Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 912,050 sq km
country comparison to the world: 33
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline:
2,800 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains
(llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar 5,007 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,
hydropower, diamonds
Land use:
arable land: 2.85%
permanent crops: 0.88%
other: 96.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
5,750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1,233.2 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.37 cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%)
per capita: 313 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
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
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note:
on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel
Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall
People ::Venezuela
Population:
27,223,228 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.5% (male 4,157,194/female 4,022,595)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 8,480,872/female 8,754,620)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 620,657/female 778,905) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.8 years
male: 25.1 years
female: 26.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.515% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Birth rate:
20.29 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Death rate:
5.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Urbanization:
urban population: 93% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.07 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 96
male: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.77 years
country comparison to the world: 109
male: 70.69 years
female: 77 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.45 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
110,000 (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups:
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous
people
Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Languages:
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 93.3%
female: 92.7% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 122
Government ::Venezuela
Country name:
conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
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)
Administrative divisions:
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 (Federal
Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, 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
Independence:
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution:
30 December 1999
Legal system:
open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three
seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held on 26 September 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - pro-government 48.9%,
opposition coalition 47.9%, other 3.2%; seats by party -
pro-government 98, opposition 65, other 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (32
magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single
12-year term)
Political parties and leaders:
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]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups;
Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization
dominated by the Democratic Action)
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
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
Flag description:
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; the flag
retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors of
the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke
up in 1830; yellow is interpreted as standing for the riches of the
land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed
in attaining independence; the seven stars on the original flag
represented the seven provinces in Venezuela that united in the war
of independence; in 2006, President Hugo CHAVEZ ordered an eighth
star added to the star arc - a decision that sparked much controversy
National anthem:
name: "Gloria al bravo pueblo" (Glory to the Brave Nation)
lyrics/music: Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA
note: adopted 1881; the lyrics were written in 1810, the music some
years later; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during
Venezuela's struggle for independence
Economy ::Venezuela
Economy - overview:
Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account
for roughly 95% of export earnings, about 55% 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 a sharp
drop in oil prices caused a contraction in 2009-10. 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 32% in 2008, and slowing only
slightly to 30% in 2010, despite the lengthy downturn. Imports also
jumped significantly before the recession of 2009. President Hugo
CHAVEZ's continued efforts to increase the government's control of
the economy by nationalizing firms in the agribusiness, financial,
construction, oil, and steel sectors have hurt the private
investment environment, reduced productive capacity, and slowed
non-petroleum exports. In the first half of 2010 Venezuela faced the
prospect of lengthy nationwide blackouts when its main hydroelectric
power plant - which provides more than 35% of the country's
electricity - nearly shut down. In January, 2010, CHAVEZ announced a
dual exchange rate system for the bolivar and closed the unofficial
foreign exchange market - the "parallel" market - in an effort to
stem inflation and slow the currency's depreciation. The foreign
exchange 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$344.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$354.1 billion (2009 est.)
$366.2 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$285.2 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
-3.3% (2009 est.)
4.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$13,200 (2009 est.)
$13,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.1%
industry: 34.9%
services: 61.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
13.3 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 23%
services: 64% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
7.9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
37.9% (yearend 2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 32.7% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 57
49.5 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
16.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Public debt:
25.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
18% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
29.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
27.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
29.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
33.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
19.89% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
22.37% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$69.36 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 37
$93.19 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$78.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$107 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$54.22 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$75.87 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$8.251 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef,
pork, milk, eggs; fish
Industries:
petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron
ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate:
-8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Electricity - production:
113.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Electricity - consumption:
83.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Electricity - exports:
540 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.651 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
2.472 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Oil - consumption:
740,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Oil - exports:
2.182 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - proved reserves:
97.77 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Natural gas - production:
23.06 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Natural gas - consumption:
24.86 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - imports:
1.8 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.983 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Current account balance:
$22.07 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$8.561 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$64.87 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$57.6 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, minerals, chemicals, agricultural
products, basic manufactures
Exports - partners:
US 35.18%, Netherlands Antilles 8.56%
note: excludes oil exports; Venezuela last published petroleum
figures by country in 2008 (2009)
Imports:
$31.37 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$38.44 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, machinery and equipment,
transport equipment, construction materials
Imports - partners:
US 23.66%, Colombia 14.43%, Brazil 9.13%, China 8.44%, Mexico 5.47%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$29.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$35 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$55.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$53.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$37.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$41.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$20.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$17.67 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 4.3039 (2010), 2.1522 (2009), 2.147
(2008), 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006)
Communications ::Venezuela
Telephones - main lines in use:
6.867 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 28
Telephones - mobile cellular:
28.124 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 32
Telephone system:
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 130 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 (2009)
Broadcast media:
government supervises a mixture of state-run and private broadcast
media; 1 state-run television network, 4 privately-owned TV
networks, and a government-backed pan-American channel; state-run
radio network includes 15 stations; large number of private
broadcast radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.ve
Internet hosts:
238,665 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 64
Internet users:
8.918 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 32
Transportation ::Venezuela
Airports:
409 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 20
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 129
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 17 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 280
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 91
under 914 m: 172 (2010)
Heliports:
4 (2010)
Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 980 km; gas 5,258 km; oil 6,695 km; refined
products 1,484 km; unknown 141 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 806 km
country comparison to the world: 101
standard gauge: 806 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 96,155 km
country comparison to the world: 47
paved: 32,308 km
unpaved: 63,847 km (2002)
Waterways:
7,100 km
country comparison to the world: 21
note: Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by
oceangoing vessels (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 59
country comparison to the world: 66
by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 15, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas
5, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 16
foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Greece 4, Mexico
1, Norway 1, Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 9 (Panama 8, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon
Transportation - note:
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
Military ::Venezuela
Military branches:
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)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
30-month conscript service obligation; all citizens of military
service age (18-60 years old) are obligated to register for military
service (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,891,648
females age 16-49: 7,047,565 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,504,152
females age 16-49: 5,976,339 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 276,612
female: 273,819 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Transnational Issues ::Venezuela
Disputes - international:
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
Trafficking in persons:
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