What is the largest city in Ecuador by population?

Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city by population.

Located on the western bank of the Guayas River near the Gulf of Guayaquil, the city is Ecuador’s principal commercial and port centre. Its position near the Pacific made it an important location for trade, shipping, manufacturing, and links between the coast and the country’s interior.

Quito, Ecuador’s capital, is the country’s second-largest major city and sits high in the Andes. This creates a common mix-up: Quito is the political capital, while Guayaquil is the larger urban and economic centre. Guayaquil’s lowland coastal setting also gives it a very different climate and landscape from Quito.

The city’s history includes Spanish colonial rule, independence movements, and the development of modern Ecuadorian commerce. The nearby port supports national and international trade, and the Guayas River is central to the city’s geography. Guayaquil is also a gateway to coastal destinations and transport routes leading toward the Galápagos Islands.