Esmeraldas: population, jobs, poverty, health, schools and the economy
Esmeraldas is a province of Ecuador, number 7 of 25 by population. INEC projects that Esmeraldas has 609,590 people in mid-2026, 3.3% of Ecuador's 18.24 million; 7th largest of the 24 provinces. The projection is based on the 2022 census.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Esmeraldas: The unemployment rate in Esmeraldas was 9.1% in 2025, above the national rate of 3.6%; the highest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 10.4%.
- Health in Esmeraldas: Life expectancy at birth in Esmeraldas is projected at 75.6 years in 2026 (both sexes), 4th lowest of the 24 provinces; in 2010 it was 70.9 years. The national figure is 77.9 years (population-weighted average of the provinces).
- Education in Esmeraldas: People aged 24 and over in Esmeraldas had 9.8 years of schooling on average in 2025, against 10.4 nationally; 12th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 the average was 9.1 years.
- Poverty and living standards in Esmeraldas: 44.2% of people in Esmeraldas lived in income poverty in 2025, above the national rate of 21.8%; 4th highest of the 23 provinces. In 2018 the rate was 40.3%.
Is the population of Esmeraldas growing?
The population of Esmeraldas was 534,870 in 2010 and is projected at 595,674 in 2022 and 609,590 in 2026. Over 2010 to 2026 it grew 0.8% a year, against 1.3% for the country; 7th slowest of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow old is the population of Esmeraldas?
People aged 65 and over are 8.0% of the population of Esmeraldas in 2026 and children under 15 are 28.3%, compared with 8.8% and 24.0% nationally. Its share of older people is 9th lowest of the 24 provinces. The average age is 30.8 years.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyWhat is the fertility rate in Esmeraldas?
The total fertility rate in Esmeraldas is projected at 2.16 children per woman in 2026, 3rd highest of the 24 provinces, down from 3.13 in 2010. The projected crude birth rate is 17.7 per 1,000 people.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyAre people moving to or from Esmeraldas?
INEC projects net migration for Esmeraldas at -4.6 per 1,000 people in 2026 (more people leaving than arriving), 7th 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
- Tungurahua 584,638
- Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas 533,522
- Imbabura 502,275
- Loja 499,729
- Cotopaxi 497,544
- Chimborazo 486,213
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.