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Ecuador vs Guatemala
Side-by-side comparison of Ecuador and Guatemala from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Ecuador
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 186 years
Guatemala
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
In short
Ecuador scores 45.2 in the NationsTree Index (108th in the world) and Guatemala scores 35.4 (145th), a gap of 9.8 points. Their trees are 10 m and 9.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Ecuador and Guatemala have a similar population. Ecuador is 2.4 times larger than Guatemala by land area. Ecuador and Guatemala have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Ecuador 18.3 million and Guatemala 18.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $16,757 in Ecuador and $15,197 in Guatemala (2025, international dollars). People in Ecuador live on average 4.8 years longer (77.6 vs 72.7 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Ecuador ranks higher in the world on 25 and Guatemala on 12. Ecuador is clearly stronger in science & innovation, military and tourism.
As a nation, Guatemala is the older of the two (statehood since 1821, 205 years), compared with Ecuador (since 1840). Over the last five years Guatemala improved faster (direction score 44 vs 41 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Ecuador and Guatemala.
Ecuadorbetter
92.8%
88th of 173
Guatemala
49.6%
156th of 173
General government gross debtEconomy
Ecuador
54.5%
100th of 189
Guatemalabetter
26.7%
26th of 189
Tertiary enrolmentSociety & health
Ecuadorbetter
67.9%
52nd of 150
Guatemala
27.3%
108th of 150
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Ecuador
18.9%
112th of 212
Guatemalabetter
62.1%
35th of 212
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Ecuadorbetter
51.7
110th of 205
Guatemala
36.5
163rd of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Guatemala overtook Ecuador in population in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Ecuador overtook Guatemala in the NationsTree Index in 2003 and has stayed ahead since.
Ecuador has been ahead of Guatemala in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
EcuadorGuatemala All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Ecuador | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 256,37077th/216 · 2024 | 108,889107th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 248,36077th/216 · 2024 | 107,160103rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 18.3 m70th/217 · 2025 | 18.7 m69th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.85%111th/217 · 2025 | 1.52%70th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 73.0133rd/216 · 2024 | 171.870th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 63.4%113th/217 · 2025 | 56.3%137th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 23.9%104th/217 · 2025 | 31.0%67th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.6%109th/217 · 2025 | 5.0%148th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $130.32 bn64th/210 · 2025 | $123.31 bn68th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $306.48 bn66th/199 · 2025 | $284.00 bn71st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $261.90 bn66th/199 · 2025 | $242.69 bn70th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $7,125118th/210 · 2025 | $6,598124th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $16,757116th/199 · 2025 | $15,197122nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $6,890111th/201 · 2025 | $6,360114th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.7%90th/210 · 2025 | 4.3%72nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.7%29th/180 · 2025 | 1.5%48th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.3%52nd/187 · 2025 | 2.6%26th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 25.2%2013 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 54.5%100th/189 · 2025 | 26.7%26th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.8%99th/192 · 2025 | -1.9%75th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 9.7%71st/197 · 2025 | 9.6%72nd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.7%77th/200 · 2025 | 21.8%116th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.2%59th/192 · 2025 | 13.2%61st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 57.0%107th/200 · 2025 | 62.1%71st/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $40.97 bn70th/182 · 2025 | $19.19 bn91st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $36.38 bn74th/182 · 2025 | $38.19 bn71st/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 31.4%108th/183 · 2025 | 15.6%160th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 27.9%143rd/183 · 2025 | 31.0%130th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 59.4%129th/183 · 2025 | 46.5%150th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 20.9%37th/170 · 2025 | 2.5%93rd/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 4.6%155th/171 · 2025 | 45.2%70th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 58.7%20th/171 · 2025 | 46.8%33rd/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 8.9%42nd/171 · 2025 | 1.0%134th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 10.0%65th/168 · 2024 | 5.4%94th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 5.9%30th/191 · 2025 | 4.7%40th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%140th/196 · 2025 | 1.4%125th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 6.7%61st/209 · 2021 | 1.9%96th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 6.40%22nd/197 · 2021 | 0.12%74th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.01%77th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%98th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 1.12%45th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.28%82nd/209 · 2021 | 