2000 Edition

Background

Venezuela was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). 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. Current concerns

include

drug-related conflicts along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations which are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Area

land

882,050 sq km

total

912,050 sq km

water

30,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of California

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Coastline

2,800 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 66 00 W

Geography - note

on major sea and air routes linking North and South America

Irrigated land

1,900 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

total

4,993 km

Land use

arable land

4%

forests and woodland

34%

other

41% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

1%

permanent pastures

20%

Location

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Map references

South America, Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

15 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

subject to floods, rockslides, mud slides; periodic droughts

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Terrain

Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 3,967,544; female 3,721,658) 15-64 years: 63% (male 7,406,086; female 7,355,923) 65 years and over: 4% (male 499,102; female 592,336) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

21.09 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

4.94 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people

Infant mortality rate

26.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.31 years (2000 est.)

male

70.05 years

total population

73.07 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

90.3% (1995 est.)

male

91.8%

total population

91.1%

Nationality

adjective

Venezuelan

noun

Venezuelan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

23,542,649 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.6% (2000 est.)

Religions

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.51 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

23 states (estados, singular - estado),1 federal district* (distrito federal), 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

Capital

Caracas

Constitution

30 December 1999

Country name

conventional long form

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

conventional short form

Venezuela

local long form

Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela

local short form

Venezuela

Data code

VE

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John Francis MAISTO

embassy

Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1060

mailing address

P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037

telephone

(2) 975-6411

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Alfredo TORO Hardy

telephone

(202) 342-2214

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of vote - 57%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held 28 May 2000 under new constitution)

head of government

President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

note

government coalition - Patriotic Pole or Polo Patriotico consists of MVR, MAS, and PPT

FAX

(202) 342-6820

(2) 975-6710

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

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 seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Government type

federal republic

Independence

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

International organization participation

CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia, magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term

Legal system

based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional; under the 1999 constitution, the bicameral Congress of the Republic has been replaced by a unicameral National Assembly; the total number of seats in the new National Assembly has not yet been determined, but members will be elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats will be reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela

election results

NA; elections to be held in May 2000

elections

election for deputies to the new National Assembly are scheduled to be held in May 2000

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Action or AD ; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR ; Homeland for All or PPT ; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS ; National Convergence or Convergencia ; Radical Cause or La Causa R ; Social Christian Party or COPEI

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Budget

expenditures

$27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$26.4 billion

Currency

1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos

Debt - external

$32 billion (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$35 million with more assistance likely as a result of flooding (1999)

Economy - overview

Venezuelan officials estimate the economy contracted 7.2% in 1999. A steep downturn in international oil prices during the first half of the year fueled the recession, and spurred the CHAVEZ administration to abide by OPEC-led production cuts in an effort to raise world oil prices. The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. Higher oil prices during the second half 1999 took pressure off the budget and currency; the bolivar is widely believed to be overvalued by as much as 50%. Despite higher oil prices, the economy remains in the doldrums, possibly due to investor uncertainty over President CHAVEZ's reform agenda. Implementing legislation for the new constitution will not be passed until the second half of 2000, after a new legislature is elected. With the president's economic cabinet attempting to reconcile a wide range of views, the country's economic reform program has largely stalled. The government is seeking international assistance to finance reconstruction after massive flooding and landslides in December 1999 caused an estimated $15 billion to $20 billion in damage.

Electricity - consumption

65.463 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

70.39 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

25.46%

hydro

74.54%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 652.333 (January 2000), 605.717 (1999), 547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995)

Exports

$20.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures (1998)

Exports - partners

US and Puerto Rico 57%, Colombia, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Italy (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $182.8 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

4%

industry

63%

services

33% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-7.2% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 35.6% (1995)

Imports

$11.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials (1999)

Imports - partners

US 53%, Japan, Colombia, Italy, Germany, France, Brazil, Canada (1999)

Industrial production growth rate

0.5% (1995 est.)

Industries

petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

20% (1999)

Labor force

9.9 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

67% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate

18% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios

10.75 million (1997)

Telephone system

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 inter-urban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

2.6 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2 million (1998)

Television broadcast stations

66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

4.1 million (1997)

Airports

366 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

122 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 17 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

244 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 93 under 914 m: 141 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

32,308 km

total

96,155 km

unpaved

63,847 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 5, cargo 10, combination bulk 1, liquified gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, roll-on/roll-off 7, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)

total

34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 488,584 GRT/888,764 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km

Ports and harbors

Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon

Railways

standard gauge

584 km 1.435-m gauge

total

584 km (248 km privately owned)

Waterways

7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels

Military branches

National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$934 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 6,398,169 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 4,612,754 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

244,350 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of opium for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine and heroin transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; important money-laundering hub; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border

VIETNAM