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Population in Ecuador compared to Nicaragua: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ecuador was 18,135,478 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ecuador's population is 18,487,749 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Ecuador's population is 2.6 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Ecuador is ranked the 71st most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.22% for Ecuador vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Ecuador has had an average growth rate of +1.26% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ecuador has increased from 14.1M people to 18.5M (31.2% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Ecuador vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Ecuador
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ecuador Nicaragua
2100 19,229,713 8,688,116
2099 19,341,033 8,724,538
2098 19,451,634 8,760,232
2097 19,561,648 8,794,755
2096 19,670,931 8,828,433
2095 19,779,419 8,861,157
2094 19,887,014 8,892,755
2093 19,993,637 8,924,287
2092 20,099,245 8,954,488
2091 20,203,483 8,984,026
2090 20,306,051 9,012,075
2089 20,406,878 9,039,709
2088 20,505,637 9,065,862
2087 20,602,336 9,090,942
2086 20,696,910 9,115,336
2085 20,788,583 9,138,363
2084 20,877,503 9,160,205
2083 20,963,515 9,180,483
2082 21,046,396 9,199,639
2081 21,126,142 9,217,574
2080 21,202,360 9,233,677
2079 21,275,051 9,247,995
2078 21,343,714 9,260,269
2077 21,408,164 9,271,296
2076 21,468,178 9,280,355
2075 21,523,680 9,287,263
2074 21,575,092 9,293,340
2073 21,621,989 9,297,217
2072 21,664,137 9,298,930
2071 21,701,599 9,298,548
2070 21,734,495 9,296,541
2069 21,762,453 9,292,245
2068 21,785,682 9,285,519
2067 21,804,316 9,277,073
2066 21,818,306 9,266,063
2065 21,828,156 9,253,359
2064 21,833,185 9,238,451
2063 21,833,449 9,221,261
2062 21,828,963 9,201,687
2061 21,819,781 9,180,231
2060 21,805,954 9,156,164
2059 21,787,357 9,129,485
2058 21,764,005 9,100,437
2057 21,735,561 9,069,770
2056 21,702,294 9,037,076
2055 21,664,097 9,002,004
2054 21,620,873 8,964,646
2053 21,572,669 8,925,248
2052 21,519,295 8,883,323
2051 21,460,703 8,838,651
2050 21,396,494 8,791,647
2049 21,326,969 8,743,003
2048 21,251,792 8,691,701
2047 21,171,429 8,638,293
2046 21,085,795 8,583,244
2045 20,994,872 8,525,953
2044 20,898,682 8,466,669
2043 20,797,349 8,405,733
2042 20,691,071 8,342,871
2041 20,579,788 8,278,159
2040 20,463,641 8,211,510
2039 20,342,868 8,143,346
2038 20,217,211 8,072,943
2037 20,087,384 8,000,701
2036 19,953,661 7,926,969
2035 19,816,154 7,851,540
2034 19,674,920 7,774,327
2033 19,529,719 7,695,506
2032 19,381,178 7,615,273
2031 19,229,060 7,533,169
2030 19,073,682 7,449,842
2029 18,916,480 7,364,850
2028 18,758,598 7,278,061
2027 18,601,326 7,189,755
2026 18,445,637 7,100,090
2025 18,290,781 7,008,896
2024 18,135,478 6,916,140
2023 17,980,083 6,823,613
2022 17,823,897 6,730,654
2021 17,682,454 6,644,741
2020 17,546,065 6,565,267
2019 17,340,021 6,483,657
2018 17,049,547 6,400,080
2017 16,759,519 6,316,231
2016 16,505,139 6,232,666
2015 16,266,225 6,149,417
2014 16,035,124 6,066,492
2013 15,807,128 5,983,845
2012 15,572,194 5,901,287
2011 15,326,227 5,819,051
2010 15,076,695 5,737,450
2009 14,825,954 5,656,601
2008 14,575,202 5,576,593
2007 14,328,773 5,497,243
2006 14,086,131 5,418,855
2005 13,846,163 5,342,105
2004 13,608,701 5,272,912
2003 13,372,306 5,210,963
2002 13,138,472 5,149,909
2001 12,910,740 5,087,825
2000 12,689,206 5,022,633
1999 12,470,795 4,954,018
1998 12,251,184 4,883,655
1997 12,031,127 4,809,573
1996 11,810,950 4,729,974
1995 11,590,514 4,642,931
1994 11,372,197 4,549,316
1993 11,154,274 4,453,732
1992 10,930,128 4,357,026
1991 10,702,380 4,259,637
1990 10,473,673 4,162,559
1989 10,241,852 4,066,476
1988 10,010,808 3,972,320
1987 9,779,290 3,882,164
1986 9,545,998 3,794,157
1985 9,311,154 3,706,479
1984 9,074,782 3,619,104
1983 8,840,417 3,530,282
1982 8,611,298 3,438,745
1981 8,386,910 3,345,674
1980 8,165,877 3,252,403
1979 7,948,869 3,164,525
1978 7,736,167 3,080,314
1977 7,526,819 2,992,534
1976 7,320,912 2,903,851
1975 7,118,251 2,816,943
1974 6,918,573 2,732,075
1973 6,722,033 2,649,278
1972 6,529,034 2,573,578
1971 6,340,052 2,499,825
1970 6,155,387 2,423,065
1969 5,975,236 2,348,398
1968 5,799,680 2,275,836
1967 5,629,057 2,205,567
1966 5,463,748 2,137,820
1965 5,303,963 2,072,681
1964 5,149,918 2,010,176
1963 5,001,716 1,950,159
1962 4,859,269 1,892,320
1961 4,722,331 1,836,451
1960 4,590,891 1,782,370

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ecuador/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ecuador increased by 2,419,008 people (a 17.2% growth), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ecuador gained 1,982,610 people (a 12% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Ecuador was ranked 65th most populous country in 2006 and is 71st in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ecuador's population will grow by 15.7% to 21,396,494 people with a rank change from 71st to 74th. The population of Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

Ecuador is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 21.8M people compared to the peak of 9.3M people in 2072 for Nicaragua.

Population growth rate by year

Ecuador
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ecuador Nicaragua
2100 -0.58% -0.42%
2099 -0.57% -0.41%
2098 -0.56% -0.39%
2097 -0.56% -0.38%
2096 -0.55% -0.37%
2095 -0.54% -0.36%
2094 -0.53% -0.35%
2093 -0.53% -0.34%
2092 -0.52% -0.33%
2091 -0.51% -0.31%
2090 -0.49% -0.31%
2089 -0.48% -0.29%
2088 -0.47% -0.28%
2087 -0.46% -0.27%
2086 -0.44% -0.25%
2085 -0.43% -0.24%
2084 -0.41% -0.22%
2083 -0.39% -0.21%
2082 -0.38% -0.19%
2081 -0.36% -0.17%
2080 -0.34% -0.15%
2079 -0.32% -0.13%
2078 -0.3% -0.12%
2077 -0.28% -0.1%
2076 -0.26% -0.07%
2075 -0.24% -0.07%
2074 -0.22% -0.04%
2073 -0.19% -0.02%
2072 -0.17% 0.004%
2071 -0.15% 0.02%
2070 -0.13% 0.05%
2069 -0.11% 0.07%
2068 -0.09% 0.09%
2067 -0.06% 0.12%
2066 -0.05% 0.14%
2065 -0.02% 0.16%
2064 -0.001% 0.19%
2063 0.02% 0.21%
2062 0.04% 0.23%
2061 0.06% 0.26%
2060 0.09% 0.29%
2059 0.11% 0.32%
2058 0.13% 0.34%
2057 0.15% 0.36%
2056 0.18% 0.39%
2055 0.2% 0.42%
2054 0.22% 0.44%
2053 0.25% 0.47%
2052 0.27% 0.51%
2051 0.3% 0.53%
2050 0.33% 0.56%
2049 0.35% 0.59%
2048 0.38% 0.62%
2047 0.41% 0.64%
2046 0.43% 0.67%
2045 0.46% 0.7%
2044 0.49% 0.72%
2043 0.51% 0.75%
2042 0.54% 0.78%
2041 0.57% 0.81%
2040 0.59% 0.84%
2039 0.62% 0.87%
2038 0.65% 0.9%
2037 0.67% 0.93%
2036 0.69% 0.96%
2035 0.72% 0.99%
2034 0.74% 1.02%
2033 0.77% 1.05%
2032 0.79% 1.09%
2031 0.81% 1.12%
2030 0.83% 1.15%
2029 0.84% 1.19%
2028 0.85% 1.23%
2027 0.84% 1.26%
2026 0.85% 1.3%
2025 0.86% 1.34%
2024 0.86% 1.36%
2023 0.88% 1.38%
2022 0.8% 1.29%
2021 0.78% 1.21%
2020 1.19% 1.26%
2019 1.7% 1.31%
2018 1.73% 1.33%
2017 1.54% 1.34%
2016 1.47% 1.35%
2015 1.44% 1.37%
2014 1.44% 1.38%
2013 1.51% 1.4%
2012 1.6% 1.41%
2011 1.66% 1.42%
2010 1.69% 1.43%
2009 1.72% 1.43%
2008 1.72% 1.44%
2007 1.72% 1.45%
2006 1.73% 1.44%
2005 1.74% 1.31%
2004 1.77% 1.19%
2003 1.78% 1.19%
2002 1.76% 1.22%
2001 1.75% 1.3%
2000 1.75% 1.39%
1999 1.79% 1.44%
1998 1.83% 1.54%
1997 1.86% 1.68%
1996 1.9% 1.87%
1995 1.92% 2.06%
1994 1.95% 2.15%
1993 2.05% 2.22%
1992 2.13% 2.29%
1991 2.18% 2.33%
1990 2.26% 2.36%
1989 2.31% 2.37%
1988 2.37% 2.32%
1987 2.44% 2.32%
1986 2.52% 2.37%
1985 2.6% 2.41%
1984 2.65% 2.52%
1983 2.66% 2.66%
1982 2.68% 2.78%
1981 2.71% 2.87%
1980 2.73% 2.78%
1979 2.75% 2.73%
1978 2.78% 2.93%
1977 2.81% 3.05%
1976 2.85% 3.09%
1975 2.89% 3.11%
1974 2.92% 3.13%
1973 2.96% 2.94%
1972 2.98% 2.95%
1971 3% 3.17%
1970 3.01% 3.18%
1969 3.03% 3.19%
1968 3.03% 3.19%
1967 3.03% 3.17%
1966 3.01% 3.14%
1965 2.99% 3.11%
1964 2.96% 3.08%
1963 2.93% 3.06%
1962 2.9% 3.04%
1961 2.86% 3.03%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ecuador/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ecuador grew by 0.86%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Ecuador Nicaragua
Current population
18487749
7124343
Population rank 71/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.09%
One net population change
3.38 minutes
5.68 minutes
One birth every
1.94 minutes
3.98 minutes
One death every
5.7 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +426 +253
