In the context of human population studies, what is the approximate population of Quito (Ecuador) within the city proper (not the larger metropolitan area) as of the early 2020s?

• A. About 8.5 million people
• B. About 25 million people
• C. About 200,000 people
• D. About 2.0 million people

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the question asks for the approximate population of Quito, Ecuador, specifically within the city proper, not including the larger metropolitan area.
2. Recall that Quito is the capital city of Ecuador and one of its largest urban centers, but it does not have a population in the tens of millions, which would be more typical of megacities like Tokyo or Mexico City.
3. Eliminate options that are clearly too large or too small: 25 million is too high for Quito, and 200,000 is too low for a capital city of this size.
4. Recognize that the population of Quito city proper is generally reported to be around 2 million people in the early 2020s, based on census and demographic data.
5. Therefore, the best estimate from the given options is 'About 2.0 million people' for the population of Quito within the city proper.