Geography
Geography
104,506 square miles, slightly larger than Great Britain, Columbia to north, Peru to east and south, Pacific Ocean to west
Capital City: Quito (pop. 2 million) with Guayaquil (pop. 2.5 million) considered the financial center
Four Geographical Regions: Tropical Coast of Pacific; Mountain Range of the Andes (500 miles from North to South); Amazon Jungle; Galapagos Island (683 miles off the coast) and composed of 13 large and six minor islands and 42 keys. A Natural World Heritage Site.
Highest Peaks - Chimboraza - 20,700 feet, Cotopaxi at 19,642 feet the tallest active volcano in the world, Cayambe at 18,996.
Airports: Mariscal International in Quito, Simon Bolivar in Guayaquil
Seaports: Guayaquil, Esmeraldas, Puerto Bolivar (El Oro province), Manta (Manabi)
Free Trade Zones: Cuenca, Esmeraldas, Riobamaba, Manabi
Government
Official Name: Republic of Ecuador
Type of Government: Republic with three branches:
Executive branch: President Jamil Mahuad Witt and Cabinet of 17 Ministers
President and Vice President (Gustavo Noboa) elected by popular vote every four years. President cannot be immediately elected. Next election: 2002
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, President Hector Romero Parducci and 20 Superior Courts with provincial and regional courts
Legislative branch: National Congress, President Juan Jose Pons - 121 member, unicameral body.
Administrative subdivisions: 21 provinces with Quito as capital
Main political parties: Democracia Popular (center left, Christian Democratic, led by Jamil Mahuad); Partido Roldosista Ecuatoriano (populist party, led by Alvaro Noboa); Partido Social Cristiano (Social Christian Party, center-right, led by Jaime Nebot); and eight others.
Constitution: 1998
Economic Factors
Exports: $5.8 billion
Principal exports: crude oil and other oil products, bananas, shrimp, prepared fish and fish products, cut flowers, coffee, cocoa, tuna and textiles.
Potential growth exports: winter vegetables, wood products
Imports: $3.5 billion
Principal imports: consumer goods, raw materials, transportation equipment, fuel, lubricating oils
Potential growth imports: telecommunications equipment, electric power, hotel and restaurant equipment, security equipment
Major trading partners: United States, Europe, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Japan
1998 Statistics
GDP: 1.4%
Per Capita Income: $1,615
Minimum monthly salary, including mandatory benefits: $143
Inflation: 43.4%, substantially higher in early 1999
Foreign debt (through 11/98): $13,143.6 million
Infant Mortality: 28.4/1000
Life Expectancy: 71.4 years
Work Force: 5.5 million, Agriculture 42%, Commerce 20%, Services 19%, Manufacturing 11%.
Literacy: 90%
Social Factors
Population - 13.3 million people with 10 aboriginal cultures: indigenous 25%, Mestizo (Indigenous/Caucasian) 65%, Caucasian and others 7%, African 3%.
Language: Official language is Spanish and Quichua (Inca language). English, German and French spoken.
Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic, but religious freedom recognized.
Independence: May 24, 1822 from Spain
Compulsory education: ages 6-14, enforcement varies.
Climate: Varied, mild-year round in the mountain valleys, hot and humid in coast and Amazonian lowlands.
Entrance/Exit Requirements
Visitors must present valid passport and proof of onward travel. Ninety days maximum granted upon request. A tourist card is filled out on arrival with a visa for 90 days. Exit tax of $25. $100 tax to enter the Galapagos. Businessmen require special visa.
Health: No vaccinations required. Travelers with heart conditions or high blood pressure should consult their physicians about high-altitude travel. Drinking bottled water is advised, except in Cuenca where 100% of the water is safe to drink.
Other
US visitors to Ecuador: 24,000 per year
Ecuadorians living in the US: Estimated 150,000 to 250,000
US citizens residing in Ecuador: 15,000
Number of US companies doing business in Ecuador: 100
Electricity: 110 volts, 60 AC
Banking hours: 9:00 am to 1:30 p.m.
Work Day: 8:00 am to 6:00 p.m., 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. lunchtime.
Local Time: Greenwich Mean Time minus five hours, minus six on the Galapagos.
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