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Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
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Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
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8 00 N, 66 00 W
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total: 912,050 sq km
country comparison to the world: 33
land:
882,050 sq km
water:
30,000 sq km
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slightly more than twice the size of California
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total: 4,993 km
border countries:
Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
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2,800 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:
15 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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Current Weather
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
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Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
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petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
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arable land: 2.85%
permanent crops:
0.88%
other:
96.27% (2005)
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5,750 sq km (2003)
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1,233.2 cu km (2000)
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total: 8.37 cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%)
per capita:
313 cu m/yr (2000)
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subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
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sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
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party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed but not ratified::
none of the selected agreements
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on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall
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27,223,228 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
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0-14 years: 30% (male 4,153,009/female 4,012,099)
15-64 years:
64.7% (male 8,664,411/female 8,944,598)
65 years and over:
5.3% (male 641,489/female 807,622) (2010 est.)
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total: 25.8 years
male:
25.1 years
female:
26.5 years (2010 est.)
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1.515% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
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20.29 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
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5.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
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urban population: 93% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.79 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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total: 21.07 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 97
male:
24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
17.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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total population: 73.77 years
country comparison to the world: 108
male:
70.69 years
female:
77 years (2010 est.)
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2.45 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
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0.7%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
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110,000 (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
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4,100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease:
dengue fever and malaria (2009)
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noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective:
Venezuelan
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Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people
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nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
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Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93%
male:
93.3%
female:
92.7% (2001 census)
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total: 12 years
male:
11 years
female:
12 years (2003)
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3.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 124
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conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form:
Venezuela
local long form:
Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
local short form:
Venezuela
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federal republic
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name: Caracas
geographic coordinates:
10 30 N, 66 56 W
time difference:
UTC-4.5 (half an hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Capital*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia
note:
the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
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5 July 1811 (from Spain)
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Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
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30 December 1999
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open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President Elias JAUA Milano (since 26 January 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President Elias JAUA Milano (since 26 January 2010)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for unlimited reelection); election last held on 3 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2012)
note:
in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of this constitution; in 2009, a national referendum approved the elimination of term limits on all elected officials, including the presidency
election results:
Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%
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unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections:
last held on 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 26 September 2010)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other 25), opposition 0; total seats by party as of 16 December 2009 - pro-government 156 (PSUV 141, PPT 5, PCV 4, other 6), PODEMOS 6, FPH 5
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Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (32 magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term)
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A New Time or UNT [Omar BARBOZA]; Brave People's Alliance or ABP [Oscar PEREZ]; Christian Democrats or COPEI [Luis Ignacio PLANAS]; Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; For Social Democracy or PODEMOS [Ramon MARTINEZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Felipe MUJICA]; United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]
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FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action)
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Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ Herrera
chancery:
1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
[1] (202) 342-2214
FAX:
[1] (202) 342-6820
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
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chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick DUDDY
embassy:
Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080
mailing address:
P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
telephone:
[58] (212) 975-6411, 907-8400 (after hours)
FAX:
[58] (212) 907-8199
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three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
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Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for roughly 90% of export earnings, about 50% of the federal budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. A nationwide strike between December 2002 and February 2003 had far-reaching economic consequences - real GDP declined by around 9% in 2002 and 8% in 2003 - but economic output since then has recovered strongly. Fueled by high oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP by about 10% in 2006, 8% in 2007, and nearly 5% in 2008, before the world recession caused a contraction in 2009. This spending, combined with recent minimum wage hikes and improved access to domestic credit, has created a consumption boom but has come at the cost of higher inflation - roughly 20% in 2007 and more than 30% in 2008. Imports also jumped significantly before the recession of 2009. Declining oil prices in the latter part of 2008 are undermining the government's ability to continue the high rate of spending. President Hugo CHAVEZ in 2008-09 continued efforts to increase the government's control of the economy by nationalizing firms in the agribusiness, banking, tourism, oil, cement, and steel sectors. In 2007, he nationalized firms in the petroleum, communications, and electricity sectors. In January, 2010, CHAVEZ announced a dual exchange rate system for the fixed rate bolivar. The system offers a 2.6 bolivar per dollar rate for imports of essentials, including food, medicine, and industrial machinery, and a 4.3 bolivar per dollar rate for imports of other products, including cars and telephones.
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$350.1 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$360.5 billion (2008 est.)
$344 billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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$357.6 billion (2009 est.)
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-2.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
4.8% (2008 est.)
8.2% (2007 est.)
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$13,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$13,600 (2008 est.)
