Ecuador is the leading country in banana exports. The population of Ecuador is almost 13 million. The official language is Spanish, although there are some indigenous languages still spoken regionally. The major religious tradition is Roman Catholic, and a small percentage of other Christian denominations are on the rise. The diet of Ecuadorians is based on grains and vegetables because the cost of meat is so high.
Fish is a staple on the coastal areas.
The main meal of the day is mid-afternoon, and soup almost always accompanies that meal. Ecuador also has its own form of volleyball called Ecuavolley, which is very similar to the form of volleyball played in the United States. Those who live in the coastal areas visit the beaches during the months of December through April when the weather is the most enjoyable. The children in orphanages are typically there because they have been abandoned. Many are there because a family simply cannot afford to feed another child.