This is a list of notable Ecuadorians. This list needs to be edited. See Presidents section.
Arts
Literature
- Carmen Acevedo Vega (1913–2006) - poet and writer
- Jorge Enrique Adoum (1926–2009) - poet and novelist
- Luis Aguilar-Monsalve (b. 1942) - writer
- Demetrio Aguilera Malta (1909-1981) - writer
- Gabriela Alemán (b. 1968) - novelist and short story writer
- Carlos Altamirano Sánchez (b. 1926) - poet and journalist
- Vicente Amador Flor (1903–1975) - poet
- Juan Andrade Heymann (b. 1945) - novelist, poet, playwright, short story writer
- Raúl Andrade Moscoso (1905–1983) - journalist and playwright
- César E. Arroyo (1887–1937) - poet, novelist, journalist, playwright and diplomat
- Enrique Avellán Ferrés (b. 1904) - novelist and playwright
- Juan Bautista Aguirre (1725–1786) - poet and writer from colonial South America
- Ana Cecilia Blum (b. 1972) - writer
- Arturo Borja (1892–1912) - poet
- Rosa Borja de Ycaza (1889–1964) - poet and essayist
- Vicente Cabrera Funes (1944–2014) - writer
- Jorge Luis Cáceres (b. 1982) - writer, editor
- Oswaldo Calisto Rivera (1979–2000) - poet and artist
- Eliécer Cárdenas (b. 1950) - novelist
- Jorge Carrera Andrade (1903–1978) - poet
- Alejandro Carrión Aguirre (1915–1992) - writer and journalist
- Fanny Carrión de Fierro (b. 1939) - writer, poet, essayist and professor
- Benjamín Carrión Mora (1897–1979) - writer
- Iván Carvajal (b. 1948) - poet, philosopher, writer
- Gabriel Cevallos García (1913–2004) - writer and historian
- Octavio Cordero Palacios (1870–1930) - writer, playwright, poet, mathematician, lawyer, professor and inventor
- Simón Corral (b. 1946) - poet and playwright
- Mary Corylé (1894-1976) - poet
- Luis Alberto Costales (1926–2006) - poet, philosopher, writer, professor and politician
- Remigio Crespo Toral (1860-1939) - poet, journalist, politician
- José de la Cuadra (1903–1941) - novelist and short story writer
- Agustin Cueva (1937–1992) - writer and sociologist
- César Dávila Andrade (1918-1967)- poet
- Rafael Díaz Ycaza (1925–2013) - poet, novelist, and short story writer
- Miguel Donoso Pareja (1931–2015) - poet, novelist, and short story writer
- José María Egas (1896-1982) - poet
- Gonzalo Escudero (1903–1971) - poet and diplomat
- Eugenio Espejo (1747–1795) - writer
- Ileana Espinel (1933-2001) - poet
- Aurelio Espinosa Pólit (1894–1961) - writer, poet, and translator
- Jenny Estrada (b. 1940) - writer and journalist
- Ulises Estrella (b. 1939) - poet, film expert
- Nelson Estupiñán Bass (1912–2002) - poet
- Jacinto de Evia (1625–1700s) - poet, priest
- Ángel Felicísimo Rojas (1909–2003) - writer, novelist, and poet
- Humberto Fierro (1890–1929) - poet
- Luis Enrique Fierro (b. 1936) - poet and medical doctor
- Jaime Galarza Zavala (b. 1930) - writer, poet, journalist and politician
- Joaquín Gallegos Lara (1909–1947) - novelist and short story writer
- Karina Galvez (b. 1964) - poet
- Alfredo Gangotena (1904–1944) - poet who wrote in French and Spanish
- Enrique Gil Gilbert (1912–1973) - writer
- Federico González Suárez (1844-1917) - bishop, historian
- Euler Granda (b. 1935) - novelist
- Francisco Granizo Ribadeneira (1925-2009) - poet
- Yanna Hadatty (b. 1969) - short story writer and essayist
