Poverty and living standards in Esmeraldas, Ecuador: official figures
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%.
What is the multidimensional poverty rate in Esmeraldas?
The multidimensional poverty rate in Esmeraldas was 56.0% in 2025 (national 37.1%), 8th 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 Esmeraldas?
The Gini coefficient of per-person income in Esmeraldas was 0.473 in 2025 against 0.451 nationally (10th highest of the 23 provinces on that measure); in 2018 it was 0.487.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Esmeraldas are overcrowded?
10.2% of households in Esmeraldas lived in overcrowded conditions in 2025 (more than three people per bedroom), against 8.3% nationally; 6th highest of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Esmeraldas have piped public water?
65.0% of households in Esmeraldas had access to the public water network in 2025, against 80.2% nationally; 9th lowest coverage of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Esmeraldas have basic services?
47.7% of households in Esmeraldas had access to all basic services in 2025, against 68.3% nationally; 5th lowest coverage of the 24 provinces. Adequate sanitation reached 92.4% of households and adequate rubbish collection 81.5%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow Esmeraldas compares with other provinces
Income poverty rate (2025)
Esmeraldas ranks 4 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morona Santiago | 74.2% |
| 2 | Napo | 58.6% |
| 3 | Sucumbios | 46.7% |
| 4 | Esmeraldas | 44.2% |
| 5 | Orellana | 44.2% |
| 6 | Carchi | 39.6% |
| 7 | Pastaza | 36.3% |
Extreme income poverty rate (2025)
Esmeraldas ranks 5 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Extreme income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Napo | 32.3% |
| 3 | Sucumbios | 30.7% |
| 4 | Carchi | 26.8% |
| 5 | Esmeraldas | 20.7% |
| 6 | Pastaza | 18.7% |
| 7 | Orellana | 18.5% |
| 8 | Zamora Chinchipe | 15.3% |
Multidimensional poverty rate (2025)
Esmeraldas ranks 8 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Multidimensional poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Chimborazo | 56.9% |
| 6 | Pastaza | 56.8% |
| 7 | Sucumbios | 56.8% |
| 8 | Esmeraldas | 56.0% |
| 9 | Manabi | 51.0% |
| 10 | Los Rios | 45.3% |
| 11 | Zamora Chinchipe | 43.6% |
Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) (2025)
Esmeraldas ranks 4 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morona Santiago | 87.1% |
| 2 | Orellana | 67.2% |
| 3 | Manabi | 54.4% |
| 4 | Esmeraldas | 47.8% |
| 5 | Sucumbios | 46.7% |
| 6 | Los Rios | 44.0% |
| 7 | Napo | 40.9% |
Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) (2025)
Esmeraldas ranks 10 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Imbabura | 0.486 |
| 8 | Orellana | 0.485 |
| 9 | Loja | 0.484 |
| 10 | Esmeraldas | 0.473 |
| 11 | Chimborazo | 0.459 |
| 12 | Pichincha | 0.453 |
| 13 | Bolivar | 0.446 |
Households living in overcrowded conditions (2025)
Esmeraldas ranks 6 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households living in overcrowded conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Santa Elena | 15.1% |
| 4 | Guayas | 13.9% |
| 5 | Sucumbios | 10.4% |
| 6 | Esmeraldas | 10.2% |
| 7 | Napo | 9.7% |
| 8 | Manabi | 8.3% |
| 9 | Los Rios | 8.0% |
Households with access to basic services (2025)
Esmeraldas ranks 20 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with access to basic services |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Sucumbios | 56.6% |
| 18 | Napo | 56.3% |
| 19 | Galapagos | 51.0% |
| 20 | Esmeraldas | 47.7% |
| 21 | Manabi | 42.1% |
| 22 | Los Rios | 41.7% |
| 23 | Orellana | 32.1% |
More on Esmeraldas: 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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