Ecuador is a medium-sized South American nation of about 18.3 million people squeezed between Colombia and Peru along the Pacific coast. Most Ecuadorians (64%) live in urban areas, with Guayaquil and the capital Quito being the major population centers. The country is predominantly mestizo (mixed indigenous and European ancestry), with significant indigenous, Afro-Ecuadorian, and European-descended communities.
About 1 in 4 Ecuadorians works in agriculture, with bananas, coffee, cacao, and flowers being major exports. Tourism employs another chunk of the population, with the Galápagos Islands drawing nature enthusiasts from around the world…
