Boca Chica, Caucedo, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo
Military ::Dominican Republic
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,440,203
females age 16-49: 2,326,694 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,056,774
females age 16-49: 1,921,836 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 97,766
female: 93,922 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 147
Transnational Issues ::Dominican Republic
Disputes - international:
Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic
to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the
Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: the Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a large
number of Dominican women are trafficked into prostitution and
sexual exploitation in Western Europe, Australia, Central and South
America, and Caribbean destinations; a significant number of women,
boys, and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual
exploitation and domestic servitude
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, the
Dominican Republic is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to
show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking,
particularly in terms of not adequately investigating and
prosecuting public officials who may be complicit with trafficking
activity, and inadequate government efforts to protect trafficking
victims; the government has taken measures to reduce demand for
commercial sex acts with children through criminal prosecutions
(2008)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the
Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial
money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics
traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Ecuador (South America)
Introduction ::Ecuador
Background:
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until
the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish
colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New
Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada
(Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between
1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When
Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of
the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost
territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border
war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although
Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period
has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito have
contributed to the mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three
democratically elected Presidents. In September 2008, voters
approved a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since gaining
independence. General elections, under the new constitutional
framework, are expected in April 2009.
Geography ::Ecuador
Location:
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator,
between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates:
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 283,561 sq km
country comparison to the world: 73
land: 276,841 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries:
total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline:
2,237 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath
Climate:
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations;
tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain:
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and
flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
note: due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere and has
an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from
its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely
the highest point above sea-level
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 4.81%
other: 89.48% (2005)
Irrigated land:
8,650 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
432 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%)
per capita: 1,283 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods;
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution;
pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas
of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
People ::Ecuador
Population:
14,573,101 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.1% (male 2,312,610/female 2,220,378)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 4,506,908/female 4,636,703)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 432,144/female 464,358) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 25 years
male: 24.4 years
female: 25.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.497% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Birth rate:
20.77 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Death rate:
4.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Net migration rate:
-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Urbanization:
urban population: 66% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 103
male: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.3 years
country comparison to the world: 81
male: 72.37 years
female: 78.37 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.51 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
26,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish
and others 7%, black 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Languages:
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.7% (2001 census)
Education expenditures:
1% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 179
Government ::Ecuador
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar,
Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos,
Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo,
Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los
Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:
24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution:
20 October 2008
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages
18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January
2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15
January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: the president and vice president are elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected
for another consecutive term; election last held 26 April 2009 (next
to be held 2013)
election results: President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected
president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 51.7%; Lucio
GUTIERREZ 28%; Alvaro NOBOA 11.6%; other 8.7%; note - official
results pending
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats;
members are elected through a party-list proportional representation
system to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 15 October 2006 (next to be held 26 April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PRIAN 28; PSP 24; PSC 13; ID 7; PRE 6; MUPP-NP 6; RED 5; UDC 5;
other 6; note - defections by members of National Congress are
commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats
held by the various parties
note: when a Constituent Assembly was convened to draft a new
constitution, the National Congress was placed on indefinite recess
and replaced by a legislative committee; the legislative committee
will continue to function until a new National Assembly is elected
in April 2009
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new
justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004,
however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court by a simple
majority resolution)
Political parties and leaders:
Alianza PAIS Movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian
Democratic Union or UDC [Diego ORDONEZ Guerrero]; Democratic Left or
ID [Andres PAEZ Benalcazar]; Ethical and Democratic Network or RED
[Leon ROLDOS]; Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or
PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement - New
Country or MUPP-NP [Jorge GUAMAN]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP
[Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Ciro
GUZMAN Aldaz]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz,
director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO];
Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Gustavo AYALA Cruz]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE
[Marlon SANTI, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS
[F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of
Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of
Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA
CRUZ, president]
International organization participation:
CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Heather HODGES
embassy: Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
mailing address: Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras
telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000
FAX: [593] (2) 398-5100
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red
with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag;
similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear
a coat of arms
Economy ::Ecuador
Economy - overview:
Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which
have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings
and one-fourth of public sector revenues in recent years. In
1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP
contracting by more than 6%. Poverty increased significantly, the
banking system collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt
later that year. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of
structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US
dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and
positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high
oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From
2002-06 the economy grew 5.5%, the highest five-year average in 25
years. The poverty rate declined but remained high at 38% in 2006.
