Final answer:
The three Latin American countries with large indigenous populations are Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, which are part of the Rural Amerindian Region. These countries share a history of political turmoil and a majority of their indigenous populations have not economically benefited from mineral extractions, while continuing to practice traditional customs and languages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three countries in Latin America characterized by a large population of indigenous people are Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. These countries make up the core of the Rural Amerindian Region of South America.
They all share the Andes mountains and have many cultural similarities, including a significant portion of their populations belonging to indigenous Amerindian groups. Spanish is the official language in these countries, but indigenous languages prevail in rural areas and remote villages.
Population growth has been a significant factor in the development of these countries. For example, as of 2010, Bolivia had over 10 million people, Ecuador had more than 14 million, and Peru approximately 29 million, with over 30 percent of the populations of Ecuador and Bolivia residing in rural areas.
The populations make a living primarily through subsistence agriculture, which is also challenged by the low percentage of arable land in Peru and Bolivia. Despite the extraction of valuable minerals like gold and silver, the majority of the local Amerindian population has not greatly benefited economically and continues to observe traditional customs and languages.
Although these countries have undergone political turmoil and many of their residents live in poverty, significant cultural attributes and patterns persist. For instance, Bolivia's election of a socialist president from the MAS (Movement for Socialism) party in 2006 was notable, as he came from a minority Amerindian group rather than the traditionally powerful wealthy elite.