Ecuador/Society

Society in Ecuador

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
18M(2023)
Population Growth
0.9%(2023)
Fertility Rate
1.82(2023)
Death Rate
5.1 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
-19.7K(2024)

Public Health

Coming Soon
Life Expectancy
77.4 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
13.1 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
55 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure (as share of GDP)
7.5%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

Coming Soon
Literacy Rate
94%(2022)
Primary Enrollment
90.9%(2018)
Secondary Enrollment
93.4%(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
59.9(2022)
Education Expenditure (as share of GDP)
3.9%(2023)

Living Standards & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
77.2%(2024)
Access to Electricity
98.7%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
95.7%(2022)
Urban Population
11.6M(2023)
Rural Population
6.3M(2023)

Current Snapshot Overview

A summary of key social and demographic indicators for Ecuador

  • Ecuador has an estimated population of 18.0M
    2023
    , with a modest annual growth rate of 0.9%
    2023
    , suggesting a mature demographic transition with stable, but limitated, population increase. A below-replacement fertility rate of 1.8 births per woman
    2023
    suggests gradual population aging and potential future workforce shortages. Net emigration of approximately 20K individuals annually (or 1.1 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    adds pressure to demographic transitions and workforce sustainability.
  • Regarding public health, the country maintains a reasonable health standard with a life expectancy of 77.4 years
    2023
    , though there is scope for further improvements to achieve higher global benchmarks. Concurrently, maternal and child health indicators show solid progress, with child mortality (under 5 years) at 13.1 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality at 55 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    , indicating improving but still developing services. These outcomes are supported by a moderate commitment to health system development, with 7.5% of GDP directed to healthcare expenditure
    2022
    .
  • Strong educational foundations are evident in the high adult literacy rate of 94%
    2022
    , which significantly contributes to human capital development. Complementing this, educational access shows solid progress through 91% primary enrollment
    2018
    and 93% secondary participation rates
    2023
    . This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 3.9% of GDP
    2023
    , which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, the predominantly urban character, with 65% urban population
    2023
    , supports modern economic structures while maintaining important rural-urban linkages. Furthermore, infrastructure development shows strong progress with 99% electricity access
    2023
    and 77% internet penetration
    2024
    , supporting ongoing modernization efforts and enhancing quality of life.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

Managing demographic trends is crucial for long-term economic planning and workforce stability.

Public Health System

Public health outcomes are a core indicator of national development and quality of life. Access to healthcare is essential for sustainable growth.

Human Capital Formation

Educational attainment is a direct driver of economic innovation and global competitiveness. Investment in education is key to unlocking human potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Infrastructure shapes economic efficiency, urbanization patterns, and digital integration, being critical for modern economies.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.