Ecuador: Flag and Facts
Ecuador's flag has a wide yellow stripe on top, filling half the flag, then blue and red stripes below, with the national coat of arms in the center.
- Official name
- Republic of Ecuador
- Capital
- Quito
- Region
- South America
- Population
- 18 million (2025)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- United States dollar
- Area
- 276,841 km² (106,889 sq mi)
- People
- Ecuadorean
- Calling code
- +593
- Highest point
- Chimborazo 6,267
- Independence
- 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
- National symbols
- Andean condor
About Ecuador
Yellow on the flag stands for sunshine, grain and minerals. Blue is for sky, sea and rivers, and red for the blood of patriots. The country's name means Equator, a label Quito took when it left Gran Colombia in 1830 and became its own republic.
Before the Spanish conquest in 1533, this land belonged to the Inca Empire's northern reaches. Quito turned into a seat of colonial government in 1563 and joined the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. Independence from Spain arrived on 24 May 1822. Ecuador lost land to its neighbors between 1904 and 1942, and a border war with Peru flared in 1995 before ending in 1999. Geographers split the country into three zones: the coastal costa, the Andean sierra, and the eastern jungle called the oriente.
Did you know?
- Chimborazo, the highest point in Ecuador, rises to 6,267 meters.
- The Andean condor is the national symbol of Ecuador.
- Guayaquil, with about 3.142 million people, is bigger than the capital, Quito.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Ecuador
What currency does Ecuador use?
Ecuador uses the United States dollar.
When does Ecuador celebrate independence?
Independence Day is 10 August, honoring Quito's 1809 move toward independence. Full independence from Spain came in 1822.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.