Urban area over the long-term in Ecuador
Ecuador: Urban area over the long-term was 2,359 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2,359 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
53rd
of 202 countries
All-time high
2,359 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0024 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Ecuador, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in Ecuador is 2,359 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Ecuador peaked at 2,359 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0024 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Ecuador 53rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0024 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.008 km² per grid cell | +230.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0261 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1300 | 0.085 km² per grid cell | +225.0% |
| 1400 | 0.2745 km² per grid cell | +223.1% |
| 1500 | 0.8823 km² per grid cell | +221.4% |
| 1600 | 2.21 km² per grid cell | +150.0% |
| 1700 | 6.61 km² per grid cell | +199.6% |
| 1710 | 7.45 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 8.16 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 8.93 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 9.79 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 10.72 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 11.74 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 12.86 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 14.09 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 15.43 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 16.9 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 18.51 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 20.25 km² per grid cell | +9.4% |
| 1830 | 27.61 km² per grid cell | +36.4% |
| 1840 | 34.23 km² per grid cell | +24.0% |
| 1850 | 41.87 km² per grid cell | +22.3% |
| 1860 | 48.92 km² per grid cell | +16.8% |
| 1870 | 54.2 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1880 | 58.85 km² per grid cell | +8.6% |
| 1890 | 58.88 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 58.88 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 60 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1920 | 62.07 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1930 | 66.65 km² per grid cell | +7.4% |
| 1940 | 105.44 km² per grid cell | +58.2% |
| 1950 | 141.27 km² per grid cell | +34.0% |
| 1951 | 145.21 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1952 | 152.06 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1953 | 159.26 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1954 | 166.85 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1955 | 174.85 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1956 | 183.28 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1957 | 192.19 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1958 | 201.59 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1959 | 211.54 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1960 | 222.06 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1961 | 233.17 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1962 | 244.92 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1963 | 256.94 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1964 | 269.32 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1965 | 282.3 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 295.91 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1967 | 310.17 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1968 | 325.12 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 340.71 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 357.02 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1971 | 374.58 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 393.11 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 412.64 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 433.45 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 459.05 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 483.17 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 508.58 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 535.35 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 563.47 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 593 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 622.63 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 653.63 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 684.79 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 716.5 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 749.58 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 783.43 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 818.58 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 855.02 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 892.6 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 931.3 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 969.3 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 1,006 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 1,044 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 1,081 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 1,118 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 1,158 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 1,197 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 1,235 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 1,273 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 1,311 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 1,355 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 1,399 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 1,444 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 1,491 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 1,538 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 1,588 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 1,639 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 1,691 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 1,744 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 1,799 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 1,833 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 1,868 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 1,903 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 1,938 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 1,975 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 2,011 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 2,047 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 2,084 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 2,121 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 2,159 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 2,198 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 2,238 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 2,278 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 2,318 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 2,359 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 2,359 km² per grid cell is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 995.59 km² per grid cell, 2.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 2,359 km² per grid cell is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 613.64 km² per grid cell, 3.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Ecuador changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +230.0% | 0.0024 km² per grid cell | 0.008 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +227.3% | 0.008 km² per grid cell | 0.0261 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +225.0% | 0.0261 km² per grid cell | 0.085 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +223.1% | 0.085 km² per grid cell | 0.2745 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +221.4% | 0.2745 km² per grid cell | 0.8823 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +199.6% | 2.21 km² per grid cell | 6.61 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0024 km² per grid cell | 0.0024 km² per grid cell | 0.0024 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.008 km² per grid cell | 0.008 km² per grid cell | 0.008 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0261 km² per grid cell | 0.0261 km² per grid cell | 0.0261 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.085 km² per grid cell | 0.085 km² per grid cell | 0.085 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.2745 km² per grid cell | 0.2745 km² per grid cell | 0.2745 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.8823 km² per grid cell | 0.8823 km² per grid cell | 0.8823 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.21 km² per grid cell | 2.21 km² per grid cell | 2.21 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 6.61 km² per grid cell | 6.61 km² per grid cell | 6.61 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 7.45 km² per grid cell | 7.45 km² per grid cell | 7.45 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 8.16 km² per grid cell | 8.16 km² per grid cell | 8.16 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 8.93 km² per grid cell | 8.93 km² per grid cell | 8.93 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 9.79 km² per grid cell | 9.79 km² per grid cell | 9.79 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 10.72 km² per grid cell | 10.72 km² per grid cell | 10.72 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 11.74 km² per grid cell | 11.74 km² per grid cell | 11.74 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 12.86 km² per grid cell | 12.86 km² per grid cell | 12.86 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 14.09 km² per grid cell | 14.09 km² per grid cell | 14.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 15.43 km² per grid cell | 15.43 km² per grid cell | 15.43 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 16.9 km² per grid cell | 16.9 km² per grid cell | 16.9 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 18.51 km² per grid cell | 18.51 km² per grid cell | 18.51 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 20.25 km² per grid cell | 20.25 km² per grid cell | 20.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 27.61 km² per grid cell | 27.61 km² per grid cell | 27.61 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 34.23 km² per grid cell | 34.23 km² per grid cell | 34.23 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 41.87 km² per grid cell | 41.87 km² per grid cell | 41.87 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 48.92 km² per grid cell | 48.92 km² per grid cell | 48.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 54.2 km² per grid cell | 54.2 km² per grid cell | 54.2 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 58.85 km² per grid cell | 58.85 km² per grid cell | 58.85 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 58.88 km² per grid cell | 58.88 km² per grid cell | 58.88 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 58.88 km² per grid cell | 58.88 km² per grid cell | 58.88 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 60 km² per grid cell | 60 km² per grid cell | 60 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 62.07 km² per grid cell | 62.07 km² per grid cell | 62.07 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 66.65 km² per grid cell | 66.65 km² per grid cell | 66.65 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 105.44 km² per grid cell | 105.44 km² per grid cell | 105.44 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 172.81 km² per grid cell | 141.27 km² per grid cell | 211.54 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 278.06 km² per grid cell | 222.06 km² per grid cell | 340.71 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 452.04 km² per grid cell | 357.02 km² per grid cell | 563.47 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 736.98 km² per grid cell | 593 km² per grid cell | 892.6 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,101 km² per grid cell | 931.3 km² per grid cell | 1,273 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,520 km² per grid cell | 1,311 km² per grid cell | 1,744 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,958 km² per grid cell | 1,799 km² per grid cell | 2,121 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,258 km² per grid cell | 2,159 km² per grid cell | 2,359 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
- 50 East Timor 2,471 km² per grid cell compare
- 51 New Zealand 2,471 km² per grid cell compare
- 52 Hungary 2,380 km² per grid cell compare
- 54 Angola 2,310 km² per grid cell compare
- 55 United Arab Emirates 2,302 km² per grid cell compare
- 56 Ethiopia 2,256 km² per grid cell compare
More reference data data for Ecuador
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1826 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9943 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Ecuador?
- Urban area over the long-term in Ecuador was 2,359 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 2,359 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0024 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Ecuador rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Ecuador ranks 53rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ecuador data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.