World Factbook
Ecuador
República del Ecuador
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red, with the coat of arms at the center of the flag meaning: yellow stands for sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth; blue for the sky, sea, and rivers; red for patriots' blood spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice
note: similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not have a coat of arms
Capital
name
Quito
etymology
named after the Quitu, a Pre-Columbian people who lived in the area; the meaning of their name is unknown
time zone note
Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)
time difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
0 13 S, 78 30 W
Suffrage
18-65 years of age; universal and compulsory; voluntary for 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
3 years
Constitution
history
many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic through a referendum, by public petition of at least 1% of registered voters, or by agreement of at least one-third membership of the National Assembly; passage requires two separate readings a year apart and approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, and approval by absolute majority in a referendum; amendments such as changes to the structure of the state, constraints on personal rights and guarantees, or constitutional amendment procedures are not allowed
Country name
former
Quito
etymology
the name is the Spanish word for "equator," referring to its geographic position
local long form
República del Ecuador
local short form
Ecuador
conventional long form
Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form
Ecuador
Independence
24 May 1822 (from Spain)
Legal system
civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in ethnic communities
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (consists of 21 judges, including the chief justice and organized into 5 specialized chambers); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitucional (consists of the court president and 8 judges)
subordinate courts
provincial courts (one for each province except Galapagos); fiscal, criminal, and administrative tribunals; Election Dispute Settlement Courts; cantonal courts
judge selection and term of office
candidates for the National Court of Justice evaluated and appointed justices by the Judicial Council, a 9-member independent body of law professionals; justices elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years; candidates for the Constitutional Court evaluated and appointed judges by a 6-member independent body of law professionals; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
Executive branch
note
note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government note 2: though eligible for a second term, former president Guillermo LASSO announced that he would not run in the 2023 election; President Daniel NOBOA Azin is serving out the remainder of the presidential term (2021–2025)
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
chief of state
President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
election results
2025: Daniel NOBOA Azin reelected president; percent of vote in the first round - Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 44.2%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar (MRC) 44%, Leonidas IZA (MUPP) 5.3%, other 6.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 55.6%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar 44.4% 2023: Daniel NOBOA Azin elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar (MRC) 33.6%, Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 23.5%, Christian Gustavo ZURITA Ron (Construye) 16.4%, Jan Tomislav TOPIĆ Feraud (Por Un País Sin Miedo) 14.7%, Otto Ramón SONNENHOLZNER Sper (Avanza) 7.1%, other 4.7%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 51.8%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar 48.2% 2021: Guillermo LASSO Mendoza elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 32.7%, Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 19.7%, Yaku PEREZ Guartambel (MUPP) 19.4%, Xavier HERVAS Mora (ID) 15.7%, other 12.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 52.5%, Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 47.5%
head of government
President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
most recent election date
9 February 2025, with a runoff on 13 April 2025
election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
28 February 2029
National holiday
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
National color(s)
yellow, blue, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Quito (c); Galápagos Islands (n); Historic Cuenca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c); Sangay National Park (n)
Political parties
Actuemos Ecuador or Actuemos AMIGO movement, Independent Mobilizing Action Generating Opportunities (Movimiento AMIGO (Acción Movilizadora Independiente Generando Oportunidades)) or AM16O Avanza Party or AVANZA Central Democratic Movement or CD Citizen Revolution Movement or MRC or RC5 Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO Democratic Left or ID Democracy Yes Movement (Movimiento Democracia Si) For A Country Without Fear (Por Un País Sin Miedo) (an alliance including PSC, CD, and PSP) Green Movement (Movimiento Verde) Movimiento Construye or Construye National Democratic Action (Acción Democrática Nacional) or ADN Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP Patriotic Society Party or PSP People, Equality, and Democracy Party (Partido Pueblo, Igualdad y Democracia) or PID Popular Unity Party (Partido Unidad Popular) or UP Revolutionary and Democratic Ethical Green Movement (Movimiento Verde Ético Revolucionario y Democrático) or MOVER Social Christian Party or PSC Socialist Party Society United for More Action or SUMA Total Renovation Movement (Movimiento Renovacion Total) or RETO
Legislative branch
note
note 1: all Assembly members have alternates from the same party who cast votes when a primary member is absent, resigns, or is removed from office note 2: on 18 May 2023, Ecuador’s National Electoral Council announced that the legislative and presidential elections - originally scheduled for February 2025 - would be held on 20 August 2023 after President Guillermo LASSO dissolved the National Assembly by decree on 17 May 2023; a return to a regular election cycle will occur in February 2025
term in office
4 years
number of seats
151 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
2/9/2025
expected date of next election
February 2029
percentage of women in chamber
45%
parties elected and seats per party
Citizen Revolution Movement (RC) - Renewal Movement (RETO) (67); National Democratic Action (ADN) (66); Pachakutik (9); Other (9)
National anthem(s)
title
"Salve, O Patria!" (We Salute You, Our Homeland)
history
adopted 1948; MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung
lyrics/music
Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
National symbol(s)
Andean condor
Administrative divisions
24 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ); Azuay, Bolivar, Cañar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabí, Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora Chinchipe
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 333-2893
chancery
2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 234-7200
chief of mission
Ambassador Pablo Agustín ZAMBRANO Albuja (since 24 July 2025)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis (MN), New Haven (CT), New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Juan (PR)
email address and website
eecuusanotifications@mmrree.gob.ec Contact – Washington (cancilleria.gob.ec)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
E12-170 Avenida Avigiras y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
telephone
[593] (2) 398-5000
mailing address
3420 Quito Place, Washington DC 20521-3420
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Lawrence PETRONI (since 17 April 2025)
consulate(s) general
Guayaquil
email address and website
ACSQuito@state.gov https://ec.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction