Esmeraldas: population and official figures
What is the population of Esmeraldas?
The canton of Esmeraldas, which contains Esmeraldas, had 229,442 residents in 2022, the year of the latest census, according to INEC, the national statistics office; this is 9th smallest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site. It was 209,362 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 Esmeraldas growing?
Between 2010 and 2022 the population of Esmeraldas canton changed by +9.6%, from 209,362 to 229,442, the 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 Esmeraldas be in 2035?
INEC's 2024 revision projects the population of Esmeraldas canton at 232,221 in 2025 and 248,433 in 2035, a change of +8.3% from 2022 and 6th 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 Esmeraldas?
In 2022 Esmeraldas canton had 118,398 women and 111,044 men, 93.8 men for every 100 women, 4th 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 Esmeraldas?
People aged 65 or over were 7.7% of the population of Esmeraldas canton in 2022 (17,671), 9th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for that share, against 7.8% for Ecuador; in 2010 the share was 5.1%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow urban is Esmeraldas?
INEC classifies 73.6% of the residents of Esmeraldas canton as urban in 2022 (168,774 urban and 60,668 rural), 9th lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for urban share; the figure was 80.2% in 2010 and 63.2% for Ecuador in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the average age in Esmeraldas?
The median age in Esmeraldas canton was 27 years in 2022 (INEC estimate), joint 2nd lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site on that measure; it was 22 in 2010. There were 57.0 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 Esmeraldas?
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
- Ambato 377,384
- Portoviejo 336,546
- Durán 316,551
- Machala 316,124
- Manta 281,123
- Riobamba 271,039
- Loja 254,463
- Daule 225,776
- San Miguel de Ibarra 223,545
- Latacunga 221,033
- Quevedo 219,549
- Milagro 211,848
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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