Quito: population and official figures
What is the population of Quito?
The Metropolitan District of Quito (the canton of Quito), which contains Quito, had 2,804,269 residents in 2022, the year of the latest census, according to INEC, the national statistics office; this is 2nd largest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site. It was 2,292,804 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 Quito growing?
Between 2010 and 2022 the population of Metropolitan District of Quito canton changed by +22.3%, from 2,292,804 to 2,804,269, 10th 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 Quito be in 2035?
INEC's 2024 revision projects the population of Metropolitan District of Quito canton at 2,856,667 in 2025 and 3,015,497 in 2035, a change of +7.5% from 2022 and 4th 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 Quito?
In 2022 Metropolitan District of Quito canton had 1,428,637 women and 1,375,632 men, 96.3 men for every 100 women, 9th 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 Quito?
People aged 65 or over were 8.0% of the population of Metropolitan District of Quito canton in 2022 (225,007), 7th 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 Quito?
INEC classifies 66.0% of the residents of Metropolitan District of Quito canton as urban in 2022 (1,850,973 urban and 953,296 rural), 5th lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for urban share; the figure was 72.0% in 2010 and 63.2% for Ecuador in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the average age in Quito?
The median age in Metropolitan District of Quito canton was 32 years in 2022 (INEC estimate), 2nd highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site on that measure; it was 26 in 2010. There were 42.6 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 Quito?
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
- 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
- Esmeraldas 229,442
- Daule 225,776
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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