Cantons of Ecuador

Four new cantons have been created, and two new provinces by splitting some other cantons away from their former provinces. I've updated the HASC and NUTE codes to show the new provinces, but I haven't yet added the new cantons to the list, since I don't have their ancillary data. This page on the INEC  (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos) website has links to maps of the cantons by province.

Mario Pezza sent a spreadsheet with canton populations from the 2001 census, areas, and capitals. I have added them to the table below, taking the opportunity to update the list with some minor spelling changes and one newly created canton.

Ecuador is divided into provinces, which are subdivided into cantons. The table below shows 216 cantons, complete as of the 2001 census.

Ecuador Online  has maps of every province, showing the cantons.

CantonHASCNUTEPopulationArea(km.²)Capital
AguaricoEC.OR.AG303220024,65811,358Nuevo Rocafuerte
AlausíEC.CB.AL3010600242,8231,644Alausí
Alfredo Baquerizo MorenoEC.GY.AB3020900219,982216Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno
AmbatoEC.TU.AM30118001287,2821,009Ambato
Antonio AnteEC.IM.AA3011000236,05381Atuntaqui
ArajunoEC.PA.AR303160045,1508,767Arajuno
ArchidonaEC.NA.AR3031500318,5513,029Archidona
ArenillasEC.EO.AR3020700222,477803Arenillas
AtacamesEC.ES.AT3020800630,267511Atacames
AtahualpaEC.EO.AT302070035,479278Paccha
AzoguesEC.CN.AZ3010300164,910613Azogues
BabaEC.LR.BB3021200235,185516Baba
BabahoyoEC.LR.BH30212001132,8241,076Babahoyo
BalaoEC.GY.BO3020900317,262465Balao
BalsasEC.EO.BA302070045,34869Balsas
BalzarEC.GY.BZ3020900448,4701,173Balzar
BañosEC.TU.BA3011800216,1121,065Baños
BibliánEC.CN.BI3010300220,727227Biblián
BolívarEC.CR.BO3010400213,898353Bolívar
BolívarEC.MN.BO3021300235,627537Calceta
Buena FéEC.LR.BF3021201047,361569San Jacinto de Buena Fé
CalumaEC.BO.CA3010200611,074175Caluma
CalvasEC.LJ.CV3011100227,604839Cariamanga
CañarEC.CN.CA3010300358,1851,804Cañar
Carlos Julio Arosemena TolaEC.NA.CA303150092,943501Carlos J. Arosemena
CascalesEC.SU.CA303210067,4091,248D.Cascales
CatamayoEC.LJ.CT3011100327,000646Catamayo
CayambeEC.PC.CA3011700269,8001,189Cayambe
CelicaEC.LJ.CE3011100413,358518Celica
Centinela del CóndorEC.ZC.CC303190077,230519Zumbi
CevallosEC.TU.CE301180036,87319Cevallos
ChaguarpambaEC.LJ.CP301110057,898311Chaguarpamba
ChamboEC.CB.CB3010600410,541163Chambo
ChillaEC.EO.CH302070052,665328Chilla
ChillanesEC.BO.CN3010200218,685655Chillanes
ChimboEC.BO.CB3010200315,005262Chimbo
ChinchipeEC.ZC.CH303190028,4951,194Zumba
ChoneEC.MN.CH30213003117,6343,017Chone
ChordelegEC.AZ.CH3010101110,859105Chordeleg
ChunchiEC.CB.CN3010600512,474273Chunchi
ColimesEC.GY.CO3020900521,049758Colimes
ColtaEC.CB.CT3010600344,701829Villa la Unión
Coronel Marcelino MaridueñaEC.GY.CM3020902311,054255Marcelino Maridueña
CotacachiEC.IM.CO3011000337,2151,726Cotacachi
CuencaEC.AZ.CU30101001417,6323,086Cuenca
CumandáEC.CB.CD301060109,395159Cumandá
CuyabenoEC.SU.CU303210076,6433875Tarapoa
DauleEC.GY.DA3020900685,148462Daule
DélegEC.CN.DE301030066,22178Déleg
DuránEC.GY.DU30209007178,714339Durán
EcheandíaEC.BO.EC3010200410,951230Echeandía
El CarmenEC.MN.EC3021300469,9981,245El Carmen
El ChacoEC.NA.EL303150046,1333,473El Chaco
El EmpalmeEC.GY.EE3020900864,789711Velasco Ibarra
El GuaboEC.EO.EG3020700641,078603El Guabo
Eloy AlfaroEC.ES.EA3020800233,4034,302Valdez
El PanEC.AZ.EP301010123,075132El Pan
El PanguiEC.ZC.EP303190067,441614El Pangui
El TamboEC.CN.ET301030058,25165El Tambo
