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Ecuador Volunteer | Changing Lives |
| Statistics about Ecuador |
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Poverty and Hunger In 1999, Ecuador was ranked 17 out of the 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, poverty levels reached 40% moderate poverty and 60% extreme poverty. 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 groups most affected by poverty are indigenous groups (with poverty rates more than two times higher than white Ecuadorians and extreme poverty rates 5 times higher) and the afro-Ecuadorians of the Costa. Moderate and Extreme Poverty by Ethnic Group and Area (% of Total Population)
 Education, IlliteracyColombia, Bolivia and Ecuador all register with below average levels of primary education enrollment in Latin America. Ecuador’s rate of enrollment in primary education was 83% in 1999; in 2006, the level of enrollment increased to 90.9% in 2006. However, only about 47% of Ecuadorians actually completed their basic education in 2006. The gap in basic education enrollment between the countryside and cities amounts to about 7%. The gap, however, in completing basic education between the countryside and cities is a lot greater, at about 40%. In 2004, there were 24 students per teacher and 32 students per classroom. Only 8% of government spending is dedicated to education.
The statistics are worst among ethnic minority groups. While about 8 or 9 out of 10 indigenous children are enrolled in primary schools, only 2 of these students complete their primary school education. Among Afro-Ecuadorians, only 4 out of 10 students enrolled complete their primary school education.
As of 2006, 9.1% of Ecuadorians is illiterate, a reduction of 1.7% since 1999. Illiteracy in rural zones is almost 5 times higher than in cities. About 35% of illiterate Ecuadorians are 65 years or older.
Relation of Enrollement in Primary Education to Completion of Primary Education by Province  Gender EqualityThe gap in the illiteracy rates between men and women persists, and it is highest among indigenous people. The gap in the enrollment rate for basic education between men and women has almost disappeared; however, this does not reflect the completion rates. Although women represent more than half of the population, they only represent about 40% of the working population. The unemployment rate of women is about two to three times higher than among men. While women make up 95% of workers in the domestic sector, only about 41% of workers in the informal and modern sector are women. On average, women earn 14% less per hour than men do. Being indigenous or disabled also means salary discrimination and inequality.
Gap in Illiteracy Rates between Women and Men by Ethnic Group and Area of Residence, 2001  According to the most conservative evaluations that exist, 41% of Ecuadorian women have experienced domestic violence. In reality, it may be up to 70% of Ecuadorian women. The highest rates of physical and sexual violence are found in the urban and Amazonian regions, among indigenous and afro-Ecuadorian women, among separated/single women, and among women older than 19 years who have little or no primary education. In particular, the highest rates of domestic violence are found within low income households. In 2004, 10% of women who were once married or in a long-term relationship has suffered from physical violence within their family in the last twelve months, and 4% of these women has been a victim of sexual violence.
Ecuador: Percentage of Persons without Own Income by Age Range, 2006  Child Mortality and HealthIn 2004, the child mortality rate was 21.8 per thousand newborns alive, which is 1.9 times less than it was in 1990. Ecuador occupies third place among 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 and its capacity to access the services and means necessary to satisfy their basic needs. It is directly associated with the conditions of childcare, nutritional levels, vaccinations and prevention or treatment of diseases like respiratory infections or acute digestive illnesses. In addition, 23% of children under 5 years old experience chronic malnutrition. Indigenous children and children of mothers with low education in rural areas are those most affected. The prevalence of diarrhea and respiratory diseases is especially high in rural areas and amounts to 30% in rural parts of the Sierra and 50% in the Amazonía. Vaccination coverage, in turn, is quite high.
In 2004, 72% of married women or women in long-term relationships had been using some form of contraception. In 2004, 51% of Ecuadorians used condoms to protect themselves from HIV/Aids, and 28% were in risk of getting infected. Most of the infections occurred among heterosexual men.
Vaccination Coverage According to Vaccination, Ecuador 2006  EnvironmentIn 2001, about 55% of the country’s natural ecosystems remained in tact. Only about 5% of the dry inter-Andean vegetation and ecosystems remained in 2001, and only 21% of the wet inter-Andean vegetation and ecosystems. Depending on the region, between 30% and 80% of natural forests remained, as of 2001.
The majority of protected areas are found in the Galapagos islands as well as the Andean and Amazonian provinces of Napo, Orellana, Sucumbios, Tungurahua and Cotopaxi. The fewest number of protected areas are found on the Costa. CO2 emissions have increased dramatically, especially in the industrial sector. Agricultural land covers about 27.3% of Ecuador’s land area.
Percentage of Natural, Mosaic and Intervened Ecosystems for Each Province, Ecuador 2001 
FloraEcuador is home to about 10% of all plant species in the world. Of these plant species, most grow in the northeastern region of the Andes Mountains, where there are an estimated ten thousand species of plants. In the Amazonian region, there are also an incredible number of plant species. For instance, about 8.200 species of orchids have been identified in the Amazon. In the Galapagos, there are about 600 native plant species and another 250 species introduced by man. Out of the twelve key biodiversity zones in the world (as defined by Norman Myers), three are found in continental Ecuador. The climatic and geographic diversity makes Ecuador home to more than 25 thousand species of trees.
FaunaEcuador is home to 8% of all animal species and 18% of all bird species in the world. Around 3800 species of vertebrates have been identified, as well as 1550 species of mammals, 350 species of reptiles, 375 species of amphibians, 800 species of fresh water fish and 450 species of saltwater fish. Ecuador also houses about 15% of all endemic bird species in the world, which mainly live in the Andes, the coast and the Amazonian regions. There are over one million insect species and about 4500 species of butterflies.
Average Income by Economic Sector, 2006In 2006, 48% of Ecuadorian households had access to tap water from the public water system. Most of the households without access are found in the Costa and the Amazonian regions. In urban areas, about 66% of households had access to clean water; in rural areas, only about 14% households. Indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian households have much less access to clean water than white households. About 90% of households have access to excrement-removal systems (e.g. toilets), while 59% of households have access to a modern sewage system. About 73% of households have access to garbage recollection services.
Proportion of Households with Access to Tap Water of the Public Water System, Divided by Area, Quintils of Consumption, Gender and Ethnic Self-Definition of Household Leader, 2006  EconomyAs of 2005, the GDP of Ecuador has been growing by about 4.7% per year, and the rate of trade liberalization was 5.2%. In 2006, the country’s trade balance grew by 3.3%. Direct foreign investment per GDP was 5.2% in 2005. In 2006, the country’s external debt reduced by 12%. The exportation of goods and services grew by 8%, and imports increased by 9.2%. Percentage of Working Population per Sectors, Man v. Woman  Average incomes are particularly low in the informal, agriculture and livestock sectors. The strongest sectors are the service (59%) and industrial (39%) sectors.
Average Income by Economic Sector, 2006 
PopulationAccording to the World Bank, the Ecuadorian population in 2008 was about 13.2 million. Projected population growth is an increase of about 18% by 2015. About 63% of Ecuadorians live in urban areas.
SOURCES
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Fundación Ecuador Volunteer / Yanéz Pinzón N25-106 y Av. Colón / Quito - Ecuador - South America / Telfax (593-2) 2557749 - 2226544 / Ministerial Resolution N° 0350 |
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