Form of Government: Federal republic
Area: 916 445 sq km
Population: 28 435 943 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 31.03 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 12° - 1° N; long. 73° - 60° W
Capital: Caracas (capital) 1 942 652 inhab. (2011); Caracas 3 242 000 inhab. (2011), urban agglomeration
Currency: bolívar soberano (100 céntimos), since 20 August 2018
Human development index: 0.711 (rank: 113)
President and head of government: Nicolás Maduro (PSUV), in office since 5 March 2013, elected on 14 April 2013, reconfirmed 20 May 2018
National Assembly: seats based on the elections of 6 December 2020: PSUV (United Socialist Party of Venezuela), 253; AD (Democratic Action), 11; others, 13
Internet: www.ine.gov.ve (Instituto Nacional de Estadística)
Member of Mercosur, OAS, OPEC, UN, UNASUR, WTO
Venezuela

International license plate code YV
International dialling code 0058
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (recommended for some areas); malaria prophylaxis (recommended for some areas)
Electricity (Voltage) 120
Driving side rigth
Internet code .ve
GMT -4.30
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Caracas 20.6
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Caracas 18.5/21
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Caracas 7/7
Annual average precipitation (mm) Caracas 833
Days of rainfall (annual average) Caracas 100

The elections held on 6 December 2020, which were boycotted by the opposition and held amid irregularities, returned control of the National Assembly to President N. Maduro. The Constituent Assembly was subsequently dissolved (31-XII).
Geography.
Venezuela is bordered by Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south and Colombia to the west, while the northern coastline is on the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The territory includes many diverse regions: the foothills of the Andes in the north-west split into the Sierra de Perijá and the Cordillera de Mérida (Pico Bolívar, 5007 m), enclosing the lowlands of the Maracaibo region and the lake of the same name. In the centre there is a region of vast plains (llanos), while in the south there are highlands. The most important river is the Orinoco. The climate is hot and humid throughout the country.
Government
A former Spanish colony, Venezuela achieved independence in 1821, after a ten-year war of independence led by Simón Bolívar. The country has been governed by authoritarian regimes for much of the time.
In 1958 a period of democracy began, which was however interrupted by coups d’état and military rule. In 1999, Hugo Chávez became President, a former military figure with a turbulent past (including an attempted coup), he initiated populist reforms with the aim of a wider redistribution of the wealth coming from the exports of crude oil. The reforms have met with hostility from the business community, the right wing and the USA, culminating in an attempted coup in 2002 and a referendum to force him to resign in 2004. After Chávez’s death (5 March 2013), the office of Head of State was taken over by Vice President Nicolás Maduro, who compromised the institutional structure of the country by using the Constituent Assembly (elected on 30 July 2017) as a governing tool, using it to bypass Parliament, which is controlled by the opposition. After the disputed re-election of Maduro in 2018, on 23 January 2019, the President of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó (Popular Will) declared himself president on behalf of the opposition. The political crisis has added to the economic crisis of the country, where basic necessities and essential services are difficult to find.
Following the new “Bolivarian” Constitution adopted on 15 December 1999, the President of the Republic, who is also head of the government, is elected by direct suffrage for a six-year term. The National Assembly consists of 277 members elected for five years.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Air force | 10$ | % | 2015 |
Army | 54.8 | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Homicides | 56.3 | per 100 000 pop. | 2016 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Caracas | 1 942 652 | inhab. | 2011 |
Maracaibo | 1 898 770 | inhab. | 2011 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Caracas | 3 242 000 | inhab. | 2011 |
Maracaibo | 2 310 000 | inhab. | 2011 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
Due to the economic and political crisis, more than 5 million people have left the country.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 17.566 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 7.118 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mestizo | 63.7 | % | 2000 |
white | 20$ | % | 2000 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 71$ | % | 2011 |
Protestant | 17$ | % | 2011 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Spanish |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 25.7 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 24.2 | % | 2020 |
Economy
Economic situation.
