Poverty and living standards in Santa Elena, Ecuador: official figures
29.8% of people in Santa Elena lived in income poverty in 2025, above the national rate of 21.8%; 10th highest of the 23 provinces. In 2018 the rate was 26.0%.
What is the multidimensional poverty rate in Santa Elena?
The multidimensional poverty rate in Santa Elena was 41.2% in 2025 (national 37.1%), 10th 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 Santa Elena?
The Gini coefficient of per-person income in Santa Elena was 0.374 in 2025 against 0.451 nationally (the lowest of the 23 provinces on that measure); in 2018 it was 0.424.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Santa Elena are overcrowded?
15.1% of households in Santa Elena lived in overcrowded conditions in 2025 (more than three people per bedroom), against 8.3% nationally; 3rd highest of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Santa Elena have piped public water?
93.5% of households in Santa Elena had access to the public water network in 2025, against 80.2% nationally; 5th highest coverage of the 24 provinces.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow many households in Santa Elena have basic services?
61.9% of households in Santa Elena had access to all basic services in 2025, against 68.3% nationally; 10th lowest coverage of the 24 provinces. Adequate sanitation reached 96.4% of households and adequate rubbish collection 99.0%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copyHow Santa Elena compares with other provinces
Income poverty rate (2025)
Santa Elena ranks 10 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 13 | Chimborazo | 26.3% |
Extreme income poverty rate (2025)
Santa Elena ranks 14 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Extreme income poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Chimborazo | 9.3% |
| 12 | Cotopaxi | 6.5% |
| 13 | Bolivar | 5.9% |
| 14 | Santa Elena | 5.8% |
| 15 | Canar | 4.4% |
| 16 | Tungurahua | 4.1% |
| 17 | Manabi | 4.0% |
Multidimensional poverty rate (2025)
Santa Elena ranks 14 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Multidimensional poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 17 | Tungurahua | 37.3% |
Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) (2025)
Santa Elena ranks 12 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Poverty by unmet basic needs (NBI) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Guayas | 31.8% |
| 10 | Carchi | 31.0% |
| 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% |
Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) (2025)
Santa Elena ranks 23 of 23, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gini coefficient of income inequality (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | El Oro | 0.418 |
| 18 | Manabi | 0.406 |
| 19 | Canar | 0.401 |
| 20 | Guayas | 0.398 |
| 21 | Los Rios | 0.396 |
| 22 | Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas | 0.389 |
| 23 | Santa Elena | 0.374 |
Households living in overcrowded conditions (2025)
Santa Elena ranks 3 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households living in overcrowded conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morona Santiago | 41.1% |
| 2 | Orellana | 20.9% |
| 3 | Santa Elena | 15.1% |
| 4 | Guayas | 13.9% |
| 5 | Sucumbios | 10.4% |
| 6 | Esmeraldas | 10.2% |
| 7 | Napo | 9.7% |
Households with access to basic services (2025)
Santa Elena ranks 15 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with access to basic services |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 18 | Napo | 56.3% |
More on Santa Elena: 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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