Ecuador

Population: 13,183,978 (July 2001 est.)

Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Background: The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors...

Currency: US dollar (USD, US$1 = US$1)

Data from CIA World Factbook. Click on CIA link for more. Click on map or flag for larger images.