El TriunfoEC.GY.ET3020900934,117389El Triunfo
EsmeraldasEC.ES.ES30208001157,7921,351Esmeraldas
EspejoEC.CR.ES3010400313,515554El Angel
EspíndolaEC.LJ.ES3011100615,750514Espíndola
Flavio AlfaroEC.MN.FA3021300525,3901,343Flavio Alfaro
Francisco de OrellanaEC.OR.FO3032200142,0106,995Puerto Francisco de Orellana
General Antonio ElizaldeEC.GY.GE302090278,696152General Antonio Elizalde
GirónEC.AZ.GR3010100212,583347Girón
Gonzalo PizarroEC.SU.GP303210026,9642,223Lumbaqui
GonzanamáEC.LJ.GO3011100714,987693Gonzanamá
GuachapalaEC.AZ.GC301010143,12541Guachapala
GualaceoEC.AZ.GL3010100338,587347Gualaceo
GualaquizaEC.MS.GU3031400215,2882,203Gualaquiza
GuamoteEC.CB.GM3010600635,2101,216Guamote
GuanoEC.CB.GN3010600737,888460Guano
GuarandaEC.BO.GU3010200181,6431,888Guaranda
GuayaquilEC.GY.GU302090012,039,7895,237Guayaquil
HuamboyaEC.MS.HB303140075,965653Huamboya
HuaquillasEC.EO.HU3020700740,28572Huaquillas
IbarraEC.IM.IB30110001153,2561,093Ibarra
IsabelaEC.GA.IS304200021,6195,368Puerto Villamil
Isidro AyoraEC.GY.IA302090288,226492Isidro Ayora
JamaEC.MN.JM3021302020,230575Jama
JaramijóEC.MN.JR3021302111,96797Jaramijó
JipijapaEC.MN.JJ3021300665,7961,401Jipijapa
Joya de los SachasEC.OR.JS3032200326,3631,195La Joya de los Sachas
JunínEC.MN.JN3021300718,491246Junín
Lago AgrioEC.SU.LA3032100166,7883,139Nueva Loja
La LibertadEC.SE.LL3020902677,64625La Libertad
La ManáEC.CT.LM3010500232,115647La Maná
Las LajasEC.EO.LL302070144,781297La Victoria
Las NavesEC.BO.LN301020075,265147Las Naves
LatacungaEC.CT.LA30105001143,9791,377Latacunga
La TroncalEC.CN.LT3010300444,268324La Troncal
Limón IndanzaEC.MS.LI3031400310,1922,101General Leonidas P.
LogroñoEC.MS.LO303140104,6211,218Logroño
LojaEC.LJ.LO30111001175,0771,881Loja
Lomas de SargentilloEC.GY.LS3020902414,19467Lomas de Sargentillo
LoretoEC.OR.LO3032200413,4622,127Loreto
MacaráEC.LJ.MA3011100818,350575Macará
MachalaEC.EO.MC30207001217,696338Machala
MantaEC.MN.MA30213008192,322309Manta
MarcabelíEC.EO.MR302070084,930147Marcabelí
MejíaEC.PC.ME3011700362,8881,476Machachi
MeraEC.PA.ME303160028,088520Mera
MilagroEC.GY.MI30209010140,103401Milagro
MiraEC.CR.MI3010400412,919588Mira
MocacheEC.LR.MC3021201233,481562Mocache
MochaEC.TU.MO301180046,37186Mocha
MontalvoEC.LR.MN3021200320,067362Montalvo
MontecristiEC.MN.MO3021300943,400734Montecristi
MontúfarEC.CR.MO3010400528,576383San Gabriel
MoronaEC.MS.MO3031400131,3795,095Morona
MuisneEC.ES.MU3020800325,0801,265Muisne
NabónEC.AZ.NA3010100415,121636Nabón
NangaritzaEC.ZC.NA303190034,7972,096Nangaritza
NaranjalEC.GY.NL3020901153,4822,015Naranjal
NaranjitoEC.GY.NT3020901231,756226Naranjito
NobolEC.GY.NB3020902514,753128Narcisa de Jesus
OlmedoEC.LJ.OL301110165,707112Olmedo
OlmedoEC.MN.OL302130189,243253Olmedo
OñaEC.AZ.ON301010103,231295Oña
OtavaloEC.IM.OT3011000490,188500Otavalo
Pablo SextoEC.MS.PS303140111,1881,371Pablo Sexto
PajánEC.MN.PA3021301035,9521,079Paján
PalandaEC.ZC.PA303190087,0661,925Palanda
PalenqueEC.LR.PA3021200920,658570Palenque
PalestinaEC.GY.PA3020901314,067194Palestina
PallatangaEC.CB.PA3010600810,800377Pallatanga
PaloraEC.MS.PA303140046,3171,436Palora
PaltasEC.LJ.PA3011100924,7031,145Catacocha
PanguaEC.CT.PA3010500319,877715El Corazón
PasajeEC.EO.PA3020700962,959452Pasaje
PastazaEC.PA.PA3031600145,51219,727Pastaza
PatateEC.TU.PA3011800511,771315Patate
PauteEC.AZ.PA3010100523,106267Paute
PedernalesEC.MN.PE3021301746,8761,932Pedernales
Pedro CarboEC.GY.PC3020901436,711927Pedro Carbo
Pedro MoncayoEC.PC.PM3011700425,594336Tabacundo
Pedro Vicente MaldonadoEC.PC.PV301170089,965620Pedro Vicente Maldonado
