Human Mobility in Ecuador

Fact Sheet

Jul 14

Written By CEDA The Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas

Key Figures

Ecuador is the fifth-largest host country for Venezuelans in Latin America. An estimated 60% remain in an irregular migration status.
Between January and May 2026, Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs received 4,412 asylum applications. The leading nationalities were Venezuelan (2,873 applications), Colombian (1,305), and Cuban (94).
According to UNHCR, over the past five years 383,297 Ecuadorians have sought asylum, primarily in six countries — 92% of them in the United States.
357,000 Ecuadorians remain in an irregular migration status in the United States, placing them at risk of deportation
In 2025, 9,351 Ecuadorians were deported from the United States. According to Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 4,074 Ecuadorians were deported from the U.S., Mexico, and Panama between January and April 2026 alone.
Ecuador signed an Asylum Cooperative Agreement to receive approximately 300 foreign nationals. However, U.S. judges have already issued 8,675 removal orders to Ecuador. These orders were applied to 1,810 Venezuelan nationals, 1,202 Colombian, 1,069 Mexican, 1,020 Nicaraguan, 988 Cuban, and 846 Guatemalan nationals, among others — including individuals from African countries.
In 2025, Ecuador ranked third in the region for internal displacement, behind Colombia and Haiti, with 132,000 displacement events recorded during the year.
According to the Central Bank, remittances transferred by the diaspora accounted for 6% of Ecuador's national GDP in 2025. Remittance flows reached USD 7,729.5 million — a similar figure to the country's oil export revenue.