Introduction - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 28

(mainly Asian), 1%. If one considers less-than-pure Amerindian
blood, the figures are closer to 40% Amerindians and 40% mestizos.
Spanish is the official language, though most indigenous people
speak Quichua and live in the highlands. Among them, various sub-
groups have lived in isolation from each other for centuries and, con-
sequently, speak different variations of dialects in regions near each
other. The Quichua people can also be distinguished by region based
on slight differences in clothing, a system introduced by the colonial
landlords to identify the “peasants.” The color of a poncho or the
shape of a hat may identify a person from a specific region.
Some of the best-known highland groups are the Otavaleos ,
Salasacas , Cañaris , and Saraguros , withmany of themnow living
in towns and cities. The largest population of rural Quichua
Amerindians , at approximately 250,000, lives in communities in
the province of Chimborazo. A few other small groups live in the Ama-
zonian lowlands and include about 60,000 Quichuas, 40,000 Shuar ,
1,000 Huaoranis , and 600 each of the Cofan and Siona-Secoya
peoples. About 5,000 Chachi Amerindians live in the northern
coastal rainforests around the Esmeraldas Province, and 1,000
Tchatchilas (Colorado) Indians live in the western lowlands.
Each of these groups has its own language. Although these statistics
may not meanmuch to you now, each of these unique peoples has fas-
cinating histories and rich cultures that will come to life as you travel
and learn more about them.
About 48% of the Ecuadorian population lives on the coast, while ap-
proximately 46% lives in the highlands, with the remainder in the
jungle regions of the Oriente. With an annual growth rate of just over
2%, the population is set to double in 34 years, a significant fact, con-
sidering Ecuador already has the highest population density in all of
South America. Nevertheless, this growth rate is much lower than it
was several years ago. Life expectancy has topped 67 years for males
and 72 years for females. At least 55% of the people live in urban ar-
eas; the remaining rural population is primarily indigenous. People
living in the country are often referred to as campesinos (peasants
or farmers); indigenous people are called indígenas . As with many
developing countries, the income gap in Ecuador is stunning, and
growing - a fact that becomes all too apparent in the urban centers.
Nevertheless, the people here maintain a high level of dignity and
pride, which is what makes this such a special place to visit.