The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses of Ecuador (INEC) reported that the country in 2022 already has 18 million inhabitants [8]. There are 14 Indigenous nationalities in the country (Tsáchila, Chachi, Epera, Awa, Kichwa, Shuar, Achuar, Shiwiar, Cofán, Siona, Secoya, Zápara, Andoa and Waorani), totalling more than one million people, living mainly in the highlands (68.20%), followed by the Amazon (24.06%), with only 7.56% living on the coast. The Kichwa is the largest group (85.87%) with nearly 800,000 members. The highland province with the largest rural Indigenous population is Chimborazo, followed by Imbabura and Cotopaxi [9]. It is expected that by 2050, Ecuador's population will reach 23.4 million people [8].  

Ecuador has 14 main cities (Ambato, Azogues, Esmeralda, Guayaquil, Ibarra, Lacatunga, Loja, Machala, Manta, Milagro, Puyo, Quito, Riobamba, Santo Domingo Tsáchilas, and Tulcan). Guayaquil and Quito are the two biggest cities in the country. The provinces of Guayas and Pichincha account for 43.6% of Ecuador’s population. In 2019, Guayaquil and Quito had 2.7 and 2.0 million people, respectively [8]. In 1960, 34% (1.5 million people) of the Ecuadorian population lived in cities, nowadays 64% (11.5 million people) of the population is urban which represents a rate of urban population growth of 10.6% per year [10].

In 2021, Ecuador was the 63rd biggest economy in the world and the 7th in Latin America with 106,166 million of current dollars [11]. The currency of Ecuador is the US dollar adopted in 2000, previously the country had the Sucre, and the exchange rate was 25 sucres per US dollar. Ecuador's economy is mainly based on oil. However, the agricultural sector is also important since its products are in the international markets; banana and cocoa are two of the most exported products from Ecuador [12].

On June 11, 2019, the World Bank Board of Directors approved the 2019-2023 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with Ecuador. This document establishes a funding and technical assistance program to support the country’s development and growth efforts. Prepared with the Government of Ecuador and considering consultations with different civil society and private sector groups, the CPF addresses the need to support macroeconomic stabilization, protect the most vulnerable sectors and reactivate sustainable growth. To this end, the CPF prioritizes three work areas: 1) supporting fundamentals for inclusive growth; 2) boosting human capital development and protecting vulnerable populations; and 3) enhancing institutional and environmental sustainability. The health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to a deep recession that had a major impact on growing poverty levels in Ecuador. The crisis widened the macroeconomic imbalances that the country had struggled to overcome since the middle of the last decade. It also highlighted several structural weaknesses such as the lack of macroeconomic buffers, limited access to capital markets, a high rate of employment informality, an ill-prepared health system and marked disparities in access to public services [13]. 

On July 20, 2022, Ecuador established the first Digital Innovation Hub in the country. It was promoted by the Alliance for the Entrepreneurship and Innovation, in a joint effort between the public and private sectors, as part of the Agenda Digital Transformation Summit Ecuador 2022 event, organized by the Chamber of Innovation and Technology of Ecuador.

The "Ec Digital Innovation Hub" is a collaborative innovation ecosystem that allows companies to promote the adoption of technologies, through joint work between the public, private, academic, startups and specialized services sectors. One of its objectives is to activate the country's companies in processes of adoption and transfer of emerging technologies for progress; develop the capabilities of human talent in technology for a digital economy; promote an effective connection between companies, entrepreneurs, and academia to solve local and world needs; and generate more investment [14].

In October 2019, Ecuador was thrust into the international spotlight when a movement of millions of protesters closed the streets of the capital in a protest against the termination of fuel subsidies. After two weeks of protests, during which the president fled the capital, the government agreed to continue the subsidies. Remarkably, the wave of protests was led by activists and organizers from Ecuadorian indigenous groups. How does the Ecuadorian indigenous movement have so much influence? Ecuador has 1.1 million indigenous people, or about 1 in 16 Ecuadorians. As in many other Latin American countries, Ecuador's indigenous population is marginalized, with high rates of poverty. After centuries of discrimination, indigenous Ecuadorians are 4.5 times more likely to live in poverty. The typical indigenous Ecuadorian receives only five years of formal education [15].

Yet despite this marginalization, indigenous groups in Ecuador mobilized to improve their circumstances. In 1986, activists from fourteen indigenous nations formed the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE). Now, there are more than 2,500 indigenous schools in Ecuador [15].

During the decades between the founding of CONAIE in 1986 and the protests in 2019, indigenous activists campaigned extensively against oil drilling on indigenous land and in support of public services by indigenous citizens. Although some CONAIE campaigns were unsuccessful, others were highly successful [15].  

In 2017, Lenín Moreno replaced Rafael Correa as president of Ecuador. Contrary to President Correa, Moreno rejected socialist policies in favor of a neoliberal economy and an agreement to secure a loan from the International Monetary Fund. In October 2019, as part of this agreement, President Moreno eliminated fuel subsidies. Without the subsidies, many indigenous farmers feared that they could not afford the cost of oil to transport their products to markets. CONAIE activists announced a large march in the capital, with more than 20,000 demonstrators. In the capital of Quito, protesters paralyzed the streets and fought against the police. After two weeks of protests throughout the country and a meeting with members of CONAIE, President Moreno revoked the decree that eliminated the subsidies. The indigenous forces had won [15].

Despite their victory in the October 2019 protests, the indigenous peoples of Ecuador struggle with poverty and inequality. There are still threats against indigenous land, and there are huge obstacles to achieve full equality. However, the indigenous activists of CONAIE have real power to defend and advance the rights of indigenous Ecuadorians [15].

The social context in Venezuela has impacted Ecuador because it is the third host country for Venezuelans: more than 400,000 Venezuelans have settled since 2015. However, during the last years, Venezuelans have encountered greater obstacles to access livelihood opportunities and basic services as a consequence of changes in immigration policies, and the impact of COVID-19, which has left more than 740,000 people in need of humanitarian aid [16]. This situation, the national population growth, and climate change has caused Ecuador to face threats to its food and water security, with over a tenth of its population currently undernourished and living in poverty. As a response, its government is incorporating new patterns of land use and developing regional water infrastructure to cope with the related challenges. However, food production for both domestic consumption and market-oriented exports can be increased while meeting ecosystem water demands in some regions by integrating environmental and sustainable management [17].