|
Country
|
Ecuador |
|
|
Leader
|
President: Rafael Correa
|
Head of state: Pope Benedict XVI
|
|
Population
|
15,223,680
|
|
|
Life Expectancy
|
75.940 years
|
|
|
Capital City
|
Quito
|
|
|
Largest city
|
| Guayaquil (population: 1,952,030) | Vatican City (population: 921) |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.807
| NA
|
| GDP per capita |
$8,600 US
|
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
91%
|
|
|
Corruption Perception Index
|
2
| NA
|
|
Percentage of Women in Parliament
|
25%
| NA
|
| Wealthiest Citizens |
|
|
| Unemployment Rate |
4.200%
|
|
|
Death Penalty
|
Abolished
| NA
|
| |
|
Political System
|
republic
|
|
|
Independence date
|
24 May 1822 (from Spain)
|
|
| Religions |
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
|
|
| Languages |
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
|
|
| Exports |
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood, fish
|
|
| External Debt |
$10,050,000,000 $
|
|
| Exchange Rate |
the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000
|
|
| Military Budget as percentage of GDP |
0.900%
|
|
| Beijing Olympics Medal Count |
1
| 0
|
| Location |
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
|
|
| Area |
283,561 km sq
|
|
| Coastline |
2,237 km
|
|
| Climate |
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
|
|
|
|
|
