Ecuadorian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Ecuador lies on the equator in north-west South America, which gives the country its name. It includes the Andes, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin developed his ideas. Spanish is the official language. Ecuadorians in Britain include workers, students and families, some of whom came via Spain.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 2,281 people living in the city had been born in South America, a group that includes Ecuador; and 976 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Hispanic or Latin American.

Working for Birmingham

Ecuadorian residents work in hospitality, cleaning, care, construction and business, and Ecuadorian students and professionals contribute to education and healthcare. Many are bilingual in Spanish and English, a skill in demand in Birmingham.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Ecuadorian community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

The famous Panama hat is actually made in Ecuador, woven from toquilla straw in a craft recognised by UNESCO. Ceviche, locro de papa and fresh fruit juices are favourites, and Independence Day on 10 August is marked with music and dancing.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Ecuadorian community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.