Poverty and living standards in Cotopaxi, Ecuador: official figures
23.7% of people in Cotopaxi lived in income poverty in 2025, above the national rate of 21.8%; 9th lowest of the 23 provinces. In 2018 the rate was 29.2%.
What is the multidimensional poverty rate in Cotopaxi?
The multidimensional poverty rate in Cotopaxi was 64.4% in 2025 (national 37.1%), 4th highest of the 23 provinces; it counts people in households lacking a third or more of the weighted rights indicators such as education, work, health and housing.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Cotopaxi?
The Gini coefficient of per-person income in Cotopaxi was 0.435 in 2025 against 0.451 nationally (9th lowest of the 23 provinces on that measure); in 2018 it was 0.473.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Cotopaxi are overcrowded?
6.1% of households in Cotopaxi lived in overcrowded conditions in 2025 (more than three people per bedroom), against 8.3% nationally; 10th lowest of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Cotopaxi have piped public water?
38.9% of households in Cotopaxi had access to the public water network in 2025, against 80.2% nationally; 3rd lowest coverage of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Cotopaxi have basic services?
61.9% of households in Cotopaxi had access to all basic services in 2025, against 68.3% nationally; 11th lowest coverage of the 24 provinces. Adequate sanitation reached 94.4% of households and adequate rubbish collection 72.2%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow Cotopaxi compares with other provinces
Income poverty rate (2025)
Cotopaxi ranks 15 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Zamora Chinchipe | 27.7% |
| 13 | Chimborazo | 26.3% |
| 14 | Manabi | 24.3% |
| 15 | Cotopaxi | 23.7% |
| 16 | Los Rios | 22.0% |
| 17 | Guayas | 19.8% |
| 18 | Canar | 15.2% |
Extreme income poverty rate (2025)
Cotopaxi ranks 12 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Extreme income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Imbabura | 14.9% |
| 10 | Loja | 13.1% |
| 11 | Chimborazo | 9.3% |
| 12 | Cotopaxi | 6.5% |
| 13 | Bolivar | 5.9% |
| 14 | Santa Elena | 5.8% |
| 15 | Canar | 4.4% |
Multidimensional poverty rate (2025)
Cotopaxi ranks 4 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Multidimensional poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morona Santiago | 90.4% |
| 2 | Orellana | 83.7% |
| 3 | Napo | 83.5% |
| 4 | Cotopaxi | 64.4% |
| 5 | Chimborazo | 56.9% |
| 6 | Pastaza | 56.8% |
| 7 | Sucumbios | 56.8% |
Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) (2025)
Cotopaxi ranks 16 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas | 29.2% |
| 14 | Imbabura | 28.6% |
| 15 | Loja | 27.2% |
| 16 | Cotopaxi | 22.6% |
| 17 | Canar | 22.3% |
| 18 | Zamora Chinchipe | 21.4% |
| 19 | El Oro | 21.2% |
Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) (2025)
Cotopaxi ranks 15 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Pichincha | 0.453 |
| 13 | Bolivar | 0.446 |
| 14 | Azuay | 0.436 |
| 15 | Cotopaxi | 0.435 |
| 16 | Tungurahua | 0.426 |
| 17 | El Oro | 0.418 |
| 18 | Manabi | 0.406 |
Households living in overcrowded conditions (2025)
Cotopaxi ranks 15 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households living in overcrowded conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Carchi | 6.6% |
| 13 | Canar | 6.4% |
| 14 | Pastaza | 6.3% |
| 15 | Cotopaxi | 6.1% |
| 16 | Galapagos | 6.0% |
| 17 | Bolivar | 5.6% |
| 18 | Imbabura | 5.2% |
Households with access to basic services (2025)
Cotopaxi ranks 14 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with access to basic services |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas | 64.3% |
| 12 | Loja | 62.3% |
| 13 | Guayas | 61.9% |
| 14 | Cotopaxi | 61.9% |
| 15 | Santa Elena | 61.9% |
| 16 | Bolivar | 57.3% |
| 17 | Sucumbios | 56.6% |
More on Cotopaxi: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Ecuador
Sources
- 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…)
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