Ecuador

Ecuador is a country in the northwest of South America, bordered by Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Ecuador also includes the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 1000 km west of the mainland. The capital is Quito.

The territories of present-day Ecuador were once home to many Native American groups that gradually became part of the Inca Empire during the 15th century. The territory was colonized by Spain in the 16th century, gaining independence in 1820 as part of Greater Colombia, from which it emerged as a sovereign state of its own in 1830. The legacy of both empires is reflected in the ethnically diverse population of Ecuador, most of which 17.1 million are mestizo, followed by large minorities of descendants of Europeans, Native Americans and Africans. The official language is Spanish, which is spoken by the majority of the population, although 13 native languages ​​are also recognized, including Quechua and Shuar.

The sovereign state of Ecuador is a middle-income democratic republic and a developing country that relies heavily on commodities such as oil and agricultural products. It is governed as a democratic presidential republic. The country is one of the founders of the United Nations, Organization of American States, MERCOSUR, PROSUR and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Ecuador, one of the 17 most diverse countries in the world, is home to many endemic plants and animals, such as those found in the Galapagos Islands. Recognizing its unique ecological heritage, the new 2008 constitution is the first in the world to recognize the legally enforceable rights of nature or the rights to ecosystems.

According to the Center for Economic and Political Research, between 2006 and 2016, poverty fell from 36.7% to 22.5%, and the annual growth of GDP per capita was 1.5% (up from 0.6% in the previous two decades). At the same time, the country's Gini economic inequality index fell from 0.55 to 0.47.