Flag of Ecuador

Ecuador, so named because it is crossed by the equatorial line, is an Andean state of South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean and bordering Colombia and Peru.

With an area of 283.560 km2 and a population of 14.6 million (2009), Ecuador is a Republic Divided administratively into 24 provinces (provincias; singular : provincia). Its capital is Quito. The other major cities are Guayaquil and Cuenca.