 | |
| Geography |
| On major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall. |
| Location: | Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana |
| Geographic coordinates: | 8 00 N, 66 00 W |
| Area: | total: 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq kmSize comparison: 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 (La Columna) 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) |
| Natural hazards: | subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment 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 |
| ^Back to Top |
| People |
| Population: | 26,023,528 (July 2007 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 31.6% (male 4,169,979/female 4,046,170)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 8,120,661/female 8,369,065)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 586,863/female 730,790) (2007 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 24.9 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 25.5 years (2007 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.486% (2007 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 21.22 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.08 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.031 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.803 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2007 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 22.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 73.28 years
male: 70.24 years
female: 76.48 years (2007 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.55 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.7%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 110,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 4,100 (2003 est.) |
| 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) |
| ^Back to Top |
| Government |
| 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 (1 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**, Distrito Federal*, 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 |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 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
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 (167 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 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 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term) |
| Political parties and leaders: | A New Time or UNT [Manuel ROSALES]; Christian Democrats or COPEI [Cesar PEREZ Vivas]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]; We Can or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA] |
| 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: | CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, 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 William R. BROWNFIELD
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) 975-9234, 975-6411
FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991 |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 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
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9% |
| ^Back to Top |
| Economy |
| Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for roughly 90% of export earnings, more than 50% of the federal budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. Tax collection - Venezuela's primary source of non-oil revenue - is expected to surpass $23 billion in 2006, exceeding the yearend collection goal by more than 20%. 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 higher oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP growth in 2004 and 2005 to approximately 18% and 11%, respectively. Economic growth in 2006 reached about 9%. This spending, combined with recent minimum wage hikes and improved access to domestic credit, has fueled a consumption boom - car sales in 2006 increased by around 70% - but has come at the cost of higher inflation. Despite government attempts to withdraw liquidity from the economy, Venezuela's money supply set a record in June 2006, approximately 70% higher than the previous year. Imports have also jumped significantly. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $186.3 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $149.9 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 10.3% (2006 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $7,200 (2006 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 3.7%
industry: 40.5%
services: 55.9% (2006 est.) |
| Labor force: | 12.19 million (2006 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 13%
industry: 23%
services: 64% (1997 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 8.9% (2006 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 37.9% (end 2005 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 35.2% (2003) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 48.2 (2003) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 13.7% (2006 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | 22.5% of GDP (2006 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $54.65 billion
expenditures: $54.61 billion (2006 est.) |
| Public debt: | 24.3% of GDP (2006 est.) |
| 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: | 7% (2006 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 99.2 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 73.36 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2005) |
| Oil - production: | 3.081 million bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 560,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 2.293 million bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 78.77 billion bbl (1 January 2006) |
| Natural gas - production: | 27.53 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 27.53 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2005) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 4.112 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $27.17 billion (2006 est.) |
| Exports: | $65.21 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures |
| Exports - partners: | US 46.3%, Netherlands Antilles 13.5%, China 3.2% (2006) |
| Imports: | $32.23 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials |
| Imports - partners: | US 30.6%, Colombia 10.2%, Brazil 10.1%, Mexico 5.9%, China 4.9%, Panama 4.8% (2006) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $36.67 billion (2006 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $41.4 billion (2006 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $45.4 billion (2006 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $11.56 billion (2006 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $8.251 billion (2006) |
| Currency (code): | bolivar (VEB) |
| Exchange rates: | bolivares per US dollar - 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004), 1,607 (2003), 1,161 (2002) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
| ^Back to Top |
| Communications |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 4.217 million (2006) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 18.79 million (2006) |
| 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
international: country code - 58; 3 submarine coaxial cables; 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 |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .ve |
| Internet hosts: | 126,500 (2007) |
| Internet users: | 4.14 million (2006) |
| ^Back to Top |
| Transportation |
| Airports: | 390 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 128
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 18 (2007) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 128
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 18 (2007) |
| Heliports: | 2 (2007) |
| Pipelines: | extra heavy crude oil 992 km; gas 5,369 km; oil 7,607 km; refined products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2006) |
| Railways: | total: 682 km
standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2006) |
| Roadways: | total: 96,155 km
paved: 32,308 km
unpaved: 63,847 km (1999) |
| Waterways: | 7,100 km
note: Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels (2005) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 59 ships (1000 GRT or over) 808,721 GRT/1,285,783 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 14, chemical tanker 3, container 1, liquefied gas 6, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 12 (Denmark 3, Greece 3, Mexico 3, Panama 1, Russia 1, Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 11 (Bahamas 1, Panama 10) (2007) |
| Ports and terminals: | Amuay, La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon |
| ^Back to Top |
| Military |
|
| Military branches: | National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN): Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada; includes Marines, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months; all citizens of military service age (between 18 and 50 years old) are obligated to register for military service (2007) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 6,236,012
females age 18-49: 6,137,622 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 4,907,947
females age 18-49: 5,151,843 (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.2% (2005 est.) |
| ^Back to Top |
