Tulcán Population 2026

Tulcán has a population of 86,498, making it the #18 biggest city in 🇪🇨 Ecuador, located in Carchi. Roughly 0.5% of Ecuador's population lives here. It is about 32× smaller than Quito, the country's biggest city.

Location of Tulcán (capital Quito shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

86,498

Rank in Ecuador

#18

Coordinates

0.81°N, 77.72°W

~2,962 m elevation · America/Guayaquil

Distance to capital (Quito)

147 km

91 miles, straight line

Cities near Tulcán

Ibarra221,149 people · ~69 km away
Atuntaqui17,456 people · ~78 km away
Otavalo32,330 people · ~88 km away
Cayambe26,582 people · ~98 km away
Nueva Loja24,211 people · ~122 km away
Pomasqui28,724 people · ~126 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Tulcán?

Tulcán has a population of 86,498 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #18 biggest city in Ecuador.

What region is Tulcán in?

Tulcán is located in Carchi, Ecuador.

Is Tulcán the capital of Ecuador?

No, the capital of Ecuador is Quito, about 147 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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