In 2006 the government imposed a windfall revenue tax on foreign oil
companies, leading to the suspension of free trade negotiations with
the US. These measures led to a drop in petroleum production in
2007. President Rafael CORREA raised the specter of debt default and
followed through on those threats in December 2008 by defaulting on
some commercial bond obligations. He also decreed a higher windfall
revenue tax on private oil companies, then renegotiated their
contracts to overcome the debilitating effect of the tax. This
generated economic uncertainty; private investment has dropped and
economic growth has slowed.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$108 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$101.4 billion (2007 est.)
$98.93 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$54.69 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
2.5% (2007 est.)
3.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$7,200 (2007 est.)
$7,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 34.3%
services: 59% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
4.64 million (urban) (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8.3%
industry: 21.2%
services: 70.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
7.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
8.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
38.3% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 43.3%
note: data for urban households only (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
46 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 39
43.7 (1995)
note: data are for urban households
Investment (gross fixed):
22.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Budget:
revenues: $21.09 billion
expenditures: planned $21.35 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
25.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
2.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.14% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
10.72% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.71% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$5.907 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
$4.395 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$9.383 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
$7.974 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$10.13 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 71
$8.926 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.562 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
$4.266 billion (31 December 2007)
$4.04 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains,
sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa
wood; fish, shrimp
Industries:
petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:
5.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Electricity - production:
16.75 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - consumption:
9.888 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - exports:
38.53 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
861 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
505,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Oil - consumption:
178,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Oil - exports:
417,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Oil - imports:
54,190 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - proved reserves:
4.66 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - production:
260 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - consumption:
260 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - proved reserves:
8.919 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Current account balance:
$1.194 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$1.65 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$19.15 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$14.87 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood,
fish
Exports - partners:
US 45.3%, Peru 9.2%, Chile 8.1%, Panama 4.8%, Colombia 4.2% (2008)
Imports:
$17.79 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$13.05 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 19.1%, Venezuela 13.8%, Colombia 9.9%, China 8.4%, Brazil 4.8%,
Japan 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.473 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$3.521 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$18.11 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 74
$NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$16.99 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$16.31 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$8.487 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$10.77 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000
Communications ::Ecuador
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.91 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 58
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.595 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 52
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic: fixed-line services provided by three state-owned
enterprises; plans to transfer the state-owned operators to private
ownership have repeatedly failed; fixed-line density stands at about
14 per 100 persons; mobile cellular use has surged and has a
subscribership of nearly 85 per 100 persons
international: country code - 593; landing point for the PAN-AM
submarine telecommunications cable that provides links to the west
coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending
onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2000)
Internet country code:
.ec
Internet hosts:
57,785 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
Internet users:
1.31 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 80
Transportation ::Ecuador
Airports:
420 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 103
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 54 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 317
914 to 1,523 m: 38
under 914 m: 279 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 435 km; gas 5 km; oil 1,374 km; refined products
1,301 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 965 km
country comparison to the world: 90
narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 43,670 km
country comparison to the world: 84
paved: 6,472 km
unpaved: 37,198 km (2006)
Waterways:
1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54
Merchant marine:
total: 37
country comparison to the world: 80
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8,
petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (China 1, Panama 4) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
Military ::Ecuador
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard),
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for selective conscript military service; 12-month
service obligation (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,536,602
females age 16-49: 3,559,188 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,708,470
females age 16-49: 3,165,489 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 148,010
female: 143,291 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 55
Transnational Issues ::Ecuador
Disputes - international:
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across
Ecuador's shared border, which thousands of Colombians also cross to
escape the violence in their home country
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 11,526 (Colombia); note - UNHCR
estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians are seeking asylum in
Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees for fear of
deportation (2007)
Illicit drugs: