Sponsor with Compassion

Straddling the equator, Ecuador is home to two massive mountain ranges that split the country into three distinct zones. The lowlands are hot and humid, while the highlands are more temperate. To the east lie tropical rainforests and river valleys. Farther out to sea, in the west, lie the Galapagos Islands.

The Ecuadorian population is more urban than rural, and most of its people are of Indigenous or mixed ancestry. Spanish is the official language, and Catholicism is the most common religion, but many people speak Quechua or Shuar and practise traditional religions. Cash crops like bananas are complemented by mining and manufacturing, and petroleum production has been a major, if inconsistent, contributor to the local economy.

Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro first invaded Ecuador in 1532 and soon controlled it. In 1830, the county won its independence from the larger independent state of Gran Colombia. Border disputes with Peru led to war in 1941, and conflicts continued until the border was officially demarcated in 1998. Military-backed authoritarian governments dominated Ecuador's politics until the mid-20th century, but since then, Ecuador has been one of the more stable democracies in the region. The government made the controversial move to replace its national currency with the US dollar in 2000 in an attempt to stabilize the economy. Since then, Ecuador has struggled with disputes over economic policies and Indigenous rights. Despite the boom-and-bust cycle of its economy and internal disputes, it has continued to grow and has become an increasingly popular tourist destination.