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KOSHER DELIGHT - YOUR JEWISH ONLINE MAGAZINE!
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ECUADOR
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GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT ECUADOR:
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Background:
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The "Republic of
the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the
collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Colombia and
Venezuela). 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 marked
25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been
marred by political instability. Seven presidents have governed
Ecuador since 1996.
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Location:
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Western South
America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between
Colombia and Peru |
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Geographic coordinates:
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2 00 S, 77 30 W |
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Map references:
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South
America |
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Area:
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total: 283,560
sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than
Nevada |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,010
km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km |
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Coastline:
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2,237 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea:
200 nm
continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500 meter isobath |
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Climate:
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tropical along coast,
becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian
jungle lowlands |
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Terrain:
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coastal plain (costa),
inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling
eastern jungle (oriente) |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, fish,
timber, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land:
5.71%
permanent crops: 4.81%
other: 89.48% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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8,650 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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frequent earthquakes,
landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; soil
erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil
production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon
Basin and Galapagos Islands |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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Cotopaxi in Andes is
highest active volcano in world
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Population:
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13,547,510 (July 2006
est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
33% (male 2,281,499/female 2,195,551)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 4,178,653/female 4,210,766)
65 years and over: 5% (male 319,719/female 361,322) (2006
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 23.6
years
male: 23.1 years
female: 24 years (2006 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.5% (2006 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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22.29 births/1,000
population (2006 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.23 deaths/1,000
population (2006 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-3.11 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2006 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 22.87
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
76.42 years
male: 73.55 years
female: 79.43 years (2006 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.68 children
born/woman (2006 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.3% (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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21,000 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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1,700 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian |
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo (mixed
Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%,
black 3% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 95%,
other 5% |
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Languages:
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Spanish (official),
Amerindian languages (especially Quechua) |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 94%
female: 91% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long
form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Quito |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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24 May 1822 (from
Spain) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day
(independence of Quito), 10 August (1809) |
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Constitution:
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10 August 1998 |
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Legal system:
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based on civil law
system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional
for other eligible voters |
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Executive branch:
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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; former President Lucio GUTIERREZ was
removed from office by congress effective 20 April 2005
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 |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National
Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are popularly
elected by province to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held
October 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PSC 25, ID 16, PRE 15, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik
Movement 6, MPD 5, DP 4, PS-FA 3, independents 7; note -
defections by members of National Congress are commonplace,
resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the
various parties |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or
Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new justices are
elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004, however,
Congress successfully replaced the entire court via a
simple-majority resolution) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Concentration of
Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM]; Democratic Left or ID
[Guillermo LANDAZURI]; National Action Institutional Renewal Party
or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Movement [Gilberto TALAHUA];
Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular
Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan Manuel FUERTES]; Popular Democratic
Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta]; Radical Alfarista Front or
FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala
BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Leon
FEBRES CORDERO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Victor
GRANDA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Confederation of
Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Luis MACAS,
president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F. Napoleon
SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE
[Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of Indigenous
Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA CRUZ,
president] |
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International organization participation:
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CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Jersey City (New
Jersey), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco,
Washington, DC |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Linda J. JEWELL
embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address: APO AA 34039
telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890
FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil |
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Flag description:
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three horizontal
bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat
of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the
flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of
arms
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Economy - overview:
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Ecuador has
substantial petroleum resources, which have accounted for 40% of
the country's export earnings and one-third of central government
budget revenues in recent years. Consequently, fluctuations in
world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. In the
late 1990s, Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis, with
natural disasters and sharp declines in world petroleum prices
driving Ecuador's economy into free fall in 1999. Real GDP
contracted by more than 6%, with poverty worsening significantly.
