The Quechua are indigenous South American Indians who live in the Andean highlands of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. They are descendants of the ancient and highly developed and civilized Incan Empire, and have been considered reserved and dignified. The Quechua language, and its culture, is diverse and widespread across South America, with approximately 46 different sub-languages and 12 million native speakers. In Peru, nearly a quarter of the population speaks Quechua, many of whom are concentrated in the mountainous regions of the Andean highlands.