Manta: population and official figures
What is the population of Manta?
The canton of Manta, which contains Manta, had 281,123 residents in 2022, the year of the latest census, according to INEC, the national statistics office; this is 9th largest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site. It was 227,828 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 Manta growing?
Between 2010 and 2022 the population of Manta canton changed by +23.4%, from 227,828 to 281,123, 8th 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 Manta be in 2035?
INEC's 2024 revision projects the population of Manta canton at 291,322 in 2025 and 328,185 in 2035, a change of +16.7% from 2022 and 4th 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 Manta?
In 2022 Manta canton had 144,207 women and 136,916 men, 94.9 men for every 100 women, 7th 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 Manta?
People aged 65 or over were 7.5% of the population of Manta canton in 2022 (21,182), 10th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for that share, against 7.8% for Ecuador; in 2010 the share was 5.2%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow urban is Manta?
INEC classifies 95.4% of the residents of Manta canton as urban in 2022 (268,281 urban and 12,842 rural), 4th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for urban share; the figure was 96.0% in 2010 and 63.2% for Ecuador in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the average age in Manta?
The median age in Manta canton was 28 years in 2022 (INEC estimate), joint 10th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site on that measure; it was 23 in 2010. There were 47.6 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 Manta?
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
- 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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