Ecuador
- Capital:
- Quito
- Continent:
- South America
- Region(s):
- South America, Latin America
- Abbreviation:
- ECU
18,444,506
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
18,444,506
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
Ecuador's population is projected to be 19,423,475 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18,444,506 | 0.85% | 72 |
| 2025 | 18,289,896 | 0.83% | 72 |
| 2020 | 17,546,065 | 1.19% | 68 |
| 2019 | 17,340,021 | 1.7% | 68 |
| 2018 | 17,049,547 | 1.73% | 68 |
| 2017 | 16,759,519 | 1.54% | 68 |
| 2015 | 16,266,225 | 1.53% | 68 |
| 2010 | 15,076,695 | 1.72% | 66 |
| 2005 | 13,846,163 | 1.76% | 64 |
| 2000 | 12,689,206 | 1.83% | 63 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18,444,506 | 0.85% | 72 |
| 2032 | 19,372,500 | 0.82% | 70 |
| 2037 | 20,066,378 | 0.71% | 71 |
| 2042 | 20,655,768 | 0.58% | 74 |
| 2047 | 21,121,175 | 0.45% | 74 |
| 2052 | 21,454,121 | 0.31% | 74 |
| 2057 | 21,657,053 | 0.19% | 74 |
| 2062 | 21,738,128 | 0.07% | 74 |
| 2067 | 21,702,076 | -0.03% | 74 |
| 2072 | 21,550,788 | -0.14% | 75 |
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1M
2.5M
Guayaquil has a metropolitan area population of 2,900,375, comprising 15.72%% of Ecuador's total population.
| Rank | City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | % of National Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guayaquil | 2,900,375 | 15.72% |
| 2 | Quito | 1,865,632 | 10.11% |
| 3 | Cuenca | 378,623 | 2.05% |
| 4 | Santo Domingo | 361,860 | 1.96% |
| 5 | Duran | 328,507 | 1.78% |
| 6 | Machala | 307,682 | 1.67% |
| 7 | Manta | 281,477 | 1.53% |
| 8 | Portoviejo | 264,108 | 1.43% |
| 9 | Loja | 212,266 | 1.15% |
| 10 | Quevedo | 198,627 | 1.08% |
As of 2026, Ecuador has a total population of 18,444,506, ranking as the 72nd most populous nation in the world.
Ecuador has a net population change of approximately 424 people per day, driven by 731 births, 269 deaths, and net emigration of 38 people.
Ecuador represents 0.23% of the total global population and 4.19% of South America's population.
Ecuador has a population density of 74.3 people per km² (approximately 192.3 per mi²), making it the 141st most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 62.68% of the population resides in urban areas, a figure that is increasing annually.
*Rates last updated: June 16, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in Ecuador is Mestizo (Mixed Indigenous and White) (71.9%) , followed by Montubio (7.4%) .
As of 2026, Roman Catholic is the largest religion in Ecuador, comprising 68.8% of the population.