Ecuador: population, pros and cons of living in the country

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

According to the latest data (as of 2016), the population of Ecuador is 16,385,068 people. That is how many people live in this South American country at the very equator. Ecuador is a unique country bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the west and bordered by Colombia and Peru. Ecuador owns the famous Galapagos Islands. Further - about everything in more detail.

About country

The people of Ecuador live in a country that crosses the equator 25 kilometers north of the capital city called Quito.

Ecuador has a diverse nature. Along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the west are the foothills of the Andes, and in the center - the Andes themselves, which consist of two parallel ridges with extinct and active volcanoes, which erupt infrequently, but periodically. The eastern part of the state is located in the Amazon lowland.

Ecuador has long borders with Peru and Colombia, the whole country is covered by a dense network of rivers, most of them are tributaries of the Amazon. Evergreen forests, also called hylaea, in the northcountries are replaced by green forests, in the center - woodlands and, finally, semi-deserts in the southwest.

Among the animals dominated by small deer, jaguars, wild peccary pigs, anteaters, cougars, armadillos.

National composition

Mostly the population of Ecuador consists of three national groups. At the same time, it should be noted that the boundaries between them are very conditional. The indigenous population of Ecuador is Quechua, their number is approximately 39 percent. About 60 percent of white and swarthy Hispanic Ecuadorians live, another one percent of the so-called "forest Indians" is recorded. At the same time, it is worth noting that in this case, the boundaries between them are very conditional.

The largest of the existing modern Indian peoples - Quechua. About 30 percent of all Quechua live in Ecuador, a significant part of them also live in Bolivia and Peru. The Quechua who live in Ecuador are descended from multilingual and multi-tribal groups who have adopted the culture and language of Quechua over the past few centuries. They are mainly located in the southern regions of the country.

The forest Indians of Ecuador include all other Indian peoples that live in the country, excluding only the small Chibcha people, their representatives live in the mountains in northern Ecuador. Forest Indians are located in evergreen tropical regions, keeping the tribal division. Forest Indians are divided into two major groups. The first includes hibaro (they are also called havaro). These includeMurato, Achuale, Malacata, Huambisa tribes - they live in the south of the country. The second group includes the Yambo, Alamo tribes, who speak dialects and variations of the Quechua language, and live in the east of Ecuador. In the past few decades, the Quechua have been actively assimilating the forest Indians.

Hispanic Ecuadorians are divided into several racial groups:

• These are mestizos, descendants of the Spaniards, who eventually mixed with the local Quechua, as well as other peoples that make up the population of Ecuador. Most often, they carefully treat the customs of both the natives and the Spaniards, and many deliberately refuse a specific national definition. On the Pacific coast, they are called montubie, mostly they live in small towns or agricultural villages. Many mestizos and montubiers who mostly move to the cities take part in rodeos and bullfights.
• Another racial group is the assimilated Indians, who also prefer to give up national self-determination.
• Creoles are white people, they are descendants of Hispanic whites who call themselves Ecuadorians. They also include the descendants of small diasporas of other Europeans who retain their identity, but may still lose it over time. The descendants of white Spaniards are located mainly on the northern coast of the province of Manabi, in the southern parts of the country and the city of Guayaquil.
• Mulatos, Blacks and Sambos define their racial identity as Afro-Ecuadorians. They live on the northern coast of Ecuador: in the city of Guayaquil and the provinceImbabura. By now, they have almost completely assimilated due to the fact that they do not have their own language, they mostly speak Spanish with a certain accent. Afro-Ecuadorians who live on the coast call themselves Montubie. But at the same time, they try to maintain an identity, standing out with their own food, music, holidays and national costumes, usually they are associated with a specific African nation.

Most Popular Racial Groups

The most popular racial group among the population of the country of Ecuador are mestizos. They are about 7/10 of the total population of the state. One fifth is white, one tenth is mulatto. At the same time, the latter are much more than in other countries in the Andean region.

