Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Ecuador instead of Nicaragua, you would:

Health

live 2.7 years longer

In Nicaragua, the average life expectancy is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022. In Ecuador, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020.

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be 16.0% less likely to be obese

In Nicaragua, 23.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Ecuador, that number is 19.9% of people as of 2016.

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Economy

make 80.5% more money

Nicaragua has a GDP per capita of $7,700 as of 2024, while in Ecuador, the GDP per capita is $13,900 as of 2024.

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pay a 16.7% higher top tax rate

Nicaragua has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Ecuador, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

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Life

be 13.7% more likely to be literate

In Nicaragua, the literacy rate is 82.6% as of 2015. In Ecuador, it is 93.9% as of 2022.

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Basic Needs

be 15.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In Nicaragua, approximately 86% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 66% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Ecuador, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 93% in rural areas) as of 2022.

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be 32.8% more likely to have internet access

In Nicaragua, approximately 58.0% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Ecuador, about 77.0% do as of 2024.

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be 15.0% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Nicaragua, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Ecuador, that number is 96% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 88% in rural areas) as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 19.6% less on education

Nicaragua spends 4.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Ecuador spends 3.7% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

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Geography

see 2.5 times more coastline

Nicaragua has a total of 910 km of coastline. In Ecuador, that number is 2,237 km.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: General Directorate of Revenues, The World Factbook, Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador.

Ecuador: At a glance

Ecuador is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 276,841 sq km. What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in February 2013, and voters re-elected President Rafael CORREA.
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How big is Ecuador compared to Nicaragua? See an in-depth size comparison.

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