Ecuador ( Republica del Ecuador) is a country in Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru. Ecuador geographic coordinates 2 00 S, 77 30 W; area 276,840 sq km; area comparative slightly smaller than Nevada; land boundaries Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km; coastline 2,237 km; maritime claims 1; climate tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowl; terrain coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (; elevation extremes Chimborazo 6,267 m; natural resources petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower; land use 89.22% (2001); irrigated land 8,650 sq km (1998 est.); 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 none of the selected agreements; geography note Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world;

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The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Colombia and Venezuela). 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. Seven presidents have governed Ecuador since 1996. government type republic; capital Quito; administrative divisions 22 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, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe; independence 24 May 1822 (from Spain); national holiday Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809); constitution 10 August 1998; legal system based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; suffrage 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages;

people

Ecuador population 13,363,593 (July 2005 est.); age structure 4.9% (male 310,336/female 350,821) (2005 est.); median age 23.74 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 1.24% (2005 est.); birth rate 22.67 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 4.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate -6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 79.22 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 2.72 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 0.3% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 21,000 (2003 est.); hiv deaths 1,700 (2003 est.); nationality 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 91% (2003 est.);

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Cities