Venezuelans in Ecuador
individuals have migrated since 2018
%
Venezuelans as a proportion of the national population
%
want to stay
Data: R4V (Venezuela migration, 2023) and World Bank (host country population, 2022)
Overall, Venezuelans in Ecuador are more likely to have tertiary education, more years of schooling and be employed.
On average, hosts have ten years of schooling, while Venezuelans, 14. Similarly, nearly half (48%) of Venezuelans in Ecuador report having tertiary education. In contrast, it is estimated that only 11% of Ecuadorians achieve this.
Yet, only 22% of Venezuelans with tertiary education have had their academic credentials certified in Ecuador. Missing documentation is referenced as the main reason for this.
Ecuadorians completed 9.7 years of education, while Venezuelan migrants average 14.1 years. This 4.4-year gap is wider than any of the other countries studied: Peru has a one-year difference, and Colombia and Chile two-year disparities, all favoring Venezuelans.
On the other hand, Venezuelans lag behind Ecuadorians in school enrolment for children. 3% of Ecuadorian children are not enrolled in schools, compared to 8% of Venezuelan children.
Venezuelans have higher employment rates than their Ecuadorian counterparts (90%) but are concentrated in low-productivity occupations. About half (44%) of the Venezuelans in Ecuador work in the services and sales sector—almost three times the rate of hosts (16 per cent). Elementary occupations are the second most prevalent employment type for Venezuelans, a proportion that once again outnumbers the host community.
Migrants also face greater challenges in meeting basic needs. 7 out of 10 Venezuelan households, as opposed to 6 out of 10 Ecuadorian households, reported insufficient resources to meet essential needs. This discrepancy is partly due to the fact that most Venezuelans work in the informal sector, and such positions typically offer fewer hours and lower wages.
Religious groups are the most common migrants’ choice for social participation in local activities, with a 28% participation rate. Notably, the participation rate in religious activities stands out as the highest among the host countries included in the report.
Ecuador has the lowest proportion of migrants who expressed their intention to stay. 62% of the Venezuelans state that they want to remain in Ecuador, while 96% of those in Colombia have the same intention.
Despite high employment rates, migrants could be better integrated into the local job market, avoiding the misallocation of human capital. Public policy should focus on providing access to jobs for which they have the skills, with the potential for mutual economic benefit for migrants and the local population.