Facts About Ecuador

Ecuador is a country on the western coast of South America that is crossed by the Equator, from which it gets its name.

It borders Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

The country consists of four distinct geographical regions: the Pacific Coast (Costa), the Andes Highlands (Sierra), the Amazon Rainforest (Oriente), and the Galápagos Islands.

Quito is the capital city and sits at an elevation of about 2,850 metres (9,350 feet), making it one of the world's highest national capitals.

Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and its principal seaport and commercial centre.

The official name of the country is República del Ecuador, meaning "Republic of the Equator."

The Equator Monument (Mitad del Mundo) near Quito marks the approximate location of latitude 0°, although modern GPS measurements place the true equator about 240 metres away.

Ecuador gained independence from Spain on 24 May 1822 after the Battle of Pichincha.

It later became part of Gran Colombia before becoming an independent republic in 1830.

Ecuador adopted the United States dollar as its official currency in 2000 after a severe financial crisis.

The country has no official national religion, although Roman Catholicism remains the most widely practised faith.

Spanish is the official language, while Kichwa and Shuar enjoy official recognition for intercultural relations. More than a dozen Indigenous languages are also spoken.

Nature & Wildlife

Ecuador is one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries.

Although relatively small, it contains an extraordinary variety of ecosystems, from tropical rainforests to snow-capped volcanoes.

It has one of the highest levels of biodiversity per unit area anywhere in the world.

The country is home to around 25,000 plant species.

More than 4,000 species of orchids have been recorded in Ecuador.

Ecuador is home to over 1,600 bird species, making it one of the best birdwatching destinations in the world.

The Galápagos Islands inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection.

Nearly 97% of the Galápagos land area is protected as a national park.

The Galápagos Marine Reserve is among the largest marine protected areas on Earth.

The famous Galápagos giant tortoise can live for well over 100 years.

Marine iguanas found in the Galápagos are the world's only sea-going lizards.

The Andean condor, one of the world's largest flying birds, is Ecuador's national bird.

Geography

Mount Chimborazo is Ecuador's highest mountain at 6,263 metres (20,548 feet).

Because Earth is slightly flattened at the poles, the summit of Mount Chimborazo is the point on Earth's surface farthest from the planet's centre, making it the closest point on Earth to outer space.

Quito's high elevation causes water to boil at approximately 90–93°C rather than 100°C.

Ecuador has more than 80 volcanoes, with over 20 considered potentially active.

Cotopaxi is one of the world's highest active volcanoes.

History & Government

Ecuador became the first country in the world to constitutionally recognise the Rights of Nature in 2008.

Slavery was officially abolished in Ecuador in 1851.

Ecuador became the first country in the Americas to permanently abolish the death penalty in 1906.

Voting is compulsory for literate citizens aged 18 to 65.

Voting is optional for people aged 16–17, those over 65, members of the armed forces and police on active duty, and Ecuadorians living abroad.

Rosalía Arteaga became Ecuador's first female president in 1997, serving as interim president for two days during a constitutional crisis.

Food & Agriculture

Ecuador is the world's largest exporter of bananas.

Bananas are one of Ecuador's most important agricultural exports and are also widely consumed within the country.

The country grows hundreds of banana cultivars, although only a small number are exported commercially.

Ecuador is one of the world's leading producers of fine-flavour cacao, prized for premium chocolate.

Archaeological evidence suggests that cacao was consumed in what is now Ecuador more than 5,000 years ago.

Coffee, shrimp, flowers, and tuna are also among Ecuador's major exports.

Ecuador is one of the world's leading exporters of cut roses, with flowers grown in the high Andes benefiting from intense sunlight and cool temperatures.

Economy & Society

The United States dollar has been Ecuador's official currency since 2000.

Mobile phone subscriptions exceed the country's population because many people own multiple SIM cards or devices.

Financial inclusion has improved significantly in recent years, although access to banking still varies between urban and rural areas.

Culture

The Panama hat actually originated in Ecuador, not Panama.

Traditional Panama hats are handwoven from the fibres of the toquilla palm.

UNESCO has recognised the traditional weaving of Ecuadorian Panama hats as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The city of Cuenca is famous for producing some of the world's finest Panama hats.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Ecuador was among the first countries to have UNESCO World Heritage Sites inscribed in 1978.

Quito was one of the very first cities designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Galápagos Islands were also among UNESCO's first World Heritage Sites.

Interesting Facts

• Despite being one of South America's smaller countries, Ecuador contains coastlines, glaciers, cloud forests, deserts, volcanoes, rainforest, and unique island ecosystems.

• The country experiences little seasonal temperature variation because of its equatorial location, although climate changes dramatically with altitude.

• You can travel from tropical rainforest to snow-covered mountains within a single day.

• The Panama hat is actually from Ecuador.

• Darwin developed ideas leading to evolution after studying the Galápagos.

• Chimborazo's summit is farther from Earth's centre than Mount Everest's.

• Ecuador uses the US dollar instead of its own currency.

• You can stand on the Equator and visit both hemispheres within seconds.

• Ecuador has four completely different geographic regions in one country.

• The Galápagos marine iguana is the only lizard that swims and feeds in the ocean.

• Ecuador has one of the highest densities of volcanoes in the world.

• The country's roses are exported to over 100 countries.

• Quito is one of the highest capital cities in the world.

• Ecuador has more hummingbird species than almost any other country.

• Some Indigenous communities in the Amazon still preserve traditional ways of life.

• The Galápagos penguin is the only penguin species naturally found north of the Equator.

• Ecuador was the first country to recognise the legal rights of nature in its constitution.

• The country's climate ranges from tropical beaches to permanent glaciers despite covering a relatively small area.