Ecuador is found on the west coast of South America, between Colombia and Peru. Ecuador’s capital city, Quito, is situated on the Andes mountain range. The Republic of Ecuador also includes the Galapagos Islands, which are 1,000 kilometres from the coast. The Galapagos Islands are well known for their land and marine animals, including unique birds and gigantic land tortoises. In fact, “Galapagos” is an ancient Spanish word meaning “tortoise”.
Quick Facts
Population: 16.499 million
Ethnic Groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) (71.9%), Montubio (7.4%), Amerindian (7%), White (6.1%), Afroecuadorian (4.3%), mulato (1.9%), Black (1%), Other (0.4%)
Languages: Spanish (Castilian) (Official) (93%), Quechua (4.1%), other Indigenous (0.7%), Foreign (2.2%)
Religions: Roman Catholic (74%), Evangelical (10.4%), Jehovah’s Witness (1.2%), Other (6.4%), Atheist (7.9%), Agnostic (0.1%)
Capital: Quito
CIA: The World Factbook — Last Updated December 29, 2019
Ecuadorians in Canada
Ecuadorian Population in Canada
25,410
Useful Links
Ecuador became independent from Spain in 1830. Poverty is a major social problem and political stability is rare, even though Ecuador has been a democracy since 1979. The vast majority of Ecuador’s population identifies as Christian, and most of them are Catholic. The Catholic faith has a strong influence on the culture; birth, marriage, and death are often marked by Catholic ceremonies and many towns celebrate Christmas with a festive parade. The freedom of religion exists in the Dominican Republic.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (2019, December 17). The World Factbook: Ecuador. Retrieved December 29, 2019, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ecuador/
- Ecuadorans. (2009). In T. L. Gall & J. Hobby (Eds.), Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (2nd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 203-207). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- Encyclopedia of the Nations. (n.d.). Ecuador. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Americas/Ecuador.html
- Encyclopedia of the Nations. (n.d.). Ecuador. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/geography/Congo-Democratic-Republic-of-the-to-India/Ecuador.html
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2009, October 15). Cultural Information – Ecuador. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/culture-culture_ec.aspx?lang=eng
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2011, December 15). Overview – Ecuador. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/overview-apercu_ec.aspx?lang=eng
- Mandryk, J. (2010). Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation (7th ed.). Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing.
- Statistics Canada. (2017, October 25). Data Tables, 2016 Census – Ethnic Origin (279), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age (12) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census – 25% Sample Data. Retrieved December 14, 2017, from http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/olc-cel/olc.action?objId=98-400-X2016187&objType=46&lang=en&limit=0