Poverty and living standards in Loja, Ecuador: official figures
30.7% of people in Loja lived in income poverty in 2025, above the national rate of 21.8%; 9th highest of the 23 provinces. In 2018 the rate was 32.5%.
What is the multidimensional poverty rate in Loja?
The multidimensional poverty rate in Loja was 41.7% in 2025 (national 37.1%), 11th 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 Loja?
The Gini coefficient of per-person income in Loja was 0.484 in 2025 against 0.451 nationally (9th highest of the 23 provinces on that measure); in 2018 it was 0.501.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Loja are overcrowded?
7.3% of households in Loja lived in overcrowded conditions in 2025 (more than three people per bedroom), against 8.3% nationally; 11th highest of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Loja have piped public water?
89.9% of households in Loja had access to the public water network in 2025, against 80.2% nationally; 7th highest coverage of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Loja have basic services?
62.3% of households in Loja had access to all basic services in 2025, against 68.3% nationally; 12th highest coverage of the 24 provinces. Adequate sanitation reached 93.9% of households and adequate rubbish collection 71.0%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow Loja compares with other provinces
Income poverty rate (2025)
Loja ranks 9 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 12 | Zamora Chinchipe | 27.7% |
Extreme income poverty rate (2025)
Loja ranks 10 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Extreme income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 13 | Bolivar | 5.9% |
Multidimensional poverty rate (2025)
Loja ranks 13 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Multidimensional poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Los Rios | 45.3% |
| 11 | Zamora Chinchipe | 43.6% |
| 12 | Bolivar | 43.1% |
| 13 | Loja | 41.7% |
| 14 | Santa Elena | 41.2% |
| 15 | Carchi | 38.6% |
| 16 | Imbabura | 37.8% |
Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) (2025)
Loja ranks 15 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 18 | Zamora Chinchipe | 21.4% |
Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) (2025)
Loja ranks 9 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Zamora Chinchipe | 0.494 |
| 7 | Imbabura | 0.486 |
| 8 | Orellana | 0.485 |
| 9 | Loja | 0.484 |
| 10 | Esmeraldas | 0.473 |
| 11 | Chimborazo | 0.459 |
| 12 | Pichincha | 0.453 |
Households living in overcrowded conditions (2025)
Loja ranks 11 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households living in overcrowded conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Manabi | 8.3% |
| 9 | Los Rios | 8.0% |
| 10 | El Oro | 7.8% |
| 11 | Loja | 7.3% |
| 12 | Carchi | 6.6% |
| 13 | Canar | 6.4% |
| 14 | Pastaza | 6.3% |
Households with access to basic services (2025)
Loja ranks 12 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with access to basic services |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Chimborazo | 70.4% |
| 10 | Pastaza | 67.9% |
| 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% |
More on Loja: 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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