Yearbook 2016

Ecuador. According to countryaah, the current population of Ecuador is 17,643,065. President Rafael Correa’s worst corruption scandal during his ten years in power was revealed in November when it was discovered that $ 3.8 billion in bribes from state-owned oil company Petroecuador was hidden in bank accounts in Panama. Former Energy Minister Carlos Pareja Yannuzzelli, who was believed to be closely linked to the scandal, was requested to be extradited from the United States. According to Panamanian media, Vice President Jorge Glas was also involved in this. A total of twelve people were identified as involved in the taking of bribes in connection with construction projects at Petroecuador’s large refinery in Esmeraldas. All in all, things were bad for the País alliance before the February 2017 elections.

Ecuador Population 2016

However, at the end of the year, the polls showed a slight takeover for País Alliance candidate Lenín Moreno, but the proportion of uncertain voters was greater than ever. At the same time, the economic outlook was gloomier than ever. Although the economy showed positive traits throughout Correa’s ten-year holdings of the presidential office, last year was characterized by growing problems in the form of falling exchange rates and oil prices, and reduced export income and tax revenues. Total export income and foreign investment fell by 9% of GDP in 2015, and oil revenues fell by $ 1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2016.

On top of all this came the devastating earthquake on April 16 that killed nearly 700 people, injured over 6,000 and left 29,000 homeless in the northern coastal provinces of Manabí and Esmeraldas, putting extra pressure on the state budget. Partly as a result of the disaster, in the month of April/May, Correa underwent a major transformation of the government and among heads of state. Among other things, people connected to the severely affected Manabí province were appointed ministerial and executive positions responsible for the reconstruction after the disaster. In addition, several leading names in the mineral sector were exchanged, such as the Minister of Energy Pareja and the head of Petroecuador Alex Bravo, as illustrated in the famous Panama documents where several cases of illegal money laundering occurred.

  • Abbreviation Finder: Check to see how the 3-letter abbreviation of ECU stands for the nation of Ecuador in geography.

General information about Ecuador

Those interested in Andean Indian cultures follow the sun god India to Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. The first children of the sun, the Incas, were said to have been landed on the Sun Island of Lake Titicaca and from there they began to spread to the Andes in the 13th century. Cusco became their capital. The Incas raised llamas and alpacas, were good farmers and great stonemasons. The messages ran along paved road networks carried by couriers. The empire created by the Incas collapsed not only in mutual controversy, but also in the advent of the Spanish colonial conquerors, the conquistadors, five hundred years ago. These brought the Ketchuan language alongside Spanish, alongside sun worship to the golden treasures of the Catholic religion and, above all, their immense lust.

According to thereligionfaqs, Ecuador, one of the smallest states in South America, is located at the equator, as its name implies. The country can be experienced in the miniature of South American nature and culture, as within a few hundred kilometers the landscape changes from the hot and humid Pacific coastline to the four-kilometer slopes of the Andes. The highest working volcano in the world, Cotopaxi (5897 m) is located in Ecuador. Between the eastern and western branches of the Andes, the volcanic and fertile central valley is home to the vast majority of the 15 million inhabitants of the country, which lives mainly on agriculture. The forests produce hardwoods, the fishing industry is booming and the most amazing roses on the world’s cut flower market come here, as well as, somewhat surprisingly, Panama hats.

Also the most beautiful capital of the continent, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Quito is located in a cup-shaped central valley at an altitude of almost three kilometers. Quito was once the headquarters of the Inca Empire but it was not until the Spanish Colonial hosts built its White Palaces, glorious golden altar churches and rustling fountains in the courtyards of the monasteries. Around the Independence Square you will find the most beautiful monuments of both worldly power and the church. The country’s largest city is Guayaquil on the Pacific coast, an important port and trade center. Galapagos Cruise ships also depart from Guayaquil. A group of 18 islands is located in the Pacific Ocean nearly a thousand miles from the mainland.