- Horacio Hidrovo Peñaherrera (1931–2012) - poet and writer
- Horacio Hidrovo Velásquez (1902–1962) - poet, novelist and short story writer
- Jorge Icaza Coronel (1906–1978) - writer
- Edna Iturralde (b. 1948) - writer
- Efraín Jara Idrovo (1926–2018) - poet and writer
- Carlos Eduardo Jaramillo Castillo (b. 1932) - poet
- Nicolás Kingman Riofrío (1918-2018) - journalist, writer and politician
- Juan Larrea Holguín (1927–2006) - writer and lawyer
- Numa Pompilio Llona (1832–1907) - poet
- Sonia Manzano Vela (b. 1947) - writer and pianist
- Luis A. Martínez (1869-1909) - novelist
- Nela Martínez (1912–2004) - writer
- José Martínez Queirolo (1931–2008) - playwright
- Hugo Mayo (1895–1988) - poet and writer
- José Trajano Mera (1862–1919) - poet and playwright
- Juan León Mera (1832–1894) - writer
- Pedro Moncayo (1807-1888) - political journalist
- Juan Montalvo (1832–1889) - writer
- Ernesto Noboa y Caamaño (1889–1927) - poet
- Jorge Núñez Sánchez (1947-2020) - writer
- José Joaquín de Olmedo (1780–1847) - poet, politician
- Adalberto Ortiz (1914–2003) - writer and poet
- Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco (1908–1993) - writer
- Julio Pazos Barrera (b. 1944) - poet and writer
- Galo René Pérez (1923–2008) - biographer, poet, and essayist
- Jorge Pérez Concha (1908–1995) - writer and historian
- Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel (b. 1939) - biographer
- Aleyda Quevedo (b. 1972) - writer
- Ernesto Quiñonez (b. 1969) - novelist
- Edmundo Ribadeneira Meneses (1920–2004) - writer
- Víctor Manuel Rendón (1859–1940) - writer
- Miguel Riofrío (1822-1879) - writer
- Juan Manuel Rodríguez (b. 1945) - writer
- Alfonso Rumazo González (1903–2002) - writer, historian, essayist and literary critic
- José Rumazo González (b. 1904) - poet
- Hugo Salazar Tamariz (1923–1999) - poet, novelist and playwright
- Isacovici Salomon (1924–1998) - writer
- Filoteo Samaniego (1928–2013) - novelist, poet, historian, translator, and diplomat
- Medardo Ángel Silva (1898–1919) - poet
- Fernando Tinajero (b. 1940) - writer
- Francisco Tobar García (1928–1997) - poet, novelist, and playwright
- Abdón Ubidia (b. 1944) - novelist
- Benjamín Urrutia (b. 1950) - writer
- Leonardo Valencia (b. 1969) - writer
- Eduardo Varas (b. 1979) - novelist and journalist
- Fray José María Vargas O.P. (1902–1988) - writer and historian
- Javier Vásconez (b. 1946) - novelist and short story writer
- Marieta de Veintemilla (1855-1907) - writer, politician
- Dolores Veintimilla (1829–1857) - poet
- Juan de Velasco (1727-1792) - poet, historian
- Jorge Velasco Mackenzie (b. 1949) - writer
- Pedro Jorge Vera (1914–1999) - writer
- Raquel Verdesoto (1910–1999) - poet, biographer, teacher, feminist activist
- Gaspar de Villarroel (1587-1665) - bishop, apologist
- Alicia Yánez Cossío (b. 1928) - novelist
- Gonzalo Zaldumbide (1884-1965) - poet
Visual arts
- Alfredo Palacio Moreno - sculptor
- Aníbal Villacís - painter
- Araceli Gilbert - painter
- Bernardo de Legarda - sculptor
- Caesar Andrade Faini - painter
- Camilo Egas - painter
- Eduardo Kingman - painter
- Enrique Tábara - painter
- Estuardo Maldonado - sculptor and painter
- Félix Arauz - painter
- Galo Galecio - painter
- Gonzalo Amancha - painter
