What Language Do They Speak in Ecuador?

Official language of Ecuador Spanish

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

The official language of Ecuador is Spanish. Spanish is also an official language in 20 other countries worldwide.

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Languages of Ecuador at a glance

Official language	Spanish
Number of official languages	1
Countries on this site where Spanish is official	21
People (demonym)	Ecuadorean
Capital	Quito
Internet domain	.ec

Other countries where Spanish is official

Spanish is also an official language in 20 other countries covered here:

Languages of neighbouring countries

Colombia	Spanish
Peru	Spanish, Aymara, Quechua

Ecuador in context

Ecuador covers 276,841 km², making it the 73rd largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 65 people per km² ranks 122nd of 196 (1st = most crowded).
It shares a land border with 2 countries: Colombia, Peru.
With 18,103,660 people, Ecuador holds about 4.1% of the population of South America.
Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
Ecuador is a member state of the United Nations.

Compare Ecuador

Ecuador vs Colombia

Useful phrases for visitors to Ecuador

Everyday Spanish phrases you will hear and use in Ecuador:

English	Spanish
Hello	Hola
Thank you	Gracias
Please	Por favor
Goodbye	Adiós
Yes	Sí
No	No

Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.

Languages in Ecuador — FAQ