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People group profile · PG023936

The Afro-Ecuadorians of Ecuador

The Afro-Ecuadorians of Ecuador, numbering about 946,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnic group in Ecuador descended primarily from enslaved Africans brought to the region during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, beginning in the 16th century.

They are an indigenous people in the Afro-American, Hispanic people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Catholicism, and they primarily speak Spanish.

Pray for the Afro-EcuadoriansPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Afro-Ecuadorians people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Afro-Ecuadorian

Fast facts

Country
Ecuador
Population
946,000
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
Afro-American, Hispanic
Primary language
Spanish (spa)
Primary religion
Folk Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Expanding Unreached People Group
Region
South America, Americas
Location
Esmeraldas Province and the Chota Valley in Imbabura Province are the main cultural centers

Where they live

Gospel status

The Afro-Ecuadorians are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Afro-Ecuadorians

  • Continue prayer and fasting for this group
  • Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
  • Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Primary religion

Folk Catholicism · Christianity

60% adherents

Primary language

Spanish · Indo-European family

100% speak Spanish

Gospel resources in Spanish

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Afro-Ecuadorians

  1. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  2. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  3. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  4. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.

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