Economy of Ecuador

The economy of Ecuador is the eighth largest in Latin America and the 69th largest in the world by total GDP. Ecuador's economy is based on the export of oil, bananas, shrimp, gold, other primary agricultural products and money transfers from Ecuadorian emigrants employed abroad. In 2017, remittances constituted 2.7% of Ecuador's GDP. The total trade amounted to 42% of the Ecuador's GDP in 2017.

Economy of Ecuador
Quito, the financial capital of Ecuador
CurrencyUnited States dollar (USD)
calendar year
Trade organizations
Andean Community, WTO, PROSUR, ALADI, Mercosur (associate)
Country group
Statistics
Population 18,342,507 (2022)
GDP
  • $115.098 billion (nominal, 2022)
  • $200.188 billion (PPP, 2018)
GDP rank63rd (PPP, 2012 est.)
GDP growth
  • 1.3% (2018) 0.1% (2019e)
  • −7.4% (2020f) 4.1% (2021f)
GDP per capita
  • $6,368 (nominal, 2018)
  • $11,760 (PPP, 2018)
GDP by sector
  • Agriculture: 6.7%
  • Industry: 32.9%
  • Services: 60.4%
  • (2017 est.)
−0.2% (2018)
Population below poverty line
  • 25.0% (2019)
  • 24.2% on less than $5.50/day (2018)
45.4 medium (2018)
  • 0.740 high (2021) (95th)
  • 0.604 medium IHDI (2021)
Labor force
  • 8,671,801 (2019)
  • 64.3% employment rate (2018)
Labor force by occupation
  • agriculture: 26.1%
  • industry: 18.4%
  • services: 55.5%
  • (2017 est.)
Unemployment3.5% (2018)
Main industries
petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
External
Exports $19.3 billion (2017)
Export goods
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, wood, fish
Main export partners
  •  United States 31%
  •  Vietnam 7.6%
  •  Chile 6.9%
  •  Panama 4.8%
  •  Russia 4.7%
  • (2017)
Imports$19.3 billion (2017)
Import goods
industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods
Main import partners
FDI stock
$17.25 billion (December 31, 2017 est.)
$39.29 billion (December 31, 2017 est.)
Public finances
Government debt
44.6% of GDP (December 31, 2017)
Revenues33.43 billion (2017 est.)
Expenses38.08 billion (2017 est.)
Economic aid$209.5 million (2005)
$8.169 billion (2022)
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

The country is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources. In 2017, oil accounted for about one-third of public-sector revenue and 32% of export earnings. When Ecuador was part of OPEC, it was one of the smallest members and produced about 531,300 barrels per day of petroleum in 2017. It is the world's largest exporter of bananas ($3.38 billion in 2017) and a major exporter of shrimp ($3.06 billion in 2017). Exports of non-traditional products such as cut flowers ($846 million in 2017) and canned fish ($1.18 billion in 2017) have grown in recent years.

In the past, Ecuador's economy depended largely on primary industries like agriculture, petroleum, and aquaculture. As a result of shifts in global market trends and development of technology, the country has experienced economic development in other sectors, such as textiles, processed food, metallurgy and the service sectors. Between 2006 and 2014, GDP growth averaged 4.3%, driven by high oil prices and external financing. From 2015 until 2018, GDP growth averaged just 0.6%. Ecuador's ex-president, Lenín Moreno, launched a radical transformation of Ecuador's economy after taking office in May 2017. The aim was to increase the private sector's weight, in particular the oil industry.

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