Afro-Ecuadorians are considered the direct descendants of black slaves who fled from a slave ship in 1623, mixing with local Indian tribes. It is noteworthy that they lived apart for more than two hundred years, not recognizing the authority of the Spanish colonial administration.

In addition to the already listed national groups, Colombians permanently live in Ecuador (up to 30 thousand of them), about five thousand Spaniards, Japanese and Italians, up to 15 thousand Germans, about two thousand Americans, the same number of Peruvians, at least three thousand Chinese and about one thousand Jews.

Population density

Ecuador has an average population density of approximately 33 people per square kilometer. At the same time, it is distributed throughout the territory veryunevenly. It is worth noting that this is one of the highest rates in the entire territory of South America. Higher only in Colombia, and on average about 21.5 people per square kilometer live on the continent. French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana and Bolivia are among the outsiders in this indicator.

In the country of Ecuador, the most populated are the mountainous and coastal regions, which are called Costa (coastal areas) and Sierra (Andes mountains). In these places, the population density is about 60 people per square kilometer.

But in the eastern part of the country, which is called Oriente, as well as in the central and eastern parts, which are covered with evergreen tropical forests, the density is less than one person per square kilometer. In these places, the population lives only in some elevated places.

The population of Ecuador is over 16 million people. Internal migration in Ecuador occurs from the western regions of the country to the eastern, and also massively leave villages for cities. But at the same time, it should be noted that both immigration and emigration are quite small, not having a significant impact on the overall dynamics.

Recently, there has been a significant increase in the population of Ecuador, the death rate is constantly decreasing with a high birth rate. For example, between 1950 and 1983 alone, the population more than doubled, and if we talk exclusively about the urban population, it grew four and a half times.

Main languages

In Ecuador, the photo of the inhabitants of which is in this article, the state language isSpanish. At the same time, a significant part of the country is bilingual.

About eight percent of the population is bilingual. So, almost all Quechua speak Spanish, which is mixed with individual words from their language. In some parts of Ecuador, Quechua is taught in public schools, books are published in Quechua, and radio and TV programs are broadcast in Quechua.

It's all part of the government's policy to preserve local peoples, although it causes many descendants of Hispanic-Mestizos and Spaniards to abandon their Spanish roots. For example, there are problems celebrating the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.

Religion

Most of the population of the country of Ecuador adheres to Catholicism. The Quechua are also predominantly Catholic. But at the same time, many of them retain elements of their former religion, which is associated with the cult of the sun. This belief is also known as Zoroastrianism. It is believed that this is one of the oldest religions in the world, which originates in the revelations of the prophet Spitama Zarathustra.

The basis of his teaching is the free moral choice of good thoughts, which the person himself makes, as well as good deeds and words. In the ancient world and the early Middle Ages, Zoroastrianism was very widespread in the territory of Greater Iran, this is a historical region that is located on the site of modern Iran.

In Zoroastrianism there are dualistic and monotheistic features. In our time, Zoroastrianism has been supplanted almost everywhere by religions that have become morepopular. Basically, it is Islam.

Small communities of Zoroastrians remain in India and Iran, as well as in some countries of Western Europe and the states of the former USSR, mainly in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. Separate features of Zoroastrianism are also present in the Ecuadorian Quechua.

Tribal beliefs persist among the Wood Indians.

Statistics

With a population of 16.3 million, Ecuador's 1.5 percent annual growth looks significant, making it one of the fastest growing nations in South America.

The birth rate is more than 20 people per thousand population, and the death rate is only five people per thousand. The level of emigration in quantitative terms is very low, 0.8 persons per thousand inhabitants.

A feature of the population of Ecuador is a high life expectancy. For men, it is 72.4 years, and for women it is 78.4 years.

In recent years, an important indicator is the level of infection with immunodeficiency (HIV), in Ecuador it is 0.3 percent. The ethno-racial composition is:

• 65 percent of the population is mestizo;
• 25 percent Indians;
• 7 percent white;
• 3 percent blacks.

