Loja: population and official figures
What is the population of Loja?
The canton of Loja, which contains Loja, had 254,463 residents in 2022, the year of the latest census, according to INEC, the national statistics office; this is 10th smallest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site. It was 230,305 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 Loja growing?
Between 2010 and 2022 the population of Loja canton changed by +10.5%, from 230,305 to 254,463, 2nd 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 Loja be in 2035?
INEC's 2024 revision projects the population of Loja canton at 258,514 in 2025 and 275,308 in 2035, a change of +8.2% from 2022 and 5th 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 Loja?
In 2022 Loja canton had 131,675 women and 122,788 men, 93.2 men for every 100 women, 2nd 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 Loja?
People aged 65 or over were 7.9% of the population of Loja canton in 2022 (20,138), 8th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for that share, against 7.8% for Ecuador; in 2010 the share was 6.1%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow urban is Loja?
INEC classifies 81.3% of the residents of Loja canton as urban in 2022 (206,907 urban and 47,556 rural), 9th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for urban share; the figure was 78.7% in 2010 and 63.2% for Ecuador in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the average age in Loja?
The median age in Loja canton was 28 years in 2022 (INEC estimate), joint 10th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site on that measure; it was 24 in 2010. There were 51.1 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 Loja?
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
- Esmeraldas 229,442
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.