Riobamba: population and official figures
What is the population of Riobamba?
The canton of Riobamba, which contains Riobamba, had 271,039 residents in 2022, the year of the latest census, according to INEC, the national statistics office; this is 10th largest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site. It was 234,916 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 Riobamba growing?
Between 2010 and 2022 the population of Riobamba canton changed by +15.4%, from 234,916 to 271,039, 4th 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 Riobamba be in 2035?
INEC's 2024 revision projects the population of Riobamba canton at 272,762 in 2025 and 279,860 in 2035, a change of +3.3% from 2022 and the 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 Riobamba?
In 2022 Riobamba canton had 139,729 women and 131,310 men, 94.0 men for every 100 women, 5th 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 Riobamba?
People aged 65 or over were 10.2% of the population of Riobamba canton in 2022 (27,773), the highest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for that share, against 7.8% for Ecuador; in 2010 the share was 7.6%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow urban is Riobamba?
INEC classifies 67.8% of the residents of Riobamba canton as urban in 2022 (183,807 urban and 87,232 rural), 6th lowest of 20 Ecuadorian cities on this site for urban share; the figure was 64.7% in 2010 and 63.2% for Ecuador in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the average age in Riobamba?
The median age in Riobamba 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 51.5 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 Riobamba?
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
- 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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