MigrantoMigration trends in Ecuador
Latin America
Ecuador loses more people than it takes in: 1.2M emigrants against 740.7K immigrants. Net balance −502.3K — 3% of the country's population
18.1M
Population
740.7K
Immigrants
1.2M
Emigrants
−502.3K
Outflow
1 in 24 residents of Ecuador was born abroad — and 1 in 16 people born in Ecuador lives abroad
#60 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in Ecuador
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
82.8K immigrants · 209.3K emigrants
1995
- An accelerating exodus — the diaspora grew by 51%
2000
- The diaspora passed 500K people
2005
- Spain replaced USA as the main destination for those leaving
- An accelerating exodus — the diaspora grew by 83%
- Surge of departures to Spain — 320.5K people left
- The foreign-born population passed 100K residents
2010
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 155%
- Surge of immigrants from Colombia — 174.3K new arrivals
- The diaspora passed 1M people
2015
- USA replaced Spain as the main destination for those leaving
2020
- Venezuela overtook Colombia as the largest source of new arrivals
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 129%
- Surge of immigrants from Venezuela — 405.7K new arrivals
- The foreign-born population passed 500K residents
Today
- Since 1990: 657.9K more foreign-born residents and 1M more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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