Ambato: population and official figures
What is the population of Ambato?
The canton of Ambato, which contains Ambato, had 377,384 residents in 2022, the year of the latest census, according to INEC, the national statistics office; this is 5th largest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site. It was 336,431 in 2010. INEC's figures cover the whole canton, not only the built-up city.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow fast is Ambato growing?
Between 2010 and 2022 the population of Ambato canton changed by +12.2%, from 336,431 to 377,384, 3rd lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for growth; Ecuador as a whole changed by +19.0%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat will the population of Ambato be in 2035?
INEC's 2024 revision projects the population of Ambato canton at 383,053 in 2025 and 404,951 in 2035, a change of +7.3% from 2022 and 3rd lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for projected growth; the projection for Ecuador over the same years is +10.2%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many men and women live in Ambato?
In 2022 Ambato canton had 194,830 women and 182,554 men, 93.7 men for every 100 women, 3rd lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site on that ratio; Ecuador had 98.7.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many older people live in Ambato?
People aged 65 or over were 8.9% of the population of Ambato canton in 2022 (33,672), 3rd highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for that share, against 7.8% for Ecuador; in 2010 the share was 6.8%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow urban is Ambato?
INEC classifies 47.9% of the residents of Ambato canton as urban in 2022 (180,817 urban and 196,567 rural), 2nd lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for urban share; the figure was 50.2% in 2010 and 63.2% for Ecuador in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the average age in Ambato?
The median age in Ambato canton was 29 years in 2022 (INEC estimate), joint 4th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site on that measure; it was 25 in 2010. There were 51.6 dependants (under 15 or 65 and over) for every 100 people aged 15 to 64.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWho runs Ambato?
In Ecuador, cities and towns are run by cantons / municipalities: Mayor (alcalde) and council directly elected. Urban planning, water, sanitation, waste, local transport.
How local power works in Ecuador
Cities of a similar size in Ecuador
- Guayaquil 2,908,589
- Quito 2,804,269
- Cuenca 612,574
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados 458,208
- Portoviejo 336,546
- Durán 316,551
- Machala 316,124
- Manta 281,123
- Riobamba 271,039
- Loja 254,463
- Esmeraldas 229,442
- Daule 225,776
- San Miguel de Ibarra 223,545
- Latacunga 221,033
- Quevedo 219,549
Up a level: all cities in Ecuador · Ecuador · government and power
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC): Estimaciones y proyecciones de población, revisión 2024 (basadas en el Censo 2022): cantonal tables 3.3, 3.6 and 3.7, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f200aff5c31a…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.