Ecuador
Latin America & the Caribbean · 15 specs
Direct Answer
Ecuador (EC / ECU / 218) operates on a 120 V / 60 Hz electrical grid using NEMA 1-15 (Type A) and NEMA 5-15 (Type B) sockets. Traffic drives on the right (RHT). The official currency is the US Dollar (USD, $), country calling code is +593 (exit code 00), unified emergency dispatch is 911 (ECU 911), and document standard is ISO 216 A4 / Carta.
Source: ARCONEL / ARCOTEL / INEN / ISO 3166-1 / Correos del Ecuador · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Republic of Ecuador ISO 3166-1 |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | EC |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | ECU |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 218 UN M49 (Code 419) |
| Country Calling Code | +593 ARCOTEL (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 |
| Internet ccTLD | .ec NIC.EC |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | United States Dollar (USD, $) 100 Centavos (Centavo coins) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 120 V, 60 Hz ARCONEL Standard |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type A (NEMA 1-15) & Type B (NEMA 5-15) 15 A / 125 V |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Right-Hand Traffic (RHT / LHD) Ley de Tránsito |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) INEN Standard |
| Standard Office Paper Format | ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) & Carta |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 911 ECU 911 Integrated Security Service |
| Primary Time Zones | UTC-5 (ECT) & UTC-6 (Galápagos GALT) No DST |
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 120 V, 60 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type A (NEMA 1-15) & Type B (NEMA 5-15). Uses North American style Type A (2-blade ungrounded) and Type B (3-prong grounded) receptacles.
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +593. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 911. Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the right (RHT) with Left-Hand Drive (LHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the United States Dollar (USD, $).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) & Carta. Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under Standard time.
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes Standard postal system.
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Republic of Ecuador.