Ecuador Population Pyramid (2026)
Ecuador has a population of 18,444,506 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 71st-largest population in the world and 0.22% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 23.3% of the population and people aged 65 and over 8.9%, with 99.4 males for every 100 females.
Ecuador Demographics
Ecuador has 18.4 million people in 2026, up 199.6% from 6.2 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 168,876 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 8.9% — the 89th-highest of 194 countries.
Under-15 share 23.3% — the 92nd-lowest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Z — 27.2% (5,024,242)
All generations in Ecuador →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Ecuador's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Ecuador has 99.4 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 58,620 (0.3% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:9,192,943
- Percentage:49.8%
Female Statistics
- Population:9,251,563
- Percentage:50.2%
- Ratio Format:1:1.006
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Ecuador indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 267,031 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 280,840 | 15.9 | 1.91 | estimate |
| 2022 | 274,903 | 15.4 | 1.86 | estimate |
| 2023 | 270,300 | 15.0 | 1.82 | estimate |
| 2024 | 268,769 | 14.8 | 1.81 | projection |
| 2025 | 267,665 | 14.6 | 1.79 | projection |
| 2026 | 267,031 | 14.5 | 1.78 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (267,031 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Ecuador's median age is 29.7 years
Half the population is younger than 29.7 years, half is older — indicating a young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,335,932 | 7.2% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 1,441,264 | 7.8% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 1,528,617 | 8.3% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 1,598,286 | 8.7% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 1,549,247 | 8.4% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 1,546,942 | 8.4% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 1,498,960 | 8.1% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 1,389,468 | 7.5% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 1,278,018 | 6.9% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 1,122,471 | 6.1% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 978,691 | 5.3% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 841,879 | 4.6% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 701,306 | 3.8% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 564,955 | 3.1% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 440,955 | 2.4% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 313,965 | 1.7% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 186,101 | 1.0% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 88,602 | 0.5% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 31,024 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 6,945 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 874 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 4 (low birth and death rates): fertility is below the replacement level of 2.1 (1.78 children per woman), and births still exceed deaths (14.5 vs 5.3 per 1,000). Read more about Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Ecuador Total Fertility Rate: 1.78 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.91 | 15.9 | |
| 2022 | 1.86 | 15.4 | ↓0.05 |
| 2023 | 1.82 | 15.0 | ↓0.04 |
| 2024 | 1.81 | 14.8 | ↓0.01 |
| 2025 | 1.79 | 14.6 | ↓0.02 |
| 2026 | 1.78 | 14.5 | ↓0.01 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.75
Ecuador's total fertility rate is 1.78 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. Ecuador ranks 109 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −73.6% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Ecuador's population has increased by 424.5%.
The median age has increased from 19.0 in 1950 to 29.7 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Ecuador's Demographics
Ecuador has a stationary population pyramid — similar-sized bands from the youngest cohorts through the working ages.
Children under 15 make up 23.3% of the population and people aged 65 and over 8.9%.
The largest five-year age band is 15–19, at 8.7% of the population, compared with 7.2% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Ecuador's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The working-age share is still rising, from 64.7% in 2016 to 67.8% in 2026 (dependency ratio 47.5).
Fertility Transition Stage
Ecuador is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.78 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Ecuador's median age changed by +4.0 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 18,444,506 |
| Male Population | 9,192,943(49.8%) |
| Female Population | 9,251,563(50.2%) |
| Median Age | 29.7 years |
| Sex Ratio | 99.4 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 4,305,813(23.3%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 12,505,272(67.8%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 1,633,421(8.9%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 47.5 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 34.4 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 13.1 |
| Pyramid Type | Stationary |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Ecuador
How long the average person in Ecuador is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Ecuador is projected to grow to 21.3 million people by 2050 (+15.7% from 2026).
The median age rises from 29.7 in 2026 to 39.5 by 2050.
Ecuador's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 32.7%, growing from 6.2 million in 1970 to 8.2 million by 1980
The median age increased by 0.8 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 1.8 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 6.2M to 8.2M
- • Growth rate of 32.7% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 16.6 to 17.4 years (+0.8y)
- • 65+ share changed by −0.3 points; under-15 share by −1.8 points
How Does Ecuador Compare to Its Neighbors?
Ecuador has a younger population than Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru. Ecuador has a smaller population than Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru.
Ecuador
Brazil
Argentina
Colombia
Peru
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecuador
How does Ecuador rank globally by population?
Ecuador ranks 71st in the world by population with 18.4 million people as of 2026, representing 0.22% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Ecuador's age structure reveal about its development?
Ecuador's age structure — 23.3% under 15, 67.8% working-age (15–64) and 8.9% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 4 of the demographic transition, with a stationary population pyramid. The median age is 29.7 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Ecuador?
Ecuador has 47.5 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Ecuador experiencing a demographic dividend?
Ecuador is in its demographic-dividend window. The working-age share is still rising, from 64.7% in 2016 to 67.8% in 2026 (dependency ratio 47.5). The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Ecuador's population?
Ecuador has more females than males, with 99.4 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Ecuador Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/ecuador
View UN World Population Prospects Data →