- Gonzalo Endara Crow - painter
- Grace Polit - painter
- Hugo Cifuentes - photographer and painter
- Joaquín Pinto - painter
- Jorge Velarde - painter
- Jorge Swett - muralist, painter, lawyer and writer
- Juan Villafuerte - painter
- Judith Gutierrez - painter
- Leonardo Tejada - painter
- Luigi Stornaiolo Pimentel - painter
- Luis Miranda - painter
- Luis Molinari - painter
- Manuel Rendón - painter
- Marcos Restrepo - printer
- Miguel Betancourt - painter
- Oswaldo Guayasamín - painter
- Oswaldo Moreno - painter
- Patricio Cueva Jaramillo - painter
- Ramón Piaguaje - painter
- Theo Constanté - painter
- Washington Iza - painter
- Jaime Andrade Moscoso - sculptor
Dance
- Frederick Ashton - Ecuadorian born British ballet dancer and choreographer
- Noralma Vera - Director of the National Dance Institute (Instituto Nacional de Danza)
- Esperanza Cruz Hidalgo - ballerina
Theater and film
- Ernesto Albán - vaudeville and television actor
- Camilo Coba - filmmaker
- Sebastián Cordero - film director/writer/editor
- Camilo Luzuriaga - film director/writer/producer
- Mike Judge - Ecuadorian born American animator
- Jenn Pinto - actress; Ecuadorian/Puerto Rican American
- Michael Steger - actor
- Ricardo Hoyos - actor
- Albert Paulsen - actor
- Fatima Ptacek - actress and model
- Camilo Luzuriaga - film director, writer, and producer
- Danilo Carrera - actor
- Juan Emilio Viguié - pioneering Puerto Rican movie producer (Ecuadorian mother)
Music
- Adrienne Bailon - singer 3LW; Ecuadorian/Puerto Rican
- Antonio Neumane - composed the music of the National Anthem of Ecuador
- Arturo Rodas - classical composer
- Beatriz Parra Durango - classical musician
- Boris Cepeda - pianist
- Carlos Rubira Infante - singer and songwriter
- Celia Zaldumbide Rosales - pianist
- Christopher Velez - singer, songwriter and dancer (CNCO)
- Christina Aguilera - singer and pop icon (Half Ecuadorian, half German, Irish, Welsh, and Dutch ancestry)
- Diego Luzuriaga - composer
- Edgar Palacios Rodriguez - composer
- Enrique Espín Yépez - composer, violinist
- Gabriela Villalba - singer
- Gerardo - singer
- Guillermo Ayoví Erazo, aka Papá Roncón - Afro-Ecuadorian musician, singer, and marimba player
- Isabel Rosales Pareja - pianist
- Jinsop - Korean/American singer, Ecuadorian nationality by naturalization
- Jorge Saade - violinist
- Juan Fernando Velasco - singer, songwriter
- Julio Jaramillo - folklore and romantic music singer
- Leslie Wright - pianist
- Luis Humberto Salgado - classical composer
- Luis Silva Parra - saxophonist of classical jazz
- Mesias Maiguashca - classical composer
- Paulina Aguirre - Christian singer
- Sebastian J. - music producer, songwriter
- Sixto María Durán Cárdenas - pianist, composer, lawyer, singer
- Lila Álvarez Garcia - Pianist, choir director, and musical art teacher
Science
- Eugenia Del Pino - developmental biologist
- Pedro Vicente Maldonado - geographer
- Clodoveo Carrión Mora - paleontologist and naturalist
- Misael Acosta Solís - naturalist
- William Jameson - physician, naturalist. Born in Scotland
- Augusto Nicolás Martínez - agronomist, geologist
- Plutarco Naranjo Vargas - doctor and scientific researcher
- Luis Sodiro - botanist, priest. Born in Italy.
