Capital of Ecuador: Quito
The capital of Ecuador is Quito. Ecuador sits in South America, has a population of 18,001,000, and uses the USD. Official languages include Spanish.
Quick facts
- Capital: Quito
- Continent: South America
- Population: ~18,001,000
- Area: 283,561 km²
- Population density: 63.5 people per km²
- Official language: Spanish
- Currency: USD
- ISO code: EC
How big is Ecuador?
By population, Ecuador ranks 67th in the world, holding roughly 0.23% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 73rd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Ecuador has 63.5 people per square kilometre, which is close to the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within South America, Ecuador is the 7th most populous country of 12.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Ecuador in population are Guatemala (17,843,908) and Chad (17,723,315).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Burkina Faso (272,967 km²) and New Zealand (268,021 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Spanish is spoken officially in 20 countries in this dataset, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica, and 14 others.
The USD is not unique to Ecuador — it is also used by El Salvador, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau, and 2 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Ecuador in South America
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Peru.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — South America is the block Ecuador belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Ecuador and a page on the flag of Ecuador.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Ecuador?
The capital of Ecuador is Quito.
What is the population of Ecuador?
About 18,001,000, making it the 67th most populous country in the world.
How big is Ecuador?
283,561 square kilometres, ranking 73rd by land area, at a density of 63.5 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Ecuador use?
The USD, shared with 6 other countries.