Annual growth/decline +155,395 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +0.86% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 109/197 78/197
One migration net change every
30.6 minutes
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -17,219 -8,371
Net migration rank 151/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 747,749 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 67/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 104/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ecuador
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ecuador Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,219 - -8,371
2024 - -19,704 - -8,189
2023 178,093 -21,948 100,921 -7,996
2022 179,308 -23,090 100,987 -7,996
2021 155,146 -28,503 89,213 -10,383
2020 156,458 -10,320 90,515 -10,383
2019 211,045 54,921 102,817 -19,730
2018 219,513 95,482 104,814 -20,742
2017 211,355 53,707 105,468 -21,849
2016 208,245 35,461 106,585 -23,076
2015 219,399 14,724 107,344 -24,353
2014 225,790 2,273 108,420 -25,570
2013 234,103 -6,182 109,032 -26,587
2012 249,825 -7,883 110,065 -27,389
2011 258,171 -8,167 110,026 -28,221
2010 257,404 -8,330 110,475 -29,081
2009 260,892 -8,491 110,213 -29,913
2008 257,894 -8,799 110,395 -30,675
2007 253,419 -9,644 110,341 -31,357
2006 254,184 -12,679 110,073 -32,274
2005 255,295 -16,855 108,984 -33,280
2004 257,436 -20,940 106,904 -44,222
2003 258,928 -22,641 106,142 -44,931
2002 259,446 -28,090 105,805 -44,906
2001 259,376 -35,275 107,109 -43,837
2000 259,837 -40,859 109,192 -42,087
1999 261,650 -43,813 110,217 -40,095
1998 263,927 -42,550 108,862 -38,260
1997 266,020 -47,287 114,415 -36,851
1996 267,695 -46,082 116,849 -35,208
1995 264,449 -45,201 118,325 -25,889
1994 261,788 -44,399 119,565 -24,773
1993 260,330 -41,867 120,469 -24,091
1992 259,787 -29,958 121,204 -24,171
1991 257,713 -32,064 121,787 -24,028
1990 252,919 -21,164 120,677 -24,280
1989 248,129 -16,240 120,128 -24,364
1988 241,191 -10,977 117,299 -24,753
1987 237,724 -4,886 112,885 -25,127
1986 237,084 -3,345 113,054 -24,805
1985 236,438 -494 110,949 -23,840
1984 236,543 249 110,133 -22,493
1983 231,336 578 110,618 -20,620
1982 227,606 -1,282 112,468 -19,395
1981 224,073 -1,605 110,421 -17,353
1980 220,120 -517 108,604 -15,130
1979 216,162 -1,749 96,429 -14,152
1978 212,497 -1,518 98,419 -12,273
1977 209,095 -1,377 100,498 -11,082
1976 205,366 -1,264 98,100 -10,155
1975 202,407 -1,189 95,230 -9,349
1974 199,276 -1,133 92,505 -8,639
1973 196,028 -1,090 89,662 -7,947
1972 192,136 -1,078 76,906 -7,219
1971 187,995 -1,096 84,139 -6,328
1970 183,517 -1,091 81,127 -5,423
1969 178,403 -518 78,237 -4,592
1968 173,828 -582 75,458 -3,979
1967 168,629 -623 72,722 -3,666
1966 163,317 -710 69,883 -3,443
1965 157,915 -957 67,056 -3,231
1964 152,263 -1,130 64,227 -3,043
1963 146,531 -1,254 61,738 -2,881
1962 140,943 -1,315 59,547 -2,727
1961 135,573 -1,317 57,499 -2,579
1960 130,368 -1,746 55,664 -2,418

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ecuador/nicaragua | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 91.9% of the population change in Ecuador is from natural causes (a gain of 1,964,352 people) and 8.08% is from migration (a gain of 172,707 people). In Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 people).

As of 2024, 747,749 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in Ecuador, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

Biggest cities by population

Ecuador
City Population
Guayaquil 2.65M
Quito 1.76M
Cuenca 362K
Santo Domingo 335K
Duran 295K
Machala 288K
Manta 259K
Portoviejo 244K
Loja 203K
Quevedo 178K
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/ecuador/nicaragua | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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