Ecuador information and facts.

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Learn Spanish in Ecuador.

Ecuador is an interesting place to learn Spanish.

The Incas controlled it before the arrival of the Spaniards, who then ruled until its independence in 1830.

Bordering Colombia and Peru its landscapes vary from coastal plains to the sierras of the inter-Andes, to the rain forested jungles of the Amazon Basin.

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Total immersion in a language is an important ingredient in your learning Spanish quest, and is one of the best ways to improve your fluency and understanding when you learn a language.

At some point in your language learning a solid period of immersion in a totally Spanish environment is great to get the ear tuned to words, phrases, context and nuances of a language in action.

It is all the more effective when fused with:

•   a good Spanish grammar and structure learning system,(see on the Spanish Grammar pages & free lessons on this site...)

•   accelerated vocabulary learning system. With modern methods you can learn Spanish at 200 words a day or more. If you are not learning at this rate you are using an out-of-date system.

. . .take a few days to super-boost your vocab before you launch off!

•   . . . and an onsite course with a good Spanish teacher.

For more information on how to learn Spanish in Ecuador at some ‘total immersion schools’ click on the link.
Learn Spanish in Ecuador!
This country is an interesting place to learn Spanish with its contrasting landscapes and long and varied history.

Here are a few hundred fun facts for you to swat up on before you scoot off to the Republic of the Equator to learn Spanish.

Background information on Ecuador

The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that resulted following the 1830 demise of Gran Colombia. The other two countries were Colombia and Venezuela. Gran Colombia had been formed in 1822 after Sucre, one of Simon Bolivar’s generals defeated the royalists loyal to Spain.

Gran Colombia was part of the beginnings of Bolivar’s dream of a United South America.

In the period from 1904 through 1942, Ecuador lost significant territory in a series of disputes and conflicts with its neighbours.

A border war with Peru that erupted in 1995 was settled in 1999.

The Galapagos Islands of Charles Darwin fame are a part of Ecuador, and are accessible, although not easily.

Geography information on Ecuador

Geographical Position: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator. Colombia lies to the north and Peru to the south and east.

Latitude & Longitude: 2 degrees 00’ South, 77 degrees 30 West.

Area:
Total: 283,600 square kilometres including Galapagos Islands Water: 6,800 square kilometres Land: 276,800 square kilometres

Land boundaries:
Total: 2,000 kilometres Neighbouring Countries: Colombia 590 kilometres, Peru 1,400 kilometres.

Coastline : 2,237 kilometres

Maritime claims :
continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands
territorial sea: 200 NM

Climate information:
tropical climate along coast, much cooler inland at higher altitudes; tropical climate in lowlands of the Amazon jungle.

Terrain : coastal plains, Sierra central highlands, and rolling to flat jungle to the east.

Elevation highs & lows :
lowest elevation: Pacific Ocean at sea level
highest elevation: Chimborazo 6,267 metres

Natural resources : petroleum, fisheries, lumber , hydroelectric power

Land use : cultivated land: 5%
cropping land: 5%
other: 89% (1998 estimate)

Irrigated land: 8,650 square kilometres (1998 estimate).

Natural hazards : periodic earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes and siesmic activity; flooding; drought.

Geography interesting bits and pieces:Mount Cotopaxi in Andes Mountains is the world’s highest active volcano.

People information on Ecuador

Population: 13,710,234 (July 2003 estimate)

Age Distribution: : under age 14 yrs: 34%
between 15 & 64 yrs: 60%
age 65+: 2% (2003 estimate)

Median age:
Total: 22 years
male: 22 years
female: 23 years (2002)

Population rate growth: 1% (2003 estimate)

Birth rate: 24 births per thousand population (2003 estimate)

Mortality rate:
5 deaths per thousand (2003 estimate)
Rate of Net Migration:
-0 migrant(s)per thousand population (2003 estimate)

Infant mortality rate - Ecuador Total: 31 deaths per thousand live births
female: 26 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate)
male: 37 deaths per thousand live births

Life Expectancy:
Total population: 71 years
male: 69 years female: 74 years (2003 estimate)

Name given to People: Ecuadorian

Racial groupings: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, European and others 7%, black 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Quichia

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 92%
male: 94%
female: 91% (2003 estimate)

Government information on Ecuador

System of Government: Republic

Capital City: Quito

Independence: 24 May 1822 from Spain; from Gran Colombia 1840;

National holiday:
Date of Independence (of Quito), 10 August 1809

Constitution: 1998

Legal & Law System: : civil law system based on Spanish civil code.

Voting system: : Universal - 18 years of age.

Economy information

Large oil resources and large agricultural areas.

GDP: - $USD41 billion (2002 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2002 estimate)
GDP - per capita: - $USD3,100 (2002 estimate)

GDP make-up by sector: agriculture sector : 11%
industrial sector: 33%
service sector: 56% (2001 estimate)

Population below level of poverty: 70% (2001 estimate)

Household % income:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 33% (1995)

Rate of Inflation: 12% (2002 estimate)

Labour force: 3 million

Labour force
by occupation: agriculture sector 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 estimate)
Unemployment rate: 7%; chronic underemployment

Budget Figures:
revenues: $USD5 billion
expenditures: $USD5 billion

Industries: petroleum, food processing, apparel, textiles, clothing, metal processing, paper, wood and timber products, chemicals processing, plastics, fisheries & fishing, lumber

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2001 estimate)

Exports: $USD4 billion (2002 estimate)
Exports : United States 38%, Colombia 7%, Peru 7%, Italy 4%, Venezuela 3%

Imports: $USD6 billion (2002 estimate) Imports: US 24%, Colombia 14%, Japan 6%, Venezuela 5%, Chile 5%, Brazil.

Debt - external: $USD14 billion (2002)

Communications Ecuador

Telephones - main lines: 1,200,000 (1999)Radio Stations: AM 390, FM 35, SW 29 (2001)

Television broadcast stations: 7 (2001)

Internet Code .ec

Transport, Travel and Tourism Ecuador

Railways:
Total: 960 kilometres

Roading :
Total: 43,200 kilometres
paved roading: 8,200 kilometres
unpaved roading: 35,00 kilometres

Navigable Waterways : 1,500 kilometres

Pipeline Distances : 2,100 kilometres

Commercial Harbours/Ports : Guayaquil, Esmeraldas, Libertad, Puerto Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo

Airports-Aerodromes : 205

Military Ecuador

Military groupings & departments : Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police

Military Spending $USD720 million (Financial Year 1998)
Military Spending - percent of GDP: 3% (Financial Year 1998)

International Issues

Flag of Ecuador

Click here for the Flag of Ecuador and its history, information and facts.

Map of Ecuador

Click here for the Map of Ecuador and its history and facts.

History of Ecuador

Click here for the Ecuadorian of Ecuador and historical facts.

Info sourced and adapted from the CIA Factbook .

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Andorra | Argentina | Belize | Bolivia | Colombia | Chile | Costa Rica | Cuba | Dominican Republic | El Salvador | Gibraltar | Guatemala | Honduras | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Peru | Puerto Rico | Spain | Uruguay | Venezuela |

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