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Ecuador Population (2026 Overview)
Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country located in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands, situated about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) west of the mainland. Ecuador is administratively divided into 24 provinces, which are further subdivided into cantons and parishes.
Ecuador is considered one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, home to an estimated 25,000 plant species and over 1,600 bird species, despite its relatively small land area. According to Ecuador’s national census, the population stood at 16,938,986 in 2022, while UN World Population Prospects estimates the population at 18,749,868 (about 18.8 million) in 2026.
Ecuador Demographics Summary (Quick Facts)
| Indicator | Data |
|---|---|
| Country | Ecuador |
| Official Name | Republic of Ecuador |
| Estimated Population (2026) | 18,749,868 (18.8 million) |
| South America Rank | 7th |
| Land Area | 256,369 sq. km (98,985 sq. mi) |
| Population Density | 71 people per sq. km |
| Urban Population | 63% |
| Median Age | 27.9 years |
| Life Expectancy | 77.71 years |
| Fertility Rate | 2.44 births per woman |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 11.7 per 1,000 live births |
| Capital City | Quito |
| Largest City | Guayaquil |
| Major Ethnic Group | Mestizo (71.9%) |
| Major Religion | Christianity (86.7%) |
Sources: UN World Population Prospects, Ecuador Census, Latinobarómetro
Future Population Projection
Ecuador’s population is projected to continue growing into the mid-21st century, though at a gradually slowing pace due to declining fertility rates and increased urbanization. Population growth is expected to peak around mid-century before stabilizing and slowly declining toward the end of the century.
Projected Population of Ecuador
| Year | Estimated Population |
|---|---|
| 2030 | ~19.6 million |
| 2040 | ~21.2 million |
| 2050 | ~22.3 million |
| 2060 | ~22.6 million |
| 2070 | ~22.4 million |
| 2100 | ~20.9 million |
Source: UN World Population Prospects (medium variant)
Ecuador Historical Population
Ecuador’s population has grown steadily over the past seven decades, driven by high fertility rates in the mid-20th century and improving life expectancy. The population expanded rapidly between 1950 and 1990, with growth moderating slightly after 2000 as urbanization increased and fertility began to decline.
Historical Census Population of Ecuador
| Census Year | Population | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,202,757 | — |
| 1962 | 4,467,007 | +39.5% |
| 1974 | 6,521,710 | +46.0% |
| 1982 | 8,060,712 | +23.6% |
| 1990 | 9,648,189 | +19.7% |
| 2001 | 12,156,608 | +26.0% |
| 2010 | 14,483,499 | +19.1% |
| 2022 | 16,938,986 | +17.0% |
Source: Ecuador National Census
Religion in Ecuador
Christianity remains the dominant religion in Ecuador, though religious affiliation has diversified over time. Roman Catholicism is the largest faith, with 68.2% of Ecuadorians identifying as Catholic, followed by a growing Evangelical Christian population of about 19%. Catholic affiliation is strongest among older adults, while Evangelical churches have greater appeal among younger and middle-aged groups.
Religious affiliation has shifted notably over the past decade. According to Ecuador’s National Institute of Statistics and Census (2012), 80.4% of the population was Catholic and 11.3% Evangelical Protestant. Later Latinobarómetro (2020) data showed a decline in Catholicism alongside rising Evangelical and non-religious identification—a trend that continues in 2023, with around 9–10% of Ecuadorians now religiously unaffiliated. Non-Christian faiths remain small, accounting for less than 1% of the population.
Religious Composition of Ecuador (2023)
| Religion / Affiliation | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Christianity (Total) | ~89.0% |
| – Roman Catholic | 68.2% |
| – Evangelical (non-specific) | 18.0% |
| – Evangelical Pentecostal | 0.2% |
| – Adventist | 0.6% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | 1.4% |
| – Mormon | 0.6% |
| – Protestant (other) | 0.2% |
| Unaffiliated / No Religion | ~9.5% |
| – None | 8.2% |
| – Atheist | 0.6% |
| – Agnostic | 0.1% |
| – Believer, no church | 0.5% |
| Other Faiths (Jewish & others) | ~0.7% |
| Don’t know / No answer | ~1.0% |
Source: Latinobarómetro Survey (2023), Ecuador
Sample size: 1,200 respondents
Race and Ethnicity in Ecuador
Ecuador is a multi-ethnic and multicultural country, shaped by Indigenous roots, European colonization, African heritage, and later immigration from Asia and the Middle East.
The majority of Ecuadorians identify as Mestizo (71.9%), referring to people of mixed Amerindian and European (primarily Spanish) ancestry. A distinct subgroup within this population is the Montubio community (7.4%), who are coastal rural mestizos with their own cultural identity, traditions, and history.
Indigenous peoples account for about 7% of the population and include several ethnic groups spread mainly across the Andean highlands and the Amazon region.
Afro-Ecuadorians, who make up roughly 7%, include people of African descent as well as mixed groups such as Mulattos (African–European ancestry) and Zambos (African–Indigenous ancestry), with strong communities along the northern coast.
White Ecuadorians represent around 6.1% of the population and are largely descendants of Spanish settlers, along with smaller groups of Italian, German, French, Swiss, and Jewish immigrants—mainly concentrated in Quito and Guayaquil.
Ecuador also has small Asian and Middle Eastern communities, including descendants of Lebanese and Palestinian immigrants, as well as Chinese and Japanese populations, who have contributed to the country’s economic and cultural life.
Ethnic Composition of Ecuador
| Ethnic Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Mestizo (Amerindian & European) | 71.90% |
| Montubio (Coastal Mestizos) | 7.40% |
| Amerindian (Indigenous) | 7.00% |
| White | 6.10% |
| Afro-Ecuadorian | 4.30% |
| Mulatto (African & European) | 1.90% |
| Black | 1.00% |
| Other | 0.40% |
Source: Ecuador Population Census (2017)
Largest Cities in Ecuador by Population
Ecuador’s population is concentrated in a mix of highland, coastal, and Amazon-influenced cities, reflecting the country’s diverse geography and economic structure. The capital Quito and the port city Guayaquil dominate the urban landscape, together accounting for a significant share of the national urban population. Other major cities such as Cuenca, Santo Domingo, and Ambato serve as important regional, cultural, and commercial hubs.
Top Cities in Ecuador
| Rank | City | Province | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quito | Pichincha | 2,781,641 |
| 2 | Guayaquil | Guayas | 2,723,665 |
| 3 | Cuenca | Azuay | 636,996 |
| 4 | Santo Domingo | Santo Domingo | 458,580 |
| 5 | Ambato | Tungurahua | 387,309 |
| 6 | Portoviejo | Manabí | 321,800 |
| 7 | Durán | Guayas | 315,724 |
| 8 | Machala | El Oro | 289,141 |
| 9 | Loja | Loja | 274,112 |
| 10 | Manta | Manabí | 264,281 |
| 11 | Riobamba | Chimborazo | 264,048 |
| 12 | Ibarra | Imbabura | 221,149 |
| 13 | Esmeraldas | Esmeraldas | 218,727 |
| 14 | Quevedo | Los Ríos | 213,842 |
| 15 | Latacunga | Cotopaxi | 205,624 |
| 16 | Milagro | Guayas | 199,835 |
| 17 | Santa Elena | Santa Elena | 188,821 |
| 18 | Babahoyo | Los Ríos | 175,281 |
| 19 | Daule | Guayas | 173,684 |
| 20 | Quinindé | Esmeraldas | 145,879 |
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