Immigration

By: Gregory Gavilanes

The 2010 Ecuadorian census recorded 181,848 foreign born, just less than 1.3 percent of Ecuador’s population of 14.3 million.The immigrant’s population is small but it represents a significant increase from 2001, when the foreign-born population stood at 104,130. Ecuador’s decision in 2000 to switch its currency from the sucre to the U.S. dollar, known as dollarization, attracted many Peruvian migrants. 

The herbicide spraying programs to eradicate coca crops in southern Colombia, have displaced tens of thousands, leading to the largest refugee population in Latin America. Nearly 147,000 Colombians lived in Ecuador as refugees or in refugee-like situations in 2014. 

Ecuador is a favorite destination for Venezuelans escaping the political turmoil, raging inflation and, food shortages of their home country. In fact, they are quickly forming one of the largest expat groups in the country. Immigration authorities say that 476,132 Venezuelans entered Ecuador since 2012. 

A moderate number of Chinese and a smaller number of other Asians have immigrated to Ecuador recently. The 2010 census recorded 2,906 Chinese, more than double the 1,200 in the 2001 census. 

Other nationalities have migrated to Ecuador for economic opportunity and retirement amenities.