Demographics
and Language
Ecuador's
population is estimated to be 12,646,095, with a less than
2% annual growth rate. The population is ethnically mixed:
55% mestizo (mixed Indigenous - Caucasian), 25% Indigenous,
10% Caucasian, 9% African, and 1% other.
Although
the population was heavily concentrated in the Andes highlands
region a few decades ago, today it is divided about equally
between that area and the coast. Migration toward cities
- particularly Quito and Quayaquil - in all regions has
increased the urban population to more than 50%. The rainforest
region to the east of the mountains remains the most sparsely
populated of Ecuador's three continental regions and contains
only about 3% of the population.
The
official language of Ecuador is Spanish. Quichua, Shuara,
and other native languages are also widely spoken. Ecuador
is a very English-friendly country, with many Ecuadorians
studying English as their second language.
