Demographics of Ecuador
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Ecuador's population is ethnically diverse. Mestizos (those of mixed Spanish and Amerindian ancestry) are by far the largest of all ethnic groups and constitute over 65 per cent of the current population. Amerindians are second in numbers and account for approximately a quarter of the people, around 25%. Whites are mainly Creoles, unmixed descendants of Spanish colonist, and account for 7% of the Ecuadorian population. A small minority of Afro-Ecuadorians, including Mulattos and Zambos, constitute the remainder.
Although Ecuadorians were most heavily concentrated in the mountainous Sierra (central highlands) region only a century ago, today's population is divided about equally between that area and the Costa (coastal lowlands) region.
Migration toward cities -- particularly larger cities -- in all regions has increased the urban population to about 55%.
The Oriente (amazonian jungle) region to the east of the mountains, and covering about half the country's land area, remains sparsely populated. It includes the headwaters of the Amazon River. It contains only about 3% of the population, many of whom are uninfluenced and unassimilated amazonian Native Americans who maintain their distance and caution from the recent mestizos and White settlers. There are nine indigenous peoples present: Quichua, Shuar, Achuar, Huaorani, Siona, Secoya, Shiwiar, Záparo, and Cofan, all represented politicality by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon, CONFENIAE. The recent settlers are a result of the small immigration experienced here (mainly mestizo migrants from the Sierra) which occurred during and after the 1970s when government sponsored multinationals began to exploit petroleum reserves in the region. The industrial expansion, and subsequent settlement resulted in the boom of the town of Lago Agrio as well as substantial deforestation, indigenous population loss and the final disappearance of the Tetete people.
The public education system is tuition-free, and attendance is mandatory from ages 6 to 14. In practice, however, many children drop out before age 15, and, in rural areas only about one-third complete sixth grade. The government is striving to create better programs for the rural and urban poor, especially in technical and occupational training. In recent years, it also has been successful in reducing illiteracy. Enrollment in primary schools has been increasing at an annual rate of 4.4%--faster than the population growth rate. According to the 1979 constitution, the central government must allocate at least 30% of its revenue to education; in practice, however, it allots a much smaller percentage. Public universities have an open admissions policy. In recent years, however, large increases in the student population, budget difficulties, and extreme politicization of the university system have led to a decline in academic standards.
Population: 13,710,234 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
34.9% (male 2,430,303; female 2,351,166)
15-64 years:
60.6% (male 4,116,289; female 4,198,667)
65 years and over:
4.5% (male 284,082; female 329,727) (2003 est.)
Median Age:
Total:
22.5 years
Male:
22 years
Female:
23 years (2002)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (2003 est.)
Birth rate: 24.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate: 5.29 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.86 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Total:
31.97 deaths/1,000 live births
Female:
26.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Male:
37.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.89 years
male:
69.06 years
female:
74.86 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 232 (2001)
Nationality:
noun:
Ecuadorian(s)
adjective:
Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quichua)
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.5%
male:
94%
female:
91% (2003 est.)
- See also : Ecuador