Quick facts
Guayaquil overview
Guayaquil (orange) and the other large cities of Ecuador
Guayaquil lies in Guayas in Ecuador at 2.2°S, 79.89°W, about 14 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Guayaquil (UTC-5); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Quito (2,781,641) and larger than Cuenca (636,996). 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 266 km away; the nearest large city is Eloy Alfaro, 6 km from Guayaquil.
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 Guayaquil
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Eloy Alfaro Guayas | 6 km | 315,724 |
| Milagro Guayas | 33 km | 133,508 |
| Daule Guayas | 39 km | 173,684 |
| Babahoyo Los Ríos | 59 km | 76,279 |
| Balzar Guayas | 92 km | 40,115 |
| Santa Elena Santa Elena | 108 km | 42,214 |
| La Libertad Guayas | 114 km | 75,881 |
| Salinas Santa Elena | 118 km | 43,862 |
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 Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has about 2,723,665 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Guayaquil the capital of Ecuador?
No. The capital of Ecuador is Quito (2,781,641 people), about 266 km away. Guayaquil is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Guayaquil compared with the rest of Ecuador?
Its 2,723,665 residents are 14.7% of the 18,491,304 people living in Ecuador today. Quito is larger with 2,781,641 people.
Where is Guayaquil?
In Guayas, Ecuador, at latitude -2.2 and longitude -79.89, 14 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Eloy Alfaro (6 km), Milagro (33 km), Daule (39 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Guayaquil Population 2026 — Ecuador. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/ecuador/guayaquil/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/ecuador/guayaquil/">Guayaquil 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.