PelileoEC.TU.PE3011800748,988202Pelileo
PenipeEC.CB.PE301060096,485370Penipe
PichinchaEC.MN.PI3021301129,9451,067Pichincha
PíllaroEC.TU.PI3011800834,925443Píllaro
PimampiroEC.IM.PI3011000512,951437Pimampiro
PiñasEC.EO.PI3020701023,246615Piñas
PindalEC.LJ.PI301110147,351200Pindal
PlayasEC.GY.PL3020902130,045269General Villamil
PortoveloEC.EO.PO3020701111,024282Portovelo
PortoviejoEC.MN.PO30213001238,430955Portoviejo
PucaráEC.AZ.PU3010100620,382848Pucará
Pueblo ViejoEC.LR.PV3021200429,420338Puebloviejo
Puerto LópezEC.MN.PL3021301916,626420Puerto López
Puerto QuitoEC.PC.PQ3011700917,100683Puerto Quito
PujilíEC.CT.PU3010500460,7281,289Pujilí
PutumayoEC.SU.PU303210036,1713,559Puerto Carmen
PuyangoEC.LJ.PU3011101015,505634Alamor
QueroEC.TU.QU3011800618,187173Quero
QuevedoEC.LR.QU30212005139,790303Quevedo
QuijosEC.NA.QU303150075,5051,577Baeza
QuilangaEC.LJ.QU301110154,582235Quilanga
QuinindéEC.ES.QU3020800488,3373,855Rosa Zárate
QuitoEC.PC.QU301170011,839,8534,183Quito
RiobambaEC.CB.RI30106001193,315980Riobamba
Río VerdeEC.ES.RV3020800722,1641,506Rioverde
RocafuerteEC.MN.RO3021301229,321280Rocafuerte
RumiñahuiEC.PC.RU3011700565,882139Sangolquí
SalcedoEC.CT.SL3010500551,304484San Miguel
SalinasEC.SE.SS3020901549,57269Salinas
SalitreEC.GY.ST3020901950,379390El Salitre
SamborondónEC.GY.SM3020901645,476388Samborondón
San CristóbalEC.GA.SC304200015,633849Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
San FernandoEC.AZ.SF301010073,961142San Fernando
San Juan BoscoEC.MS.SJ303140083,1311,047San Juan Bosco
San LorenzoEC.ES.SL3020800528,1803,106San Lorenzo
San MiguelEC.BO.SM3010200526,747570San Miguel
San Miguel de los BancosEC.PC.SM3011700710,717839San Miguel de los Bancos
San Miguel de UrcuquíEC.IM.UR3011000614,381779Urcuquí
San Pedro de HuacaEC.CR.SP301040066,85671Huaca
Santa AnaEC.MN.SA3021301345,2871,022Santa Ana
Santa ClaraEC.PA.SC303160033,029311Santa Clara
Santa CruzEC.GA.SZ3042000311,3881,794Puerto Ayora
Santa ElenaEC.SE.SE30209017111,6713,669Santa Elena
Santa IsabelEC.AZ.SI3010100818,015781Santa Isabel
Santa LucíaEC.GY.SL3020901833,868348Santa Lucía
Santa RosaEC.EO.SR3020701260,388889Santa Rosa
SantiagoEC.MS.SA303140059,8411,691Santiago
Santo Domingo de los TsáchilasEC.SD.SD30117006287,0183,805Santo Domingo de los Colorados
San VicenteEC.MN.SV3021302219,116718San Vicente
SaquisilíEC.CT.SQ3010500620,815206Saquisilí
SaraguroEC.LJ.SA3011101128,0291,075Saraguro
Sevilla de OroEC.AZ.SO301010135,234314Sevilla de Oro
ShushufindiEC.SU.SH3032100432,1842,463Shushufindi
SigchosEC.CT.SG3010500720,7221,267Sigchos
SigsigEC.AZ.SG3010100924,635657Sigsig
Simón BolívarEC.GY.SB3020902220,385289Simón Bolívar
SozorangaEC.LJ.SO301110127,994410Sozoranga
SucreEC.MN.SU3021301452,158764Bahía de Caráquez
SucúaEC.MS.SU3031400614,412893Sucúa
SucumbíosEC.SU.SU303210052,8361,502La Bonita
SuscalEC.CN.SU301030074,41931Suscal
TaishaEC.MS.TA3031400913,0786,090Taisha
TenaEC.NA.TE3031500146,0073,904Tena
TisaleoEC.TU.TI3011800910,52559Tisaleo
TosaguaEC.MN.TO3021301533,922377Tosagua
TulcánEC.CR.TU3010400177,1751,801Tulcán
UrdanetaEC.LR.UR3021200625,812377Catarama
ValenciaEC.LR.VA3021201132,870980Valencia
Veinticuatro de MayoEC.MN.VM3021301628,294524Sucre
VentanasEC.LR.VE3021200771,145806Ventanas
VincesEC.LR.VI3021200861,565693Vinces
YacuambiEC.ZC.YC303190045,2291,242Yacuambi
YaguachiEC.GY.YA3020902047,630512Yaguachi
YantzazaEC.ZC.YN3031900514,552990Yantzaza
ZamoraEC.ZC.ZA3031900121,7911,876Zamora
ZapotilloEC.LJ.ZA3011101310,9401,209Zapotillo
ZarumaEC.EO.ZA3020701323,407645Zaruma

