Machala: population and official figures
What is the population of Machala?
The canton of Machala, which contains Machala, had 316,124 residents in 2022, the year of the latest census, according to INEC, the national statistics office; this is 8th largest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site. It was 254,805 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 Machala growing?
Between 2010 and 2022 the population of Machala canton changed by +24.1%, from 254,805 to 316,124, 6th highest 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 Machala be in 2035?
INEC's 2024 revision projects the population of Machala canton at 324,062 in 2025 and 355,718 in 2035, a change of +12.5% from 2022 and 9th highest 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 Machala?
In 2022 Machala canton had 159,278 women and 156,846 men, 98.5 men for every 100 women, 7th highest 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 Machala?
People aged 65 or over were 6.9% of the population of Machala canton in 2022 (21,801), 5th lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for that share, against 7.8% for Ecuador; in 2010 the share was 4.8%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow urban is Machala?
INEC classifies 94.0% of the residents of Machala canton as urban in 2022 (297,289 urban and 18,835 rural), 5th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for urban share; the figure was 94.0% in 2010 and 63.2% for Ecuador in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the average age in Machala?
The median age in Machala 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 46.8 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 Machala?
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
- 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
- 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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