Ecuador

Ecuador is a country in South America with its capital in Quito and about 18.3 million people. Ecuador is known for the Galápagos Islands, whose wildlife inspired Darwin, and its 2008 constitution was among the first to give rights to nature itself.

Ecuador in purple, with Quito marked. Outline from the same detailed coastlines the games use.

Capital: Quito
Continent: South America
Population (2025): 18.3 million
Land area: 248,360 km² (95,892 sq mi)

Find it among 12 South America countries →Explore Ecuador on the map

The story of Ecuador

Where the name comes from

Ecuador is Spanish for “equator”; its capital Quito lies just south of the line, which crosses the country.

First people

Indigenous societies lived here for thousands of years, and some became part of the Inca Empire.¹

Known for

Ecuador is known for the Galápagos Islands, whose wildlife inspired Darwin, and its 2008 constitution was among the first to give rights to nature itself.^2,3