92 percent of men and 90 percent of the population are literate. Catholics in Ecuador are 95 percent, other religions are about five percent.

Dynamics

In Ecuador, the population is growing, in a historicalperspective is especially noticeable. In 1500, about two million people lived in the country, then the decline began: to one million inhabitants in 1600, to 350 thousand in 1750.

Then the growth began again. By 1900, one million 400 thousand people already lived in Ecuador. In 1930, almost two million inhabitants began to live again.

Ecuador passed the mark of three million in 1950, in 1990 the country's population was already more than ten million inhabitants. According to long-term forecasts, by 2030 almost 19 million people will live in the country, by 2050 - more than 23 million, and then a decline is planned. By 2100, according to researchers, the population will drop to 15 million 600 thousand people.

Life benefits

The standard of living of the population of Ecuador depends on the large number of advantages that this country has. It is a diverse and pure nature. There are four climatic zones in the country - these are mountains, the Pacific coast, the jungle and the Galapagos Islands. All year round the country has good weather, very friendly relations with foreigners.

Many people in Ecuador are attracted by the diverse and diverse fauna and flora. There are many national parks with unique animals and plants. There is high security here: no terrorist attacks have been recorded in the country, the government carefully monitors environmental safety, and there are no dangerous industrial production in Ecuador. At the same time, it is easy to open your own business here, start running your own small business, for example, in the field of tourism or trade.

Almost all year round in Ecuador you can find a variety of delicious vegetables and fruits, life expectancy is higher than in Russia, there is little smoking in the country, there are dedicated lanes for public transport, so even in large cities there are practically no traffic jams.

In Ecuador, there are many paid schools with a high level of education. The monetary unit is the American dollar. The minimum salary is 425 dollars (26,800 rubles), a high level of insurance medicine.

Most residents lead a measured lifestyle, there are practically no flies and mosquitoes in the mountains, the work of state and municipal employees is highly appreciated, the communication of officials with visitors is polite and courteous, this is noted by many visiting foreigners, especially from Russia. The country has excellent roads.

Tourists in Ecuador are attracted by the ocean, unique miniature hummingbirds, sympathetic and good-natured people, who are the vast majority. There are no problems with mobile communications in the country, a 4, 5G network is now being launched, in large and medium-sized cities the Internet is supplied via fiber, satellite television is widespread.

The city of Cuenca is very popular among American tourists and pensioners, which is considered one of the most comfortable and safe in the country, so a large number of older people come here every year to spend a vacation or live a couple of months in an attractive climate. Ecuador has a varied cuisine that has absorbed the characteristics of several nationalities at once, but, first of all, Spanish. Hereyou can often find fresh seafood and sea delicacies on the table.

Many people like the colonial architecture, which in the cities has been preserved almost in its original form.

Existing shortcomings

According to those who constantly live or visit Ecuador, there are enough minuses in this state. They are connected, for example, with natural features and local mentality.

First of all, many people are scared off by a large number of volcanoes and scorpions, earthquakes often occur here, so the population of many cities and small villages lives almost on a powder keg.

There are a lot of stray dogs in cities, and therefore, their waste products. The government cannot cope with their flow, the authorities do not have a real effective plan for how to solve this problem.

The country has very poor higher education, even compared to other countries in South America. Ecuadorian universities, as well as the diplomas they issue, are not highly valued in the world.

For a Russian person, the absolute absence of tea, buckwheat and herring will be an unpleasant surprise. There is no ventilation and heating in the houses, and in the mountains there are very cool nights. Appliances and cars are very expensive, and the purchase of furniture, as well as household appliances, will cost a pretty penny.

Nature is very specific: the sun is so bright that often the locals suffer from skin cancer, sunbathing is impossible in principle. In many professions, the level of professionalism is extremely low.

The country has very expensive products, in big cities there arecriminogenic dangerous areas in which it is better not to appear at night. High pickpocketing rate on public transport.