A drop in oil production and the dismal manufacturing industry in an economy strongly dependent on hydrocarbon exports have sunk the country into a deep recession that has lasted since 2014; this was exacerbated by heavy sanctions imposed by the United States and a serious political crisis in 2019, and pandemic containment measures in 2020. The growth of the country’s public debt is out of control, as is inflation, making it extremely difficult to supply essential goods. The manufacturing industry has been negatively affected by insufficient production of electrical energy, which has caused repeated interruptions to its supply.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 108.54 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 91.04 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 11 063 337 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 39.1 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 9.1 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 41.4 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 74 184.4 | M LCU | 2005 |
Revenues | 83 731.6 | M LCU | 2005 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 8.3 | % | 2019 |
industry | 16.6 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 5.718 | % | 2019 |
industry | 37.03 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 3 756.1 | BN LCU | 2019 |
International reserves | 6 633 | M US$ | 2019 |
Agriculture
Primary sector
Agriculture.
The main food crops (rice, potatoes, cassava, sorghum) are unable to meet the domestic demand. Coffee is widely planted on the slopes of the Andes; on the lower slopes on the Caribbean Sea where it is warm and humid, cocoa is also grown. Other important crops are sugar cane and fruit (coconuts, watermelons, citrus fruits), which fuels exports.
Forests and livestock.
The forests contain many types of wood: cedar, mahogany, saman, mulberry and apama. There are also other natural forestry resources including: balata, chicle, copaiba (resin) and dividivi (tree bark used for tanning).
Livestock mostly consists of cattle and poultry.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 3.741 | % | 2018 |
forests | 52.534 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cereals, total | 2 742.507 | 1000 t | 2019 |
maize | 1 940.504 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 421.62 | 1000 t | 2019 |
potatoes | 477.061 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 76.368 | 1000 t | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 173.816 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 41.337 | 1000 t | 2019 |
peas, dry | 0.186 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grapes | 19.143 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 2.489 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sesame seed | 17.559 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruits | 435.452 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 153.474 | 1000 t | 2019 |
copra | 20$ | 1000 t | 2006 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cocoa | 23.847 | 1000 t | 2019 |
coffee | 56.709 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar beet | 24.424 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sugar cane | 4 380.304 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 3.057 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sisal | 1.558 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
figs | 0$ | 1000 t | 2016 |
fruits, total | 3 525.565 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 619.225 | 1000 t | 2019 |
grapefruits | 7.844 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
avocados | 135.606 | 1000 t | 2019 |
bananas | 650.051 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
maize | 500.218 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
rice | 179.041 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 33.761 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
potatoes | 24.498 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 2.349 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 6.466 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 61.632 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
peas, dry | 0.117 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grape | 1.219 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 0.956 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sesame seed | 45.487 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruit | 41.605 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 14.654 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cocoa | 80.924 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
coffee | 160.634 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar beet | 1.194 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sugar cane | 73.339 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 3.304 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sisal | 0.674 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
figs | 0$ | 1000 ha | 2016 |
peaches | 0.946 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 46.838 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
grapefruits | 0.989 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
avocados | 11.748 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
bananas | 41.708 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 5 645 310 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 16 048.816 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 16 048.816 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 2 902.919 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 606.408 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 1 516.936 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 440 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 512 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 123 171 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 0.487 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 0.903 | 1000 t | 2018 |
cheese | 234.834 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 62 523 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 26 044 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
Secondary sector
Minerals.
The main natural resource is crude oil, the extraction of which is managed by the state-owned company PDSVA and the main reserves are found in the Maracaibo, Barinas, Anzoátegui, Monagas, Delta Amacuro (Pedernales), Falcón and Guárico fields. Natural gas production is also important (reserves in Amana, Maraven, Lechoso, Placer). The county also has other important mineral resources: iron ore (deposits in Cerro Bolívar, El Pao and San Isidro), gold (from the streams which flow into the right bank of the Orinoco), diamonds (Upper Icabarú); asphalt, asbestos, magnesite, coal (Naricual and Capiricual), bauxite and phosphates. Sea salt is also produced (Araya salt deposits, La Redonda, Las Cumaraguas and Coche).