$13,200 (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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agriculture: 4%
industry:
34.6%
services:
61.4% (2009 est.)
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12.67 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
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agriculture: 13%
industry:
23%
services:
64% (1997 est.)
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10.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
7.4% (2008 est.)
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37.9% (yearend 2005 est.)
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lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%:
32.7% (2006)
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41 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 57
49.5 (1998)
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18.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
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revenues: $65.14 billion
expenditures:
$92.04 billion (2009 est.)
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19.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
13.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
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27.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
30.4% (2008 est.)
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33.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 2
28.5% (31 December 2007)
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22.37% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
17.11% (31 December 2007)
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$79.91 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 18
$63.18 billion (31 December 2007)
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$10.93 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 55
$8.889 billion (31 December 2007)
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$62.42 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 50
$50.24 billion (31 December 2007)
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$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$8.251 billion (31 December 2006)
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corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
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petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly
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-10.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
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113.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
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83.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
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540 million kWh (2007 est.)
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1.651 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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2.643 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
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760,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
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2.182 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
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0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
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99.38 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
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24.01 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
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25.51 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
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1.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
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4.84 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
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$2.558 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$39.21 billion (2008 est.)
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$51.99 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$93.54 billion (2008 est.)
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petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
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US 39.8%, Netherlands Antilles 7.6%, China 4.6% (2008)
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$41.04 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$48.1 billion (2008 est.)
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raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials
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US 26.1%, Colombia 12.6%, Brazil 10.7%, China 6.9%, Mexico 4.8% (2008)
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$26.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$42.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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$43.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$47.03 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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$41.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$41.38 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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$20.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$16.62 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 2.145 (2009), 2.147 (2008), 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005)
note:
on 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency with 1000 old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar; in January 2010 Venequela introduced a dual exchange rate system for the fixed rate bolivar, with 2.6 VEB per US dollar on essentials, and 4.3 VEB per US dollar on all other products
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| Communications ::Venezuela |
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6.304 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
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27.084 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
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general assessment: modern and expanding
domestic:
domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services; combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 125 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network (2007)
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AM 46, FM 131, shortwave 3 (2008)
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66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
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.ve
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155,139 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
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7.167 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 35
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| Transportation ::Venezuela |
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406 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
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total: 131
over 3,047 m:
6
2,438 to 3,047 m:
8
1,524 to 2,437 m:
35
914 to 1,523 m:
63
under 914 m:
19 (2009)
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total: 275
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
16
914 to 1,523 m:
103
under 914 m:
155 (2009)
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4 (2009)
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extra heavy crude 980 km; gas 5,258 km; oil 6,695 km; refined products 1,484 km; unknown 141 km (2009)
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total: 806 km
country comparison to the world: 101
standard gauge:
806 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
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total: 96,155 km
country comparison to the world: 46
paved:
32,308 km
unpaved:
63,847 km (2002)
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7,100 km
country comparison to the world: 21
note:
Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels (2008)
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total: 62
country comparison to the world: 65
by type:
bulk carrier 9, cargo 16, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 5, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned:
12 (Chile 1, Denmark 1, Greece 3, Mexico 5, Panama 1, Spain 1)
registered in other countries:
12 (Bahamas 1, Panama 10, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
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La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon
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the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as a significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
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National Bolivarian Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB): Bolivarian Army (Ejercito Bolivariano, EB), Bolivarian Navy (Armada Bolivariana (AB); includes Naval Infantry, Coast Guard, Naval Aviation), Bolivarian Military Aviation (Aviacion Militar Bolivariana, AMB), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB), Bolivarian Militia (Milicia Bolivariana, MB) (2010)
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18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 30-month conscript service obligation; all citizens 18-50 years old are obligated to register for military service (2008)
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males age 16-49: 6,891,648
females age 16-49:
7,047,565 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 5,504,152
females age 16-49:
5,976,339 (2010 est.)
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male: 276,612
female:
273,819 (2010 est.)
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1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
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| Transnational Issues ::Venezuela |
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claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; in 2006, an estimated 139,000 Colombians sought protection in 150 communities along the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claim
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current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, lured from the nation's interior to urban and tourist areas; child prostitution in urban areas and child sex tourism in resort destinations appear to be growing; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Western Europe, Mexico, and Caribbean destinations
tier rating:
Tier 2 Watch List - Venezuela is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List, up from Tier 3, as it showed greater resolve to address trafficking through law enforcement measures and prevention efforts in 2007, although stringent punishment of offenders and victim assistance remain lacking (2008)
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small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border
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