Santa Elena Population 2026
Santa Elena has a population of 42,214, making it the #26 biggest city in 🇪🇨 Ecuador, located in Santa Elena. Roughly 0.2% of Ecuador's population lives here. It is about 66× smaller than Quito, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
42,214
Rank in Ecuador
#26
Coordinates
2.23°S, 80.86°W
~43 m elevation · America/Guayaquil
Distance to capital (Quito)
341 km
212 miles, straight line
Other big cities in Santa Elena
| City | Population | Rank in Ecuador |
|---|---|---|
| Salinas | 43,862 | #25 |
Cities near Santa Elena
- La Libertad75,881 people · ~6 km away
- Salinas43,862 people · ~10 km away
- Playas30,564 people · ~69 km away
- Pedro Carbo23,372 people · ~83 km away
- Posorja30,886 people · ~87 km away
- Jipijapa35,901 people · ~102 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Santa Elena?
Santa Elena has a population of 42,214 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #26 biggest city in Ecuador.
What region is Santa Elena in?
Santa Elena is located in Santa Elena, Ecuador.
Is Santa Elena the capital of Ecuador?
No, the capital of Ecuador is Quito, about 341 km away.
Sources & notes
Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
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