Ecuador: health and care

What is life expectancy in Ecuador?

Life expectancy at birth in Ecuador was 77.6 years in 2024, 5.5 years more than in 2000 (72.1), according to the Pan American Health Organization's country profile. PAHO notes that this is above the average for the Americas.

Ecuador registered 89,547 deaths in 2024, 51,603 of men and 37,944 of women, according to the INEC's death statistics. The death rate was 5.8 per 1,000 for men and 4.2 per 1,000 for women. Life expectancy estimates depend on population projections, which the INEC revised after the 2022 census, so figures from different sources can differ slightly.

Official sources: Pan American Health Organization's country profile · death statistics

What are the main causes of death in Ecuador?

Ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in Ecuador in 2024, with 14,471 deaths (16.2% of the total), followed by assaults (homicides) with 6,547 (7.3%) and strokes with 4,836 (5.4%), according to the INEC's 2024 death statistics bulletin.

Diabetes caused 4,680 deaths (5.2%), road traffic accidents 4,108 (4.6%) and influenza and pneumonia 3,768 (4.2%). The figures come from death certificates registered with the civil registry and are provisional for 2024, as late registrations are still added.

Official sources: 2024 death statistics bulletin

What are the infant and maternal mortality rates in Ecuador?

Ecuador's infant mortality rate was 8.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, and the maternal mortality ratio was 34.2 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.4 points lower than in 2023, according to the INEC's 2024 death statistics bulletin. Neonatal mortality, in the first 28 days, was 5.4 per 1,000.

The maternal ratio was 66.5 in 2020, during the pandemic. Ecuador recorded 208,985 live births in 2025, according to the INEC's birth statistics. The 2024 death figures are provisional, and maternal deaths go through a joint search and reclassification process by the INEC and the Ministry of Public Health.

Official sources: 2024 death statistics bulletin · birth statistics

How many hospitals and hospital beds does Ecuador have?

Ecuador had 626 health establishments with hospital beds and 23,726 available beds in 2024, according to the INEC's hospital beds and discharges statistics. 178 were public, 409 private for-profit and 39 private non-profit.

Hospitals recorded 1,132,667 discharges in 2024: 743,341 in the public sector, 305,560 in private for-profit hospitals and 83,766 in private non-profit hospitals. A discharge is counted each time a patient leaves hospital after an admission. The figures cover both the public network and private hospitals.

Official sources: hospital beds and discharges statistics

How many doctors are there in Ecuador?

40,547 doctors worked in Ecuador's health establishments in 2021, according to the INEC's latest health resources and activities statistics. 29,276 worked in the public sector, 8,400 in private for-profit establishments and 2,871 in private non-profit ones.

The count covers 4,109 health establishments, with or without beds, 3,224 of them public. Doctors working in more than one establishment can be counted more than once. The World Health Organization's health workforce data give 23.13 medical doctors per 10,000 people in 2020. 2021 is the latest year the INEC has published for this survey.

Official sources: health resources and activities statistics · health workforce data

How much does Ecuador spend on health?

Public spending on health in Ecuador was 5.28% of GDP in 2021, and 14.76% of all public spending, according to the Pan American Health Organization's country profile. Out-of-pocket payments by households made up 30.62% of total health spending.

Out-of-pocket spending is what people pay directly for care and medicines, rather than through taxes or insurance. Public care is provided mainly by the Ministry of Public Health and by the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) for insured workers. WHO publishes later health expenditure estimates in its global health expenditure data.

Official sources: Pan American Health Organization's country profile · global health expenditure data

What is the average life expectancy in Ecuador?

77.6 years: that is life expectancy at birth in Ecuador for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. No year since 2005 has been higher. Latin America & Caribbean median: 74.0 years; Ecuador is 9th highest of 33. Worldwide: 63rd of 193.

What is Ecuador's infant mortality rate?

According to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, the infant mortality rate in Ecuador was 10.9 per 1,000 in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 21st highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 12.1 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 107th of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in Ecuador?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in Ecuador at 55.0 per 100,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 55.0 per 100,000, and Ecuador placed 17th highest of 33. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 92nd highest.

What share of GDP does Ecuador spend on health care?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 7.6% of GDP. The peak was 8.6% of GDP in 2020 and the low 5.5% of GDP in 2008. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 6.8% of GDP, and Ecuador placed 13th highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 68th of 191.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Ecuador?

In 2023, out-of-pocket health spending in Ecuador was 30.9%, according to the WHO. The peak was 61.8% in 2005 and the low 28.8% in 2018. Latin America & Caribbean median: 29.3%; Ecuador is 15th highest of 33. Worldwide: 82nd of 191.

How many doctors per person does Ecuador have?

2.3 per 1,000: that is the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Ecuador for 2020, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2018, at 2.3 per 1,000; its low point was 2006, at 0.90 per 1,000. It is 10th highest of 18 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 2.4 per 1,000. Of 136 countries with 2020 data, 66th highest.

What is hospital capacity in Ecuador?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 1.3 per 1,000. Its high point since 2005 was 2008, at 1.6 per 1,000; its low point was 2021, at 1.3 per 1,000. It is 17th highest of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 2.1 per 1,000. Worldwide: 57th of 73.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Ecuador?

In 2024, measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Ecuador was 74.0%, according to WHO and UNICEF. Since 2005 it has ranged from 65.0% (2021) to 98.0% (2007). Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 89.5%, and Ecuador placed 29th highest of 32. Worldwide: 156th of 191.