Portoviejo: population and official figures
What is the population of Portoviejo?
The canton of Portoviejo, which contains Portoviejo, had 336,546 residents in 2022, the year of the latest census, according to INEC, the national statistics office; this is 6th largest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site. It was 284,151 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 Portoviejo growing?
Between 2010 and 2022 the population of Portoviejo canton changed by +18.4%, from 284,151 to 336,546, 5th 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 Portoviejo be in 2035?
INEC's 2024 revision projects the population of Portoviejo canton at 345,349 in 2025 and 377,773 in 2035, a change of +12.3% from 2022 and 10th 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 Portoviejo?
In 2022 Portoviejo canton had 171,323 women and 165,223 men, 96.4 men for every 100 women, 10th 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 Portoviejo?
People aged 65 or over were 9.0% of the population of Portoviejo canton in 2022 (30,128), 2nd highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for that share, against 7.8% for Ecuador; in 2010 the share was 6.3%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow urban is Portoviejo?
INEC classifies 75.5% of the residents of Portoviejo canton as urban in 2022 (254,254 urban and 82,292 rural), 10th lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for urban share; the figure was 74.2% in 2010 and 63.2% for Ecuador in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the average age in Portoviejo?
The median age in Portoviejo canton was 29 years in 2022 (INEC estimate), joint 4th highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site on that measure; it was 24 in 2010. There were 49.0 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 Portoviejo?
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
- 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
- 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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