Ecuador
South America · South America
Dollar economy and cheap living, but security has deteriorated fast in recent years.
At a Glance
📈Ecuador's Human Development Index
0.765
High human development#82 of 191 countries worldwide, #4 of 12 in South America.
Higher than 57% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Ecuador
Ecuador is a compact South American country that packs remarkable geographic and biological diversity into a small area, from the Amazon jungle and the high Andean páramo to the Pacific coast and the extraordinary Galápagos Islands. The indigenous cultures of the highlands are vibrant and visible in the markets and festivals of cities like Otavalo. Quito, high in the Andes, is one of the best-preserved colonial capitals in the Americas.
- First country in the world to enshrine the rights of nature in its constitution — in 2008.
- The Galápagos Islands belong to Ecuador — and inspired Darwin's theory of evolution.
- Despite the name, the actual equator runs through here — you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
Quick Facts
Capital
Quito
Language
Spanish
Currency
$ USD
Area
248,360 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
163Mbps
Mobile
70Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
$1,275/mo
Duration
24 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
~$460
GDP / Capita
$7K
PPP / Capita
$17K
Inflation
0.7%
Unemployment
3.3%
Innovation (GII)
19.5
GNI / Capita
$7K
Tax Revenue
13.1%
FDI Inflows
1.0%
Education Spend
3.7%
Cost of Living
30.9
Price Level Index
52nd pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.645 → 0.765 (+0.120)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Ecuador's Human Development Index?
Ecuador's Human Development Index is 0.765 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #82 of 191 countries.
Is Ecuador safe?
Ecuador scores 2.54 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #133 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Ecuador?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Ecuador at 30.9 (New York = 100); that is #34 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Ecuador?
Life expectancy at birth in Ecuador is 77.6 yrs (World Bank), ranked #63 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Ecuador?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Ecuador at 128.7, ranked #53 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.