Poverty and living standards in Imbabura, Ecuador: official figures
31.8% of people in Imbabura lived in income poverty in 2025, above the national rate of 21.8%; 8th highest of the 23 provinces. In 2018 the rate was 29.0%.
What is the multidimensional poverty rate in Imbabura?
The multidimensional poverty rate in Imbabura was 37.8% in 2025 (national 37.1%), 8th lowest 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 Imbabura?
The Gini coefficient of per-person income in Imbabura was 0.486 in 2025 against 0.451 nationally (7th highest of the 23 provinces on that measure); in 2018 it was 0.479.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Imbabura are overcrowded?
5.2% of households in Imbabura lived in overcrowded conditions in 2025 (more than three people per bedroom), against 8.3% nationally; 7th lowest of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Imbabura have piped public water?
87.3% of households in Imbabura had access to the public water network in 2025, against 80.2% nationally; 9th highest coverage of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Imbabura have basic services?
76.3% of households in Imbabura had access to all basic services in 2025, against 68.3% nationally; 7th highest coverage of the 24 provinces. Adequate sanitation reached 94.8% of households and adequate rubbish collection 87.8%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow Imbabura compares with other provinces
Income poverty rate (2025)
Imbabura ranks 8 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Orellana | 44.2% |
| 6 | Carchi | 39.6% |
| 7 | Pastaza | 36.3% |
| 8 | Imbabura | 31.8% |
| 9 | Loja | 30.7% |
| 10 | Santa Elena | 29.8% |
| 11 | Bolivar | 27.9% |
Extreme income poverty rate (2025)
Imbabura ranks 9 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Extreme income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Pastaza | 18.7% |
| 7 | Orellana | 18.5% |
| 8 | Zamora Chinchipe | 15.3% |
| 9 | Imbabura | 14.9% |
| 10 | Loja | 13.1% |
| 11 | Chimborazo | 9.3% |
| 12 | Cotopaxi | 6.5% |
Multidimensional poverty rate (2025)
Imbabura ranks 16 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Multidimensional poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Loja | 41.7% |
| 14 | Santa Elena | 41.2% |
| 15 | Carchi | 38.6% |
| 16 | Imbabura | 37.8% |
| 17 | Tungurahua | 37.3% |
| 18 | Guayas | 36.1% |
| 19 | Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas | 31.9% |
Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) (2025)
Imbabura ranks 14 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Pastaza | 30.8% |
| 12 | Santa Elena | 29.9% |
| 13 | Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas | 29.2% |
| 14 | Imbabura | 28.6% |
| 15 | Loja | 27.2% |
| 16 | Cotopaxi | 22.6% |
| 17 | Canar | 22.3% |
Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) (2025)
Imbabura ranks 7 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Carchi | 0.537 |
| 5 | Pastaza | 0.522 |
| 6 | Zamora Chinchipe | 0.494 |
| 7 | Imbabura | 0.486 |
| 8 | Orellana | 0.485 |
| 9 | Loja | 0.484 |
| 10 | Esmeraldas | 0.473 |
Households living in overcrowded conditions (2025)
Imbabura ranks 18 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households living in overcrowded conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Cotopaxi | 6.1% |
| 16 | Galapagos | 6.0% |
| 17 | Bolivar | 5.6% |
| 18 | Imbabura | 5.2% |
| 19 | Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas | 5.1% |
| 20 | Azuay | 4.9% |
| 21 | Zamora Chinchipe | 4.6% |
Households with access to basic services (2025)
Imbabura ranks 7 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with access to basic services |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Tungurahua | 87.0% |
| 5 | Canar | 80.2% |
| 6 | Carchi | 76.9% |
| 7 | Imbabura | 76.3% |
| 8 | Zamora Chinchipe | 70.9% |
| 9 | Chimborazo | 70.4% |
| 10 | Pastaza | 67.9% |
More on Imbabura: 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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