Statistics
Poverty and Hunger In the year 1999, Ecuador occupied range 17 out of 22 Latin American countries according to the Human Poverty Index. In the first half of the decade of 2000, there has been a significant reduction of poverty (by 14% from 1999 to 2006) and extreme poverty (8%). Nevertheless, in 2006, almost 13% of Ecuadorians suffered from extreme poverty and 38% faced moderate poverty; In the Amazonian region, the poorest region, we are talking about 40% and 60% respectively. Similarly, rural moderate poverty is twice as high as in urban zones, and extreme poverty is 5 times higher in rural zones than in cities.
In 2006, 70% of Ecuadorian women did not have their own income, compared to 34% of men. The ethnic group most affected by poverty is the Indigenous (more than twice the poor than white Ecuadorians, 5 times more extreme poverty) and the afro-Ecuadorians of the Costa.
Moderate and Extreme Poverty According to Ethnic Groups and Area (% of Total Population)
The percentage of people which suffer from malnutrition or hunger decreased from 26% in 1999 to 18% in 2006; globally, the reduction was by 5% (8.6% in 2006). Nevertheless, in the Amazonian region and the Sierra, about 24% of the population suffer from malnutrition, in the Coast it is about 12.5%.
Education, Illiteracy
Those countries which are below the Latin American level in primary education registration are Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador, the latter with a rate of 90.9% in 2006; in 1999, it had been 83%. But only some 47% actually completed basic education in 2006. The gap between countryside and cities in basic education registration amounts to almost 7%; in completion of basic education, however, it is 40%. In 2004, there were 24 students per teacher and 32 students per classroom. 8% of government spending are dedicated to education.
While between 8 and 9 Indigenous out of 10 are registered for basic education, only 2 of them complete it. Among afro-Ecuadorians, 4 out of 10 complete it.
Relation Registration to Basic Education – Completion of Basic Education According to Provinces
9.1% of Ecuadorians were illiterate in 2006, which is a reduction by 1.7% since 1999. Illiteracy in rural zones is almost 5 times higher than in cities. About 35% of illiterates are 65 years or older.
Gender Equality
Gap in Illiteracy Rates between Women and Men According to Ethnic Group and Area of Residence, 2001
The gap in the illiteracy rates between men and women persists, and it is the highest among indigenous people. The gap in the registration rate for basic education has almost disappeared, which does not refer to its completion. Women, even though being more than half of the population, only represent about 40% of the working population, and their unemployment rate is between two and three times higher than among men. While women amount to 95% of the persons working in the domestic sector, in the informal and modern sector, approximately 41% are women. Women earn 14% less per hour than men on average. Being indigenous or disabled also means discrimination regarding salary.
Ecuador: Percentage of Persons without Own Income by Age Range, 2006
According to the most conservative evaluations that exist, 41% of Ecuadorian women have experienced violence – in reality, it may be up to 70%. The highest rates of physical and sexual violence are found in the urban and Amazonian zones, among indigenous and afro-Ecuadorians, separated/single women, older than 19 years, which have none or uncompleted primary education, and a low income. In 2004, 10% of women once married or attached to somebody have suffered from physical violence in the family in the last twelve months, and 4% of them have been a victim of sexual violence.
Child Mortality, Health
In 2004, the child mortality rate was 21.8 per thousand newborns alive, which is 1.9 times less than in 1990. Concerning this, Ecuador occupies range three among those Latin American countries with the highest child mortality. Generally, child mortality serves as an indicator of life conditions and quality of life of the population, its capacity to access the services and means necessary to satisfy their minimal needs; it is directly associated with the conditions of child care, nutrition levels, vaccinations and prevention or treatment of diseases like respiratory infections or acute digestive illnesses. 23% of the children under 5 years old experience chronic malnutrition. Children of Indigenous and of mothers with low education in the rural zone are those most affected. The prevalence of diarrhea and respiratory diseases is specifically high in the rural zones (Sierra, Amazonia) and amounts to 30% and 50% respectively. Vaccination coverage, in turn, is quite high.
