Quick facts
Ambato overview
Ambato (orange) and the other large cities of Ecuador
Ambato lies in Tungurahua Province in Ecuador at 1.25°S, 78.62°W, about 2,597 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Guayaquil (UTC-5); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Santo Domingo de los Colorados (458,580) and larger than Portoviejo (321,800). The largest city in Ecuador is Quito with 2,781,641 people; the capital, Quito, has 2,781,641.
The national capital, Quito, is about 114 km away; the nearest large city is Latacunga, 35 km from Ambato.
Ecuador as a whole has a live population of 18,491,304 (+0.8% a year) and ranks #72 of 238 countries — see the Ecuador population page for the full statistics and the Ecuador atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Ambato
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Latacunga Cotopaxi | 35 km | 205,624 |
| Riobamba Chimborazo Province | 46 km | 264,048 |
| Quevedo Los Ríos | 97 km | 213,842 |
| QuitoCapital Pichincha | 114 km | 2,781,641 |
| El Empalme Guayas | 116 km | 48,754 |
| Babahoyo Los Ríos | 118 km | 76,279 |
| Santo Domingo de los Colorados Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | 127 km | 458,580 |
| Balzar Guayas | 144 km | 40,115 |
Largest cities in Ecuador
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | QuitoCapital | Pichincha | 2,781,641 |
| 2 | Guayaquil | Guayas | 2,723,665 |
| 3 | Cuenca | Azuay | 636,996 |
| 4 | Santo Domingo de los Colorados | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | 458,580 |
| 5 | Ambato | Tungurahua Province | 387,309 |
| 6 | Portoviejo | Manabí | 321,800 |
| 7 | Eloy Alfaro | Guayas | 315,724 |
| 8 | Machala | El Oro | 289,141 |
| 9 | Loja | Loja | 274,112 |
| 10 | Manta | Manabí | 264,281 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ambato?
Ambato has about 387,309 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Ambato the capital of Ecuador?
No. The capital of Ecuador is Quito (2,781,641 people), about 114 km away. Ambato is the 5th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Ambato compared with the rest of Ecuador?
Its 387,309 residents are 2.1% of the 18,491,304 people living in Ecuador today. Quito is larger with 2,781,641 people.
Where is Ambato?
In Tungurahua Province, Ecuador, at latitude -1.25 and longitude -78.62, 2,597 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Latacunga (35 km), Riobamba (46 km), Quevedo (97 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Ambato Population 2026 — Ecuador. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/ecuador/ambato/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/ecuador/ambato/">Ambato Population 2026 — Ecuador</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.