| Ecuador's
population is estimated to be 12,700,000. The population is
ethnically mixed 55% Mestizo , 25% Indigenous, 10% Caucasian,
9% African, the descendants of African slaves who worked on
coastal sugar plantations in the sixteenth century, and 1%
of other races.
People are incredibly hospitable and helpful.
Like most developing countries there isn't a very large middle
class in Ecuador and there are both extremes in terms of wealth.
The official language of the country is Spanish, but other
languages, such as Cha´palachi, Quichua, Shimi, Paicoca
Awapit, , Tsafiqui, , A´ingae, Huaotirio, Shuar-chichan,
and Záparo, are widely spoken in areas with large indigenous
populations. The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism
although there is no established church, but many communities
still preserve their ancient beliefs of worship of the earth,
the mountains, and the sun.
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