca Plate moves above it; the relative movement of this plate is 0.46 degrees per million years. The volcano itself is estimated to be less than half a million years old; the oceanic plate beneath it is theorized to be around 10 million years old.
Wolf is situated at the northern end of Isabela Island in the Galapagos, and sits on the equator, one of six coalescing volcanoes that make up this island (the others being Ecuador, Darwin, Alcedo, Sierra Negra, and Cerro Azul).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Volcán Wolf (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Volcán Wolf: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 1,707 m |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q1376373 (CC0).
Rivers in Ecuador
5 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Ecuador
4 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puerto Maritimo de Guayaquil | 38.4 m | Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 2 | Manta | 38.4 m | Very Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 3 | Esmeraldas | 38.4 m | Very Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 4 | la Libertad | — | Very Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ecuador
4 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galapagos Islands | 1978 | Natural | (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) |
| 2 | Historic Center of Quito | 1978 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 3 | Sangay National Park | 1983 | Natural | (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) |
| 4 | Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca | 1999 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) (v) |
Largest Islands of Ecuador
3 islands recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ArchipiéLago de ColóN | 68,353 km² | Island group |
| 2 | Isabela | 4,646 km² | Island group |
| 3 | Santa Cruz | 961 km² | Island group |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Ecuador
5 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South America | 17.91M km² | Continent | South America |
| 2 | Amazon Basin | 4.65M km² | Basin | South America |
| 3 | Andes | 549,211 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 4 | Cord. Central | 207,175 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 5 | Cord. Central | 120,066 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
States and Provinces of Ecuador
2 first-level divisions with their own map.
Countries Bordering Ecuador
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in South America
Ecuador: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Ecuador?
- The capital of Ecuador is Quito.
- What is the population of Ecuador?
- Ecuador has a population of about 18.29 million, the #71 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Ecuador?
- Ecuador covers 257,204 km², ranking #79 by area, with about 71 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Ecuador in?
- Ecuador is in South America.
- Which countries border Ecuador?
- Ecuador shares a land or maritime border with Peru, Colombia.
- What is the largest city in Ecuador?
- Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador, with a metropolitan population of about 2.51 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Ecuador?
- The highest summit recorded for Ecuador in YearMaps is Chimborazo at 6,267 m (20,561 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.