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Ecuador

Republic of Ecuador

Civil lawUnitary presidential republicReviewed· 2026-08-02
Capital
Quito
Population
18,200,000
Languages
Spanish, Quechua
Currency
USD

Ecuador · Constitution

Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador

Approved by referendum in September 2008, replacing the 1998 text. It declares a constitutional state of rights and justice, recognises the rights of nature as directly enforceable, establishes plurinational and intercultural character, and creates the Council of Citizen Participation and Social Control. Reforms in 2011, 2018 and 2023 adjusted term limits and security provisions.

The constitutional text

Approved by referendum in September 2008, replacing the 1998 text. It declares a constitutional state of rights and justice, recognises the rights of nature as directly enforceable, establishes plurinational and intercultural character, and creates the Council of Citizen Participation and Social Control. Reforms in 2011, 2018 and 2023 adjusted term limits and security provisions.

Separation of powers

Unitary and decentralised, with twenty-four provinces and autonomous decentralised governments at provincial, cantonal and parish level. Indigenous authorities exercise their own jurisdiction under Article 171, subject to constitutional review.

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