Regions of Ecuador: population and official figures
Ecuador is divided into 25 regions. The largest by population is Guayas with 4,835,479 people (26.4% of the total); the smallest is Galapagos with 30,448. Figures come from Ecuador's statistics office INEC (population projections based on the 2022 census, the ENEMDU household survey for jobs, poverty, education and housing, and the deaths and births registers) and from the Banco Central del Ecuador regional accounts for economic output; survey-based provincial figures carry sampling error.
Who governs Ecuador's regions?
Provinces (24): Prefect (prefecto) directly elected; provincial council made up of the prefect, the mayors of the province and representatives of rural parish heads. Rural roads, irrigation, provincial planning, environmental management.
How local power works in Ecuador · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 25 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guayas | 4,835,479 | 2026 | +1.0% |
| 2 | Pichincha | 3,316,636 | 2026 | +0.7% |
| 3 | Manabi | 1,731,039 | 2026 | +0.9% |
| 4 | Los Rios | 988,852 | 2026 | +0.9% |
| 5 | Azuay | 839,268 | 2026 | +0.4% |
| 6 | El Oro | 757,938 | 2026 | +0.6% |
| 7 | Esmeraldas | 609,590 | 2026 | +0.6% |
| 8 | Tungurahua | 584,638 | 2026 | +0.5% |
| 9 | Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas | 533,522 | 2026 | +0.9% |
| 10 | Imbabura | 502,275 | 2026 | +0.8% |
| 11 | Loja | 499,729 | 2026 | +0.2% |
| 12 | Cotopaxi | 497,544 | 2026 | +0.9% |
| 13 | Chimborazo | 486,213 | 2026 | -0.3% |
| 14 | Santa Elena | 410,498 | 2026 | +0.7% |
| 15 | Canar | 237,517 | 2026 | -0.0% |
| 16 | Morona Santiago | 213,457 | 2026 | +1.7% |
| 17 | Bolivar | 204,620 | 2026 | -0.1% |
| 18 | Sucumbios | 203,164 | 2026 | -0.5% |
| 19 | Orellana | 199,171 | 2026 | +1.7% |
| 20 | Carchi | 176,748 | 2026 | -0.6% |
| 21 | Napo | 142,465 | 2026 | +1.4% |
| 22 | Pastaza | 122,784 | 2026 | +1.7% |
| 23 | Zamora Chinchipe | 120,221 | 2026 | +1.1% |
| 24 | Zona No Delimitada | 38,000 | 2016 | – |
| 25 | Galapagos | 30,448 | 2026 | +0.8% |
Cities: the largest cities of Ecuador.
More on Ecuador: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC): Estimaciones y Proyecciones de Población, revisión 2024 (Censo 2022 base): provincial tables by age and demographic indicators, 1990-2035, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 54951201c6d7…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC): ENEMDU Anual 2025 (Encuesta Nacional de Empleo, Desempleo y Subempleo): tabulados de mercado laboral, educación, vivienda, pobreza y desigualdad por provincia, 2018-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f969666762d3…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC): Registro Estadístico de Defunciones Generales 2024: tabulados y series (mortality by province of residence, 2008-2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7cab0c22d7cd…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC): Registro Estadístico de Nacidos Vivos y Defunciones Fetales 2024: tabulados y series históricas (births by province of residence), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa2d677df1e0…)
- Banco Central del Ecuador: Valor Agregado Bruto per cápita provincial y cantonal 2018-2024(p), Cuentas Nacionales Regionales, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7cc7b914bc8b…)
- Banco Central del Ecuador: Cuentas Provinciales 2024(p): valor agregado bruto por industria, valores corrientes, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bfee6bc272cc…)
- Banco Central del Ecuador: Boletín de retropolación de las Cuentas Nacionales Regionales 2007-2024(p): VAB provincial, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9c2134a8a8db…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.