Energy and industry.
Hydro-electric schemes (including the power plants on the River Caroní and others on the Guri and the Macagua) provide about 70% of the national electricity requirement, but their output is entirely dependent on the amount of rainfall and the obsolescence of the structures.
The most developed industrial sectors are the primary ones, particularly the petrochemical industry. The main refineries are in Amuay, Bajo Grande, Barcelona, Barinas, Cardón, El Palito, Puerto La Cruz and San Lorenzo. However, their actual production is insufficient and gasoline is rationed. At Morón there is an important plant producing nitrogen fertilizers. Iron and steel works and other metal-working plants are based at Matanzas and Ciudad Guayana. Vehicles production is carried out in Caracas, Valencia, and La Victoria. Textile plants produce cotton and artificial fibres. Tobacco and leather products are also worthy of mention. There are areas of cement production (Caracas, Pertigalete and Barquisimeto), and factories for producing glass, paper, beer and sugar.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coal | 696.6 | 1000 t | 2020 |
coal, total | 696.6 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bauxite | 750 | 1000 t | 2017 |
iron ore | 1 096 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
feldspar | 80$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
gypsum | 7$ | 1000 t | 2011 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
granite | 750 | 1000 t | 2011 |
kaolin | 2.4 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
diamonds | 6$ | 1000 ct | 2012 |
diamonds, industrial - ct | 9$ | 1000 ct | 2012 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- hydro | 57 568.5 | M kWh | 2018 |
- thermal | 39 019.4 | M kWh | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 17 732 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- hydro | 15 400 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 96 664.9 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 33 207.28 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
alumina | 330 | 1000 t | 2017 |
aluminium | 8$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cars | 852 | no. | 2017 |
commercial vehicles | 922 | no. | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bitumen | 507 | 1000 t | 2018 |
petrol | 16 873.1 | 1000 t | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
ammonia | 190 | 1000 t | 2019 |
fertilizers | 1 983 | 1000 t | 2010 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 800 | 1000 t | 2018 |
coconut oil | 9.3 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemical pulp | 17.928 | 1000 t | 2019 |
other paper | 335.805 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 7 000 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 1 287 | M US$ | 2003 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 3 629 | M US$ | 2003 |
Trade
Tertiary sector
Foreign trade.
The trend of the trade balance depends on exports of hydrocarbons.
Main exports (M US$ - 2017) crude oil 24 689, petroleum products 3 415, chemicals 677, iron and steel 363, aluminium 332, iron ores 332, fish and crustaceans 188
Finance & banking.
The banking system is regulated by the Central Bank of Venezuela. There is a stock exchange in Caracas.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fuels | 97.668 | % of goods exports | 2013 |
manufactures | 1.82 | % of goods exports | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 550 | M US$ | 2013 |
China | 248 | M US$ | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 10 767 | M US$ | 2013 |
China | 7 758 | M US$ | 2013 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 2 920 | M US$ | 2016 |
Number of arrivals | 427 000 | units | 2017 |
Social and welfare
Education and research.
Primary education is compulsory and lasts from the age of 6 to 15 years old; secondary education lasts two more years.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 14.2 | years | 2009 |
Graduates | 138 557 | units | 2006 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 3 285 299 | units | 2017 |
Students, secondary level | 2 391 174 | units | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 7.6 | % of total expenses | 2005 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 0.87 | per 1000 pop. | 2017 |
Physicians | 1.9 | per 1000 pop. | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 0.6 | % of adults | 2019 |
Malaria | 492 753 | cases | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.1 | % of GDP | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 97.1 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clothing, footwear | 9.6 | % | 2005 |
education | 3$ | % | 2005 |