Pichincha Province
Pichincha | |
|---|---|
Province | |
| Province of Pichincha | |
|
Flag | |
| Nickname: La Cuna de La Libertad English: The Cradle of Liberty | |
Location of Pichincha in Ecuador. | |
Cantons of Pichincha Province | |
| Coordinates: 0°15′S 78°35′W / 0.250°S 78.583°W | |
| Country | Ecuador |
| Established | June 25, 1824 |
| Named after | Pichincha volcano |
| Capital and largest city | Quito |
| Cantons | |
| Government | |
| • Prefect | Paola Pabón (RC) |
| • Vice Prefect | Alexandro Tonello |
| • Governor | abolished |
| Area | |
• Total | 9,444 km2 (3,646 sq mi) |
| Population (2022 census)[1] | |
• Total | 3,089,473 |
| • Rank | 2nd in Ecuador |
| • Density | 327.1/km2 (847.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (ECT) |
| ISO 3166 code | EC-P |
| Vehicle registration | P |
| HDI (2018) | 0.827[2] very high · 1st |
| Website | www |
Pichincha (Spanish pronunciation: [piˈtʃintʃa]) is a province of Ecuador located in the northern Sierra region; its capital and largest city is Quito. It is bordered by Imbabura and Esmeraldas to the north, Cotopaxi and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas to the south, Napo and Sucumbíos to the east, and Esmeraldas and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas to the west.
Prior to 2008, the canton Santo Domingo de los Colorados was part of the Pichincha Province. It has since become its own province, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas.
The province is home to many rose plantations, which make up the bulk of Ecuador's floriculture industry.[3]
Demographics
Ethnic groups as of the Ecuadorian census of 2010:[4]
- Mestizo 82.1%
- White 6.3%
- Indigenous 5.3%
- Afro-Ecuadorian 4.5%
- Montubio 1.3%
- Other 0.4%
Population Growth
Pichincha has maintained its status as a vital demographic and political center of Ecuador, experiencing steady urbanization throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In 1950, the province recorded a population of 414,533. This number grew significantly over the following decades as the highland region saw increased migration and infrastructure development, reaching 857,014 by 1970.
The turn of the millennium marked a major milestone as the population climbed to 2,179,558, reflecting the province's expanding role in the nation's economy. Recent data shows a stabilization of this growth; the population reached 3,087,202 in 2020 and sits at 3,089,473 as of the 2022 census "Pichincha Population". Retrieved 2026-03-16.. This highlights Pichincha's position as a densely populated region characterized by both its historic capital and its rapidly evolving surrounding parishes.
Administrative divisions
The province is divided into eight cantons.
| Canton | Pop. (2001) | Area (km2) | Cantonization | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayambe | 69,800 | 1,187 | July 23, 1883 | Cayambe |
| Mejía | 62,888 | 1,459 | July 23, 1883 | Machachi |
| Pedro Moncayo | 25,594 | 333 | Sep. 26, 1911 | Tabacundo |
| Pedro Vicente Maldonado | 9,965 | 657 | Jan. 28, 1992 | Pedro Vicente Maldonado |
| Puerto Quito | 17,100 | 719 | Apr. 1, 1996 | Puerto Quito |
| Quito | 1,839,853 | 4,204 | Dec. 6, 1534 | Quito |
| Rumiñahui | 65,882 | 134 | May 31, 1938 | Sangolquí |
| San Miguel de Los Bancos | 10,717 | 801 | Feb. 14, 1991 | San Miguel de los Bancos |
See also
- Cantons of Ecuador
- Centro de Levantamientos Integrados de Recursos Naturales por Sensores Remotos
- Provinces of Ecuador
- Santa Lucia Cloud Forest
References
- ^ Citypopulation.de Population and area of Pichincha Province
- ^ Villalba, Juan. "Human Development Index in Ecuador". Scribd (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-02-05.
- ^ Conefrey, Mick (April 10, 2015). "Roses with altitude: why Ecuador's flower industry stands out". Financial Times. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- ^ "Resultados" (PDF).
- Gobierno de la Provincia Pichincha Web site of the Pichincha prefecture
- Data of Pichincha Geographical Data of the Province. Web site of the Pichincha Prefecture
External links
- Provincial Prefecture's official page (in Spanish)