Cuenca: population and official figures
What is the population of Cuenca?
The canton of Cuenca, which contains Cuenca, had 612,574 residents in 2022, the year of the latest census, according to INEC, the national statistics office; this is 3rd largest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site. It was 508,534 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 Cuenca growing?
Between 2010 and 2022 the population of Cuenca canton changed by +20.5%, from 508,534 to 612,574, 10th 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 Cuenca be in 2035?
INEC's 2024 revision projects the population of Cuenca canton at 624,053 in 2025 and 671,963 in 2035, a change of +9.7% from 2022 and 7th 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 Cuenca?
In 2022 Cuenca canton had 320,443 women and 292,131 men, 91.2 men for every 100 women, the 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 Cuenca?
People aged 65 or over were 8.6% of the population of Cuenca canton in 2022 (52,519), 6th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for that share, against 7.8% for Ecuador; in 2010 the share was 7.1%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow urban is Cuenca?
INEC classifies 60.8% of the residents of Cuenca canton as urban in 2022 (372,469 urban and 240,105 rural), 4th lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for urban share; the figure was 65.1% in 2010 and 63.2% for Ecuador in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the average age in Cuenca?
The median age in Cuenca 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 50.4 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 Cuenca?
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
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados 458,208
- Ambato 377,384
- 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
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…)
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