List of Ecuador Provinces and Capitals - Provinces in Ecuador

Written and Fact-checked by | Last Updated On: May 22, 2026

Ecuador is divided into 24 provinces (provincias). Here is a list of the provinces in Ecuador:

Ecuador is a country on the western side of South America bordered by Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean. The country is divided into 24 provinces, and those provinces are further divided into cantons and parishes for local administration. Quito is the national capital, while Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador.

The country includes Pacific coastal plains, Andes mountain valleys, Amazon rainforest, and the Galápagos Islands far out in the Pacific Ocean. Each province has its own landscape and climate, so traveling across Ecuador can feel like moving through several different countries in one trip.

Key Facts

  • National capital: Quito
  • Total population: 18,568,457 (Official estimate 2024)
  • Total area: 256,370 km² (98,985 sq miles)
  • Currency: United States Dollar ($, USD)
  • Bordering countries: Colombia, Peru
  • Total Provinces: 24
  • Total Cantons: 221+

List of Provinces and Capitals of Ecuador

Total provinces shown: 24 | Combined population: 18,568,457 | Combined area: 256,370 km²

#Province NameCapital CityRegionArea (km²)Population (Latest Census)
1AzuayCuencaAndes Highlands8,309950,000
2BolívarGuarandaCentral Highlands3,946215,000
3CañarAzoguesSouthern Highlands3,669290,000
4CarchiTulcánNorthern Highlands3,780195,000
5ChimborazoRiobambaCentral Highlands6,499530,000
6CotopaxiLatacungaCentral Highlands6,085510,000
7El OroMachalaSouthern Coast5,988780,000
8EsmeraldasEsmeraldasNorthern Coast15,239680,000
9GalápagosPuerto Baquerizo MorenoPacific Islands8,01038,000
10GuayasGuayaquilCentral Coast15,4304,500,000
11ImbaburaIbarraNorthern Highlands4,611520,000
12LojaLojaSouthern Highlands11,066520,000
13Los RíosBabahoyoCoastal Plains7,205980,000
14ManabíPortoviejoPacific Coast18,9391,650,000
15Morona-SantiagoMacasAmazon Region25,690220,000
16NapoTenaAmazon Region13,271145,000
17OrellanaPuerto Francisco de OrellanaAmazon Region21,692190,000
18PastazaPuyoAmazon Region29,520125,000
19PichinchaQuitoNorthern Highlands9,6923,300,000
20Santa ElenaSanta ElenaPacific Coast3,763430,000
21Santo Domingo de los TsáchilasSanto DomingoWestern Foothills3,857500,000
22SucumbíosNueva LojaAmazon Region18,612250,000
23TungurahuaAmbatoCentral Highlands3,334620,000
24Zamora-ChinchipeZamoraSouthern Amazon10,584160,457

Largest Provinces by Area

  • Pastaza - 11,398 sq mi (29,520 km²)
  • Morona-Santiago - 9,919 sq mi (25,690 km²)
  • Orellana - 8,375 sq mi (21,692 km²)
  • Manabí - 7,312 sq mi (18,939 km²)
  • Sucumbíos - 7,186 sq mi (18,612 km²)
  • Guayas - 5,958 sq mi (15,430 km²)
  • Esmeraldas - 5,884 sq mi (15,239 km²)
  • Napo - 5,124 sq mi (13,271 km²)

Most Populous Provinces

  • Guayas - Population: 4,500,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Pichincha - Population: 3,300,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Manabí - Population: 1,650,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Los Ríos - Population: 980,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Azuay - Population: 950,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • El Oro - Population: 780,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Esmeraldas - Population: 680,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Tungurahua - Population: 620,000 (Official Estimate 2024)

Smallest Provinces by Area

  • Tungurahua - 1,287 sq mi (3,334 km²)
  • Cañar - 1,417 sq mi (3,669 km²)
  • Santa Elena - 1,453 sq mi (3,763 km²)
  • Carchi - 1,459 sq mi (3,780 km²)
  • Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas - 1,489 sq mi (3,857 km²)
  • Bolívar - 1,524 sq mi (3,946 km²)

Provinces by Regional Grouping

  • Northern Highlands: Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha
  • Central Highlands: Bolívar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua
  • Southern Highlands: Azuay, Cañar, Loja
  • Central Coast: Guayas
  • Northern Coast: Esmeraldas
  • Pacific Coast: Manabí, Santa Elena
  • Southern Coast: El Oro
  • Coastal Plains: Los Ríos
  • Western Foothills: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas
  • Amazon Region: Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbíos
  • Southern Amazon: Zamora-Chinchipe
  • Pacific Islands: Galápagos

Landlocked Provinces

  • Azuay
  • Bolívar
  • Cañar
  • Carchi
  • Chimborazo
  • Cotopaxi
  • Imbabura
  • Loja
  • Morona-Santiago
  • Napo
  • Orellana
  • Pastaza
  • Pichincha
  • Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas
  • Sucumbíos
  • Tungurahua
  • Zamora-Chinchipe

Provinces with Coastline

  • El Oro
  • Esmeraldas
  • Galápagos
  • Guayas
  • Los Ríos
  • Manabí
  • Santa Elena

Provinces Sharing Borders with Other Countries

  • Colombia: Carchi, Esmeraldas, Sucumbíos
  • Peru: El Oro, Loja, Morona-Santiago, Pastaza, Zamora-Chinchipe

Sources