Chimborazo: population, jobs, poverty, health, schools and the economy
Chimborazo is a province of Ecuador, number 13 of 25 by population. INEC projects that Chimborazo has 486,213 people in mid-2026, 2.7% of Ecuador's 18.24 million; 12th smallest of the 24 provinces. The projection is based on the 2022 census.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Chimborazo: The unemployment rate in Chimborazo was 1.8% in 2025, below the national rate of 3.6%; 8th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 1.3%.
- Health in Chimborazo: Life expectancy at birth in Chimborazo is projected at 80.2 years in 2026 (both sexes), 10th highest of the 24 provinces; in 2010 it was 74.1 years. The national figure is 77.9 years (population-weighted average of the provinces).
- Education in Chimborazo: People aged 24 and over in Chimborazo had 9.4 years of schooling on average in 2025, against 10.4 nationally; 8th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 the average was 8.2 years.
- Poverty and living standards in Chimborazo: 26.3% of people in Chimborazo lived in income poverty in 2025, above the national rate of 21.8%; 11th lowest of the 23 provinces. In 2018 the rate was 43.0%.
Is the population of Chimborazo growing?
The population of Chimborazo was 476,054 in 2010 and is projected at 493,084 in 2022 and 486,213 in 2026. Over 2010 to 2026 it grew 0.1% a year, against 1.3% for the country; 2nd slowest of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow old is the population of Chimborazo?
People aged 65 and over are 12.9% of the population of Chimborazo in 2026 and children under 15 are 23.4%, compared with 8.8% and 24.0% nationally. Its share of older people is the highest of the 24 provinces. The average age is 35.1 years.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the fertility rate in Chimborazo?
The total fertility rate in Chimborazo is projected at 1.73 children per woman in 2026, 8th lowest of the 24 provinces, down from 2.50 in 2010. The projected crude birth rate is 13.1 per 1,000 people.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyAre people moving to or from Chimborazo?
INEC projects net migration for Chimborazo at -8.8 per 1,000 people in 2026 (more people leaving than arriving), 4th lowest of the 24 provinces. The dependency ratio is 56.9 dependants per 100 people of working age.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow provinces are governed in Ecuador
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.
Every tier of government in Ecuador
Other provinces of Ecuador
- Guayas 4,835,479
- Pichincha 3,316,636
- Manabi 1,731,039
- Los Rios 988,852
- Azuay 839,268
- El Oro 757,938
- Esmeraldas 609,590
- Tungurahua 584,638
- Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas 533,522
- Imbabura 502,275
- Loja 499,729
- Cotopaxi 497,544
- Santa Elena 410,498
- Canar 237,517
- Morona Santiago 213,457
- Bolivar 204,620
- Sucumbios 203,164
- Orellana 199,171
- Carchi 176,748
- Napo 142,465
- Pastaza 122,784
- Zamora Chinchipe 120,221
- Zona No Delimitada 38,000
- Galapagos 30,448
Up a level: Ecuador · government and power in Ecuador · cities
Sources
- 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): 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 Nacidos Vivos y Defunciones Fetales 2024: tabulados y series históricas (births by province of residence), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa2d677df1e0…)
- 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…)
- 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…)
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