Medicine
- Eugenio Espejo (1747–1795) - physician, journalist, writer, philosopher
- Alejo Lascano Bahamonde - physician, surgeon
- Rodrigo Fierro Benítez - physician, researcher, writer
- Germán Abad Valenzuela - doctor, radiologist
- José Amén-Palma - surgeon and researcher
Politics
- Pamela Aguirre Zambonino (born 1984) – member of Andean Parliament
- Belisario Albán Mestanza (1853–1925) - notable role in the Liberal Revolution of Guayaquil
- Pedro José de Arteta (1797-1893) - vice-president
- Leopoldo Benites (1905-1996) - diplomat, writer, President of the United Nations General Assembly
- Diego Borja - Coordination Minister for Economic Policy, President of the Poder Ciudadano Movement
- Manuela Cañizares (1769-1814) - early leader of the independence movement
- Rafael Carvajal (1819-1878) - politician, minister
- Pacífico Chiriboga (1810-1886) - politician, legislator, vicepresident
- Carlos Cueva Tamariz (1898–1991) - politician, senator, legislator, councilman to the city of Cuenca, Ambassador to UN, Secretary of Labor
- Guillermo Franco (1811-1873)- self-proclaimed dictator, major figure in the Ecuadorian political and military scene
- Luisa Gómez de la Torre Páez (1887-1976) - socialist activist
- Susana González Rosado (born 1973) - Assembly member, viceprefect of Guayas Province
- Matilde Hidalgo (1889-1974) - Activist, physician, first Ecuadorian woman to finish secondary education, first Ecuadorina woman to complete a degree in medicine and first Ecuadorian woman to cast a vote in a national election
- María Cristina Kronfle (born 1985) - member of the Constituent Assembly and National Assembly for Guayas Province
- Richelieu Levoyer - Army General, who proposed the "Return to the Constitution Plan" that ended the 1976–1979 dictatorship
- Eduardo Maruri - Assembly Member for the Guayas Province
- Paco Moncayo - Army General, Former Mayor of Quito, Congressman
- Debbie Mucarsel-Powell - Ecuadorian-born member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida. The first person born in South America to reach the United States Congress.
- Antonio Parra Velasco - Ambassador to France and Great Britain
- León Roldós Aguilera - former Vice President of Ecuador, leader of the RED political movement
- Manuela Sáenz - involved in the independence movement, was Simón Bolívar's lover and confidant.
- Jorge Salvador Lara - Ambassador to the Vatican, Peru, Chile, and France, former Foreign Minister of Ecuador
- Juan de Salinas y Zenitagoya - early independence leader
- Alfredo Vera Arrata - politician and architect, minister of education, councilman to the city of Quito, Anti-Corruption Secretary
- Alfredo Vera Vera (1910–1999), politician.
Indigenous leaders
- Atahualpa - Inca emperor, perhaps born in what is today Ecuador
- Rumiñawi - high-ranking Incan warrior around the time of the Spanish conquest
Presidents
- Juan José Flores - first President (1830–1835; 1839–1843; 1843–1845), Venezuelan-born
- Vicente Rocafuerte - President (1834-1839)
- José Joaquín de Olmedo y Maruri - President (1845–1845)
- Vicente Ramón Roca - President (1845–1849), first Vice President (1830–1831)
- Diego Noboa - President (1850–1851)
- José María Urvina - Supreme Chief and President (1851-1856)
- Francisco Robles - President (1856-1859)
- Gabriel García Moreno - President (1860-1865; 1869–1875)
- Jerónimo Carrión - President (1865-1867)
- Javier Espinosa - President (1868-1869)
- Antonio Borrero - President (1875-1876)
- Ignacio de Veintemilla - Dictator and president (1876-1883)
- José Plácido Caamaño - President (1883-1888)
- Antonio Flores Jijón - President (1888-1892)