Vaccination Coverage According to Vaccination, Ecuador 2006
In the year 2004, 72% of married or united women have been using some kind of contraceptive method.
In 2004, 51% of Ecuadorians used condoms to protect themselves from HIV/Aids, and 28% where in risk of getting infected. Most of the infections occurred among heterosexual men.
Environment
The remaining vegetal natural ecosystems in Ecuador amounted to 55% of the continental surface in 2001. Of dry inter-Andean vegetation, only 5% remain, of the wet one 21%. The remaining of forests amounts to between 30 and 80%, differing between regions.
Percentage of Natural, Mosaic and Intervened Ecosystems for Each Province, Ecuador 2001
Most protected areas are found in the provinces of the Galapagos Islands, Napo, Oreliana, Sucumbios, Tungurahua and Cotopaxi, the least in the Costa. CO2 emissions have increased heavily, especially in the industrial sector. 27.3% of the surface of Ecuador is agricultural land.
Flora
Ecuador hosts 10% of all species of plants existing on earth. From this percentage, most species grow in the Andean mountain chain, in the northern occidental zone, where there are an estimated ten thousand species. In the Amazonian region, there are also many vegetal species, around 8.200 only of orchids have been identified, for instance. In Galapagos, there are about 600 native species and another 250 introduced by mankind. Out of the twelve key biodiversity zones (Norman Myers), three are found in continental Ecuador. The climatic diversity has given space to more than 25 thousand species of trees.
Fauna
Ecuador hosts 8% of animal species and 18% of all bird species of the planet. Around 3800 species of vertebrates have been identified, as well as 1550 mammals, 350 reptiles, 375 amphibians, 800 fresh water fishes and 450 salt water fishes. Similarly, it hosts almost 15% of all endemic bird species of the world, which mainly live in the Andes, the coast and the Amazonian region. There are over one million of insect species, and there are around 4500 kinds of butterflies.
Water, Sanitary Means
In 2006, 48% of Ecuadorian households had access to tap water from the public network, most of the households without access are found in the Costa and the Amazonian region. In the urban zone, coverage is 66%, in the rural zone only 14%. Indigenous and black households have a much lower coverage than white households. But about 90% of households have access to systems of elimination of excrements with sanitary means (sewer system: 59%), and 73% have access to garbage recollection services.
Proportion of Households with Access to Tap Water of Public Network, Divided by Area, Quintils of Consumption, Gender and Ethnic Self-Definition of Household Leader, 2006
Economy
The GDP has been growing by 4.7% in 2005, and the coefficient of trade opening amounted to 5.2%. In 2006, trade balance grew by 3.3%. Direct foreign investment per GDP was 5.2% (2005). The external debt reduced by 12% in 2006. Exportation of goods and services grew by 8%, imports by 9.2%.
Percentage of Working Population per Sectors, Man - Woman
Average incomes are particularly low in the informal, agriculture and livestock sector. The strongest sectors are services (59%) and industry (39%).
Average Income by Economic Sector, 2006
Total unemployment was 8% in 2005, compared to 11.5% in 2003. Almost 70% of unemployed are women, 57% are in the urban zone.
Population
According to the World Bank, the Ecuadorian population amounts to 13.2 millions in 2008. The projection for population growth is by 18% until 2015. 63% of Ecuadorians live in the urban zone.
SOURCES
Programa de Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo
II INFORME NACIONAL DE LOS OBJETIVOS DE DESARROLLO DEL MILENIO - ECUADOR 2007 [ultima visita: 15 de julio 2008]
Web Site of the World Bank
- Ecuador In General [Last visit: July 15, 2008]
- Ecuador Data at-a-Glance (29.5K PDF) [Last visit: July 15, 2008]
- Gender [Last visit: July 15, 2008]
- Education [Last visit: July 15, 2008]
- External debt [Last visit: July 15, 2008]
- Ecuador Data [Last visit: July 15, 2008]
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), World Bank, UNAIDS, ILO, Household Surveys, IMF, Country.
Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador
- Ecología [Last visit: July 15, 2008]
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