Country Info >> Ecuador

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.

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 the late 1990s, Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis, with natural disasters and sharp declines in world petroleum prices driving Ecuador's economy into free fall in 1999.  Congress then approved a series of structural reforms that also provided the framework for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed.

Most recently, economic gains have reversed and consequently, foreign direct investment remains below 2001-04 levels.   Political and economic stability are less than assured as the world markets wait on Ecuador's new economic policies to be determined.

Sources include CIA-The World Factbook.

Per Capita GDP
$7,100 as of (est. 2007) Source: CIA-The World Factbook

Main-Line Phones
1,754,000 as of (2006) Source: CIA-The World Factbook

Mobile Phones
8,485,000 as of (2006) Source: CIA-The World Factbook

Internet Users
1,549,000 as of (2006) Source: CIA-The World Factbook

Cable TV Households
250,000 as of (2007) Source: LMS est.

Time Zone Vs. Eastern Time (New York, Miami)
same as EST (during Daylight Standard Time)