- Luis Cordero Crespo - President (1892-1895)
- Eloy Alfaro - Supreme Chief and President (1895–1901)
- Leonidas Plaza - President (1901–1905; 1912–1916)
- Isidro Ayora - President (1926–1931)
- José María Velasco Ibarra - President (1934–1935; 1944–1947 1952–1956; 1968–1972)
- Galo Plaza Lasso - President (1948–1952)
- Ramón Castro Jijón - President of the military junta (1963-1966)
- Otto Arosemena - President (1966-1968)
- Jaime Roldós Aguilera - President (1979–1981)
- Leon Febres Cordero - President (1984–1988)
- Rodrigo Borja Cevallos - President (1988–1992)
- Sixto Durán Ballén - President (1992–1996)
- Abdalá Bucaram - President (1996–1997)
- Jamil Mahuad - President (1998–2000)
- Gustavo Noboa - President (2000–2003)
- Lucio Gutiérrez - President (2003–2005)
- Alfredo Palacio - President (2005–2007)
- Rafael Correa - President (2007–2017)
- Lenin Moreno - President (2017-2021), former Vice President (2007–2013)
First ladies
- Lucila Santos Trujillo - wife of Otto Arosemena
Sports
- Álex Aguinaga - footballer and coach
- Robert Arboleda - footballer
- Xavier Arreaga - footballer
- Christian Benítez - footballer
- Shirley Berruz - footballer
- Ramiro Borja - footballer, Ecuadorian-born, represented Puerto Rico internationally
- Beder Caicedo - footballer
- Carina Caicedo - footballer
- Felipe Caicedo - footballer
- Jonathan Caicedo - cyclist
- Moisés Caicedo - footballer
- Pablo Campana - tennis player and public servant
- Richard Carapaz - cyclist, winner of the Giro d'Italia
- Miler Castillo (born 1987) – football player
- José Francisco Cevallos - footballer, public servant and sports executive
- Juan Manuel Correa - racing driver
- Ulises de la Cruz - footballer and politician
- Agustín Delgado - footballer and politician, scored first Ecuadorian goal in a World Cup
- Iván Enderica Ochoa - swimmer
- Michael Estrada - footballer
- Pervis Estupiñán - footballer
- Andrés Gómez - tennis player, French Open winner
- Emilio Gómez - tennis player
- Carlos Góngora - boxer, IBO world champion
- Doménica González - tennis player
- Carlos Gruezo Arboleda - footballer
- Carlos Gruezo Quiñónez - footballer
- Elías Jácome - football referee, the first Ecuadorian to officiate in a World Cup
- Iván Kaviedes - footballer
- Nicolás Lapentti - tennis player
- Giovanni Lapentti - tennis player
- Édison Méndez - footballer
- Jhonatan Narváez - cyclist
- Christian Noboa - footballer
- Alfonso Obregón - footballer
- Jefferson Pérez - Gold medal winner of the 20 km race walk at the 1996 Olympics
- Gonzalo Plata - footballer
- Joao Plata - footballer, active in Major League Soccer
- Roberto Quiroz - tennis player
- Cristian Ramírez - footballer
- Hugo Savinovich - professional wrestler in the United States and Puerto Rico
- Pancho Segura - Ecuadorian-American tennis player, among the top players in his generation
- Alberto Spencer - footballer, best remembered for his time at Peñarol. Top all-time Copa Libertadores scorer.
- Carlos Tenorio - footballer
- Patricio Urrutia - footballer and politician, captained the successful L.D.U. Quito team which won Copa Libertadores
- Antonio Valencia - footballer, best known for his time at Manchester United F.C., only Manchester United captain from outside Europe
- Enner Valencia - footballer
- Joel Valencia - footballer, has also represented Spain on youth levels
- Iván Vallejo - mountaineer and public servant
- Marlon Vera - Mixed martial arts fighter
- Rolando Vera - long-distance runner
- Petter Villegas - footballer, Ecuadorian-born, represented Puerto Rico internationally
- Octavio Zambrano - football coach, known mostly for his career at Major League Soccer