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Ecuador

Republic of Ecuador is situated in the South America, bordering Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south. The nation is bounded by the Pacific Ocean in the west. The territory of the country comprises the Galápagos Islands apart from the mainland. Equator crosses the country, from which the country derives its name. Quito (0 13 S, 78 30 W) is the capital while the largest city is Guayaquil.

HISTORY:- A Northern highlands’ tribal group set up the Kingdom of Quito. The region was incorporated in the Inca Empire in 1463 through marriages. The Spanish conquistadors, Francisco Pizarro had won Ecuador in 1532. Throughout the 17th century, Spanish empire was flourished by exploiting the Indians. After 300 years of Spanish rule, the first national revolt led by Carlos Montúfar, Eugenio Espejo and Bishop Cuero y Caicedo broke out in 1809. Ecuador joined Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama to form Greater Colombia in 1819. After the downfall of the Greater Columbia in 1830, Ecuador gained independence. The conservative governed the land until liberal revolution led by Eloy Alfaro in 1895. The liberals remained in power until the military Julian Revolution in 1925. Ecuador-Peru war set in over the issue of controlling the Amazon basin. The war was ended in pressure mostly by US. Until 131 years after independence the government was dominated by the dictators. From 1972 to 1979, Military government reigned to stabilize the social chaos. In 1979, new constitution was adopted. Elections were held and Jaime Roldós Aguilera became elected President. Peru-Ecuador war again broke out in 1981 and 1995. In 1999, the border disputes between the two nations ended by signing a treaty.

GEOGRAPHY:- Ecuador is located at 2 00 S, 77 30 W in the West South America, spanning through total 283,560 sq km area in which 276,840 sq km area is land. The total coastline is 2,237 km along with the Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Chimborazo (6,267 m). Apart from the insular region in the Pacific Ocean the three main geographic regions are:

La Costa- This region comprises coastal plains in the west.

La Sierra- This region comprises mountainous highland in the center of the nation.

El Oriente- This region comprises the Amazon rainforest in the east.

CLIMATE:- The climate ranges from tropical along the coasts and the Amazonian jungle lowlands, to cooler inland at higher elevations.

GOVERNMENT:- Ecuador is a republic. The constitution was adopted on 10th August 1998. The legal system is based on civil law system. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (the chief of state, head of government), Vice President and cabinet. President and Vice President are elected by a popular vote. President appoints the cabinet ministers.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral National Congress (100 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court

There are more than 12 political parties but none of them is predominant. Literate population retains the voting rights from 18 to 35.

President Rafael Correa

Vice President Lenín Moreno

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Ecuador is divided into 24 provinces. These provinces are again sub-divided into cantons and parishes.

CULTURE:- European and Amerindian culture are mixed with African culture to form the culture of Ecuador. Tábara, Guayasamín, Kingman, Rendón, Arauz are the famous painters of Ecuador. Soccer is the most popular sport. The cuisine is diverse in colour and flavour.

ECONOMY:- Ecuador’s petroleum resources are the backbone of the economy, making 50% of the foreign earning and 25% of the public sector revenues. President Correa declares that Ecuador is no longer interested in any re-payments to IMF and World Bank after winning a referendum on constitutional reform in 2007.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $98.28 billion; per capita $7,100.

Real growth rate: 2.6%.

Inflation: 3.3%.

Unemployment: 9.8% official rate Arable land: 6%.

Agriculture: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp.

Budget:

Revenues: $13.46 billion

Expenditures: planned $11.96 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 33.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $16.93 billion (31 December 2007)

Labor force: 4.6 million (urban) (2007 est.); agriculture 8%, industry 24%, services 68% (2001).

Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals.

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower.

Exports: $13.3 billion (2007 est.): petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp.

Exports - partners: US 53.6%, Peru 8.2%, Colombia 5.6%, Chile 4.4% (2006)

Imports: $13 billion (2007 est.): vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment, electricity.

Imports - partners: US 23.1%, Colombia 13.3%, Brazil 7.3%, Panama 4% (2006)

Major trading partners: U.S., Peru, Italy, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Panama (2006).

Monetary unit: U.S. dollar

LANGUAGE:- Spanish is official language. Amerindian languages especially Quechua is also spoken.

CITIES:-The capital city is Quito. The largest city is Guayaquil. Another major city is Cuenca.

POPULATION:- The estimated population is 13,755,680 with a growth rate of 1.6%.

Density per sq mi: 129

Literacy rate: 93% (2003 est.)

RACE:-

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%

Amerindian 25%

Spanish and others 7%

Black 3%

RELIGION:-

Roman Catholic 95%

Other 5%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 21.54 births/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 4.21 deaths/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 21.35 deaths/ 1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.81 years

Total fertility rate: 2.59 children born/ woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,700 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 274

UNICEF:- After Tungurahua eruptions, 11 temporary shelters were built to give shelters to over 4,750 people with educational materials and 200 trained volunteers. Government's maternal and child health programme completed 95% immunization. Pregnant women received iron supplements and children received vitamin A and iron supplements coupled with complete vaccination. HIV free tests are conducted monthly. 99% of the population is free of iodine-deficiency disorders. In Napo, UNICEF provides health-care services to 1,100 families. In ‘Textbooks for All’ programme, UNICEF distributed free textbooks to over 4,00,000 children. To fight against child pornography, child labour, sexual abuse, and child trafficking, UNICEF has launched ‘Open Your Eyes’ campaign.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 966 km (2006).

Highways: total: 43,197 km; paved: 8,164 km; unpaved: 35,033 km (2002).

Waterways: 1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2003).

Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar.

Airports: 406 (2007).

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