Women in Ecuador
A portrait of a woman from Ecuador, 1867 | |
| General Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Maternal mortality (per 100,000) | 110 (2010) |
| Women in parliament | 38.7% (2013) |
| Women over 25 with secondary education | 40.1% (2012) |
| Women in labour force | 54.4% (2012) |
| Gender Inequality Index | |
| Value | 0.362 (2021) |
| Rank | 85th out of 191 |
| Global Gender Gap Index | |
| Value | 0.743 (2022) |
| Rank | 41st out of 146 |
| Part of a series on |
| Women in society |
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Women in Ecuador represent 51.7% of the total population, amounting to 8.7 million, according to the 2022 Census. The majority identify as mestiza (77.4%), followed by Indigenous (7.7%), followed by black (4.9%) and white (2.2%). Nearly half of the female population is single, and most have completed only basic general education. For the first time, the census included a question on sexual identity, revealing that 88% of women identify as heterosexual, while 2.4% consider themselves part of the LGBTI community.
Ecuadorian women are generally responsible for the upbringing and care of children and families. Ever more women have been joining the workforce. This change has been greatly influenced by Eloy Alfaro's liberal revolution in 1906, in which Ecuadorian women were granted the right to work.