The Culture of Ecuador
Ecuador is a multiethnic and multicultural nation. Its population exceeds 12.6 million. In it, more than five and a half million live in the Sierra. In the Pacific Coast the figure is close to the six and a half million. In the Amazon, there are more than 600 thousand inhabitants, and in the Galapagos nearly 17 thousand. In its three continental regions coexist 14 indigenous nationalities with different traditions and their own worldview. The peoples of the Middle Quichua: Huaoranis, Achuar, Shuar, Cofán, Secoya, Siona, and Shiwiar Záparo are in the Amazon. The Tagaeri, relatives of the Huaorani, form another people of the area but declared as “intangible” by the State, in respect for their willingness to live away from civilization.
In the Sierra, in the Andes and in the Austro are the Quichuas de la Sierra and villages as Cañaris Saraguros. In the northern part is the community of AWA. In the Pacific coast are the Chachis, Cayapas, Tsáchilas and Huancavilcas.
The provinces with the largest number of immigrants are Pichincha and Guayas. Similarly, overseas migrations is a phenomenon that has grown in recent years due to the economic crisis. Nations like the United States, Spain and Italy, host communities Ecuadorians important today. The official language is Spanish, but there are indigenous languages such as Quechua shimi, awapit, cha’palachi, tsafiqui, paicoca, a’ingae, huaotirio, Shuar-chichan and záparo. The predominant religion is Roman Catholic, but many people still retain their centuries-old beliefs, worship to land, the mountains or the sun.