Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente) lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 17%
forest and woodland: 51%
other: 23%
Irrigated land: 5,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water
pollution
natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic
activity; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Geographic note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in
world
People ———
Population: 11,466,291 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 2,062,468; female 1,996,679)
15-64 years: 60% (male 3,403,197; female 3,489,728)
65 years and over: 5% (male 241,217; female 273,002) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.96% (1996 est.)