0.69%63rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 3.7%149th/206 · 2024 | 17.5%62nd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 24,82127th/183 · 2022 | 6,11862nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 2.1 m62nd/194 · 2019 | 594,000115th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $705.0 m84th/175 · 2020 | $298.5 m108th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.1%105th/168 · 2020 | 2.3%121st/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 1.5 m57th/107 · 2019 | 507,80078th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 77.679th/217 · 2024 | 72.7128th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 12.989th/196 · 2024 | 20.5124th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.3177th/174 · 2020 | 1.28100th/174 · 2020 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.3106th/145 · 2023 | 0.5138th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 70%169th/193 · 2024 | 81%142nd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 54.4%106th/153 · 2024 | 33.9%126th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 92.8%88th/173 · 2023 | 49.6%156th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 41.1%34th/55 · 2022 | 63.3%2014 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 12.7%110th/217 · 2025 | 7.8%146th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 7.6%73rd/193 · 2023 | 6.8%90th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 93.5%46th/98 · 2024 | 82.1%64th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 67.9%52nd/150 · 2023 | 27.3%108th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.77788th/193 · 2023 | 0.662137th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 45.9102nd/108 · 2025 | 45.299th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 3.4%71st/108 · 2025 | 9.7%84th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 98.5%139th/215 · 2024 | 90.9%160th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 69.9%87th/150 · 2024 | 48.8%108th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 49.3%86th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 77.2%108th/186 · 2024 | 60.2%138th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 102136th/210 · 2024 | 113115th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 17.295th/208 · 2024 | 5.3138th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.7268th/164 · 2018 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 9562000 | 8852004 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 4.6 m61st/161 · 2023 | 221,478128th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.64105th/203 · 2024 | 1.1166th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 18.9%112th/212 · 2021 | 62.1%35th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 18.6107th/200 · 2023 | 29.7151st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 49.7%60th/214 · 2024 | 33.1%104th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 92794th/149 · 2024 | 94093rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 51.7110th/205 · 2025 | 36.5163rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 33.2150th/207 · 2025 | 29.4161st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 41.6167th/207 · 2025 | 41.6166th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 54.4164th/207 · 2025 | 61.9133rd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 43.2152nd/205 · 2025 | 49.7121st/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 56.2106th/205 · 2025 | 51.5122nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 45.7141st/145 · 2023 | 23.4130th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $2.74 bn59th/156 · 2025 | $632.9 m94th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.1%56th/156 · 2025 | 0.5%144th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.7%68th/154 · 2025 | 3.5%122nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 42,00077th/170 · 2020 | 43,00076th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.54%108th/168 · 2020 | 0.64%100th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 30.0 m78th/163 · 2025 | 6.0 m125th/163 · 2023 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m2018 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.44%2014 | 0.01%110th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 5382nd/137 · 2024 | 8109th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 3,53066th/197 · 2023 | 109138th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Ecuador or Guatemala?
Guatemala has the larger population: 18.7 m (2025) compared with 18.3 m for Ecuador (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Ecuador or Guatemala?
Ecuador is larger: 256,370 km² (2024) compared with 108,889 km² for Guatemala (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Ecuador or Guatemala?
Ecuador has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $306.48 bn intl. (2025) compared with $284.00 bn intl. for Guatemala (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Ecuador or Guatemala?
Ecuador has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $16,757 intl. (2025) compared with $15,197 intl. for Guatemala (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Ecuador or Guatemala?
Ecuador has the higher life expectancy at birth: 77.6 years (2024) compared with 72.7 years for Guatemala (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Ecuador or Guatemala?
Ecuador spends more on the military: $2.74 bn (2025) compared with $632.9 m for Guatemala (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Ecuador or Guatemala?
Ecuador: 45.2 points (108th in the world); Guatemala: 35.4 points (145th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
PanamaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Ecuador vs Guatemala — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/ecuador-vs-guatemala. Data as of 26 October 2026.