Change history:

  1. ~1992: According to the CIESIN  site, the following cantons were created between about 1990 and 1994. In Azuay province, Chordeleg canton was split from Gualaceo; El Pan and Sevilla de Oro cantons were split from Paute; Oña canton was split from Nabón. In Bolívar province, Las Naves canton was split from Guaranda. In Cañar province, Déleg canton was split from Azogues; El Tambo canton was split from Cañar. In Chimborazo province, Cumandá canton was split from Alausí. In Cotopaxi province, Sigchos canton was split from Latacunga. In Esmeraldas province, Atacames canton was split from Esmeraldas. In Guayas province, Coronel Maridueña and Simón Bolívar cantons were split from Yaguachi; La Libertad canton was split from Salinas; Lomas de Sargentillo and Nobol cantons were split from Daule. In Los Ríos province, Buena Fe canton was split from Quevedo. In Manabí province, Pedernales canton was split from Sucre. In Morona-Santiago province, Huamboya canton was split from Palora; San Juan Bosco canton was split from Limón Indanza. In Napo province (now Orellana), Loreto canton was split from Archidona. In Pastaza province, Santa Clara canton was split from Pastaza. In Pichincha province, Pedro Vicente Maldonado and San Miguel de los Bancos cantons were split from Quito. In Zamora-Chinchipe province, El Pangui canton was split from Yantzaza.
  2. (There may be more changes between 1994 and 2000 that I don't know about.)
  3. The name of Urbina Jado canton in Guayas province was changed to Salitre. San Vicente canton was created in the province of Manabí. Both of these changes are recent, probably in the period 1997-2000.
  4. 2001-10-18: Pablo Sexto canton split from Huamboya (former HASC code EC.MS.HU). Pablo Sexto is often written "Pablo VI".
  5. 2002-03-28: Camilo Ponce Enríquez canton split from Pucará canton in Azuay province.
  6. 2002-10-23: Tiwintza canton created in Morona-Santiago province; Paquisha canton split from Centinela del Cóndor canton in Zamora-Chinchipe province.
  7. 2007-10-02: Santo Domingo de los Colorados canton, but not its capital city, renamed Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. Canton transferred from Pichincha province to the new Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province. The canton's new NUTE code should be 30123001.
  8. 2007-11-07: La Libertad, Salinas, and Santa Elena cantons transferred from Guayas province to the new Santa Elena province. Their new NUTE codes should be 30224002, 30224003, and 30224001, respectively.
  9. 2007-11-20: Quinsaloma canton split from Ventanas canton in Los Ríos province.
  10. 2007-11-26: La Concordia canton created in Esmeraldas province.
  11. 2013-05-31: La Concordia canton moved from Esmeraldas province to Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas.

Other names of subdivisions:

  1. Francisco de Orellana: Orellana (variant)
  2. Pablo Sexto: Pablo VI (variant)
  3. Pelileo: San Pedro de Pelileo (variant)
  4. Píllaro: Santiago de Pillaro (variant)
  5. Salitre: Urbina Jado (obsolete)
  6. Santo Domingo de los Colorados: Santo Domingo (variant)
  7. Veinticuatro de Mayo: 24 de Mayo (variant)
  8. Yaguachi: San Jacinto de Yaguachi (variant)
  9. Yantzaza: Yanzatza (variant)
Back to main statoids page Last updated: 2013-10-29
Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013 by Gwillim Law.