Ecuador is a country located in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean. The capital and largest city is Quito. Ecuador was home to various indigenous groups before being colonized by Spain in the 16th century and gaining independence in 1830. The population of over 16 million is diverse, with Mestizos being the largest ethnic group. Spanish is the official language. Ecuador has a developing economy reliant on commodities like oil and agriculture. It is a representative democratic republic with recognized rights of nature in its constitution.

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Coordinates: 2°00′S 77°30′W
Republic of Ecuador
República del Ecuador (Spanish)
IkwayurRunaq Imayka (Quechua)
Flag of Ecuador
Flag
{{{coat_alt}}}
Coat of arms
Motto:
"Dios, patria y libertad" (Spanish)
"Pro Deo, Patria et Libertate" (Latin)
"God, homeland and freedom"
Anthem: Salve, Oh Patria (Spanish)
Hail, Oh Homeland
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Location of Ecuador (dark green) in South America (grey)

2. Location of Ecuador (dark green)
in South America (grey)
Location of Ecuador
Capital Quito
00°9′S 78°21′W
Largestcity Guayaquil
Official languages Spanish[1]
Recognized regional languages Kichwa (Quichua), Shuar and others "are in
official use for indigenous peoples"[2]
Ethnic groups ([3])
71.9% Mestizo
7.4% Montubio
7.2% Afro-Ecuadorian
7% Amerindian
6.1% White
0.4% others
Demonym Ecuadorian
Government Unitary presidential constitutional republic
• President
Lenín Moreno
• Vice President
María Alejandra Vicuña
Legislature National Assembly
Independence
• Declared
August10, 1809

3. • fromSpain
May 24, 1822
• fromGran Colombia
May 13, 1830
• Recognized by Spain
February 16, 1840[4]
• Currentconstitution
September 28, 2008
Area
• Total
283,561[5] km2 (109,484 sq mi)a (73rd)
• Water (%)
5
Population
• 2016 estimate
16,385,068[6] (65th)
• 2010 census
14,483,499[7]
• Density
58.95/km2 (152.7/sq mi) (151st)
GDP (PPP) 2016 estimate
• Total
$194.845billion[8]
• Per capita
$11,788[8]
GDP (nominal) 2016 estimate

4. • Total
$109.759billion[8] (64th)
• Per capita
$6,640[8]
Gini (2014) Positive decrease45.4[9]
medium
HDI (2017) Increase0.752[10]
high · 86th
Currency United States dollarb (USD)
Time zone UTC−5 / −6 (ECT / GALT)
Driving side right
Calling code+593
ISO 3166 code EC
InternetTLD .ec
Including Galápagos.
Sucreuntil 2000, replaced by the US$ and Ecuadorian centavo coins.
Ecuador (/ˈɛkwədɔːr/(Aboutthis sound listen) EK-wə-dor, Spanish:
[ekwaˈðoɾ]) (Quechua: Ikwayur), officially the Republic of Ecuador
(Spanish: República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of
the Equator"; Quechua: Ikwadur Ripuwlika), is a country in northwestern
South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and
south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Ecuador also includes the
Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) westof
the mainland. The capital city is Quito, while the largestcity is Guayaquil.
What is now Ecuador was home to a variety of Amerindian groups that
were gradually incorporated into the Inca Empire during the 15th century.
The territory was colonized by Spain during the 16th century, achieving
independence in 1820 as partof Gran Colombia, from which it emerged as
its own sovereign state in 1830. Thelegacy of both empires is reflected in

5. Ecuador's ethnically diversepopulation, with mostof its 16.4 million
people being mestizos, followed by large minorities of European,
Amerindian, and African descendants. Spanish is the official language and
is spoken by a majority of the population, though 13 Amerindian
languages are also recognized, including Quichua and Shuar.
The sovereign state of Ecuador is a middle-income representative
democratic republic with a developing economy that is highly dependent
on commodities, namely petroleum and agricultural products. Itis
governed as a democratic presidential republic. One of 17 megadiverse
countries in the world,[11][12] Ecuador hosts many endemic plants and
animals, such as those of the Galápagos Islands. In recognition of its
unique ecological heritage, the new constitution of 2008 is the firstin the
world to recognize legally enforceable Rights of Nature, or
ecosystem rights.[13]