The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its
external debt later that year. The currency depreciated by some
70% in 1999, and, on the brink of hyperinflation, the MAHAUD
government announced it would dollarize the economy. A coup,
however, ousted MAHAUD from office in January 2000, and after a
short-lived junta failed to garner military support, Vice
President Gustavo NOBOA took over the presidency. In March 2000,
Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also
provided the framework for the adoption of the US dollar as legal
tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and growth returned
to its pre-crisis levels in the years that followed. Under the
administration of Lucio GUTIERREZ - January 2003 to April 2005 -
Ecuador benefited from higher world petroleum prices. However, the
government under Alfredo PALACIO has reversed economic reforms
that reduced Ecuador's vulnerability to petroleum price swings and
financial crises, allowing the central government greater access
to oil windfalls and disbursing surplus retirement funds. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$52.77 billion (2005
est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$30.6 billion (2005
est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3% (2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$3,900 (2005 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
7.4%
industry: 31.8%
services: 60.8% (2005 est.) |
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Labor force:
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4.6 million (urban)
(2005 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 8%,
industry 24%, services 68% (2001) |
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Unemployment rate:
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9.7% official rate;
but underemployment of 47% (November 2005 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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41% (2003) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 32%
note: data for urban households only (October 2003) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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42
note: data are for urban households (2003) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.1% (2005) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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22% of GDP (2005
est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$8.822 billion
expenditures: planned $8.153 billion; including capital
expenditures of $1.6 billion (2005 est.) |
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Public debt:
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44.9% of GDP (2005
est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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bananas, coffee,
cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane;
cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish,
shrimp |
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Industries:
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petroleum, food
processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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4.5% (2005 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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11.27 billion kWh
(2003) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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10.55 billion kWh
(2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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65 million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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140 million kWh
(2003) |
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Oil - production:
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493,200 bbl/day (2005
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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155,000 bbl/day (2003
est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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387,000 bbl/day (2004
est.) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA bbl/day |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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4.512 billion bbl
(2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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50 million cu m (2003
est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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50 million cu m (2003
est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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9.769 billion cu m
(2005) |
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Current account balance:
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$58 million (2005
est.) |
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Exports:
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$9.224 billion (2005
est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum, bananas,
cut flowers, shrimp |
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Exports - partners:
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US 42.9%, Panama
14.3%, Peru 7.9%, Italy 4.6% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$8.436 billion (2005
est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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vehicles, medicinal
products, telecommunications equipment, electricity |
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Imports - partners:
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US 16.5%, Colombia
14.1%, China 9.2%, Venezuela 7.1%, Brazil 6.5%, Chile 4.6%, Japan
4.5%, Mexico 4.3% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$2.147 billion (2005) |
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Debt - external:
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$18.29 billion
(November 2005 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$216 million (2002) |
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Currency (code):
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US dollar (USD) |
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Exchange rates:
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25,000 (2005), 25,000
(2004), 25,000 (2003), 25,000 (2002), 25,000 (2001) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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1,612,300 (2004) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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3,544,200 (2004) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
international: country code - 593; satellite earth station
- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 392, FM 35,
shortwave 29 (2001) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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7 (plus 14 repeaters)
(2001) |
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Internet country code:
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.ec |
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Internet hosts:
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16,217 (2005) |
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Internet users:
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624,600 (2005)
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Airports:
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285 (2005) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 85
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 29 (2005) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 200
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 169 (2005) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2005) |
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Pipelines:
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extra heavy crude 578
km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refined products 1,185 km (2004) |
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Railways:
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total: 966 km
narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2004) |
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Roadways:
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total: 43,197
km
paved: 7,287 km
unpaved: 35,910 km (2003) |
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Waterways:
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1,500 km (most
inaccessible) (2005) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 30
ships (1000 GRT or over) 181,513 GRT/297,003 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 7,
petroleum tanker 20, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, Paraguay 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Georgia 1) (2005) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Esmeraldas, Guayaquil,
La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy (includes
Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza
Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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20 years of age for
conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 20-49:
2,792,770
females age 20-49: 2,849,519 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 20-49:
2,338,428
females age 20-49: 2,380,327 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males: 133,922
females age 20-49: 129,758 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$650 million (2005
est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2% (2005 est.)
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Disputes - international:
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organized illegal
narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared
border and caused over 20,000 refugees to flee into Ecuador in
2004 |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country
of origin): 8,270 (Colombia) (2005) |
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Illicit drugs:
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significant transit
country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru; importer of
precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics;
attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers
laundering money because of dollarization and weak
anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern
frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents
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Source: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ec.html
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KOSHER DELIGHT MAGAZINE
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