ɪɾ ɪz ðə fˈoːɹθ mˈoʊst pˈɑːpjʊləs sˈɪɾi ɪn ˈɛkwɐdˌoːɹ, wɪð ɐ pˌɑːpjʊlˈeɪʃən ʌv θɹˈiːhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi fˈoːɹ,ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti sˈɪks, ænd ɪz ɐn ɪmpˈoːɹtənt kəmˈɜːʃəl ænd ɪndˈʌstɹɪəl sˈɛntɚ.
It is the fourth most populous city in Ecuador, with a population of 334,826, and is an important commercial and industrial center.