About 450,000 Afro-Ecuadorians “disappeared” in the 2022 population and housing census calculations. The director of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), Roberto Castillo, tries to explain the fact in “the social organization of the Afro-descendants of the community” – in his words; but the doubts point to the errors and omissions of INEC, added to a very unfavorable social environment. The scenario was different from that of 2010. A failed state provides little guarantee of security. It is possible that large sectors were not counted out of fear; the data may have been changed; alleged methodological error (Afro-Ecuadorian leaders claim to have been warned); Perhaps there was a lack of training and dissemination of information among citizens on the subject of self-identification, etc.

Self-identification in homes in Guayaquil: there are more people in the city who define themselves as mestizo and indigenous

The 2010 census reflected a population of 14,483,499. 72% are considered mestizo, 7.2% Afro-Ecuadorian, 7.1% indigenous, 7.4% Montubio and 6% Caucasian. The 2022 census shows a population of 16,938,986: 77.4% mestizo, 7.7% indigenous, 7.7% Montubio, 2.2% white. (Ecuador grows by 2.5 million inhabitants). Mestizos, indigenous peoples and Montubios are expanding their population, although less than predicted. Afro-Ecuadorians represent 4.9% (830,010 inhabitants); There are 212,802 people left. In a progression comparable to the indigenous population and Montubia (approximately 230,000), there are about 450,000 “kidnapped” Afro-descendants.

Certain mistakes are understandable… but when they are aimed at an ethnic group, they raise suspicion.

Where are they? Among the 600,000 counted but reported “no one at home”?; In remote rural and neglected suburban areas? In some mother ship? you’re going to know. The white ethnic group also represents a significant decline. Many may have re-identified as mestizos; have migrated more, due to greater social mobility; or are also victims of census failure. Afro-descendants have historically been excluded and it is clear to them that a bad social profile will hurt them the most.

The census in Ecuador counted 16,938,986 people and shows that households are smaller

As a background we have the 2018 census in Colombia. Afro-Colombians have been harmed by a 30% reduction in their population. This contaminated the information and prevented its use for public policy. The National Statistics Administration Department (DANE) has been accused of lapses and omissions. The compensation claim achieved certain corrections that the injured parties considered insufficient. In Chile, the 2012 census had huge errors by the National Institute of Statistics. 9.3% of the young population and immigrants were affected. President Sebastián Piñera apologized to the citizens. The technical commission suggested conducting another simplified measurement. In 2017, President Michelle Bachelet ordered and conducted a new national census. Errors have been corrected.

Certain mistakes are understandable under the current conditions, but if they are aimed at one ethnic group, they raise suspicion. INEC must detect deficiencies and correct them; reject questionable figures and use previous ones in public policy planning; conduct another abbreviated or general census, so that these “abducted” compatriots return to the real statistics. (OR)