2003 Edition

Age structure

0-14 years: 31% (male 3,944,749; female 3,700,799) 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 7,931,194; female 7,864,697) 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 552,291; female 660,964) (2003 est.)

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

Background

Venezuela was one of 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: an embattled president who is losing his once solid support among Venezuelans, a divided military, drug-related conflicts 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. Geography Venezuela

Birth rate

19.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Coastline

2,800 km

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

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; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations

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

signed, but not ratified

Marine Dumping

Ethnic groups

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

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 66 00 W

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

62,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

20.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

27.05 deaths/1,000 live births

total

23.79 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

540 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

4,993 km

Land use

arable land

2.99%

other

96.05% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.96%

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.07 years (2003 est.)

male

70.78 years

total population

73.81 years

Location

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

Map references

South America

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

Median age

female

25.4 years (2002)

male

24.3 years

total

24.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Venezuelan

noun

Venezuelan(s)

Natural hazards

subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

24,654,694 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.48% (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.08 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

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

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2.36 children born/woman (2003 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

Executive branch

chief of state

President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

Government type

federal republic

Independence

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

Languages

Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Legal system

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

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93.1% (2003 est.) Government Venezuela

male

93.8%

total population

93.4%

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Religions

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

373 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 61

total

127

under 914 m

18 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

246 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 97

under 914 m

139 (2002)

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$21.5 billion

Currency

bolivar (VEB)

Currency code

VEB

Debt - external

$38.2 billion (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Charles S. SHAPIRO

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ

consulate(s) general

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

Disputes - international

claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela and the Caribbean Sea; US, France and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest the claim and other states' recognition of it

Distribution of family income - Gini index

49.5 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$74 million (2000)

Economy - overview

Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector, which accounts for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. Despite higher oil prices at the end of 2002 and into 2003, domestic political instability, culminating in a two-month national oil strike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. The economy is likely to remain in a recession in 2003, after sinking an estimated 8.9 percent in 2002.

Electricity - consumption

81.47 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

87.6 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

31.7%

hydro

68.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

bolivares per US dollar - 1,160.44 (2002), 723.67 (2001), 679.96 (2000), 605.72 (1999), 547.56 (1998)

Exports

$28.6 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures

Exports - partners

US 53.4%, Netherlands Antilles 17.3%, Canada 2.9% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 342-6820

[58] (212) 975-8991

telephone

[1] (202) 342-2214

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Venezuela

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 Economy Venezuela

GDP

purchasing power parity - $131.7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5%

industry

50%

services

45% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-8.9% (2002 est.)

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Venezuela

Highways

paved

32,308 km

total

96,155 km

unpaved

63,847 km (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

36.5% (1998)

lowest 10%

0.8%

Illicit drugs

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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$18.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities

raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials

Imports - partners

US 27.5%, Colombia 6.9%, Brazil 5.7%, Mexico 4.4% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

-5.4% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

31.2% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.ve

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet users

1.3 million (2002) Transportation Venezuela

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

9.9 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

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

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - pro-government 108 (MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other 7), opposition 57 (AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other 13)

elections

last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)

Merchant marine

convenience

Denmark 1, Greece 1, Italy 1, UK 1, US 2 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 1

total

47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 714,073 GRT/1,256,667 DWT

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 - including marines and Coast Guard), 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) Transnational Issues Venezuela

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

6,767,862 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

4,870,751 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

249,319 (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

31.71 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

31.71 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

4.202 trillion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption

505,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

3.08 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

63.95 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,484 km; refined products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Action or AD [Claudio FERMIN]; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR [Garcia PONCE]; Homeland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNIZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Juan Jose CALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Antonio HERRERA]; Social Christian Party or COPEI [Oswaldo ALVAREZ Paz]; 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)

Population below poverty line

47% (1998 est.)

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

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

10.75 million (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

682 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)

total

682 km

Telephone system

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

general assessment

modern and expanding

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 (however, 3,500,000 have been installed) (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2 million (1998)

Television broadcast stations

66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

4.1 million (1997)

Unemployment rate

17% (2002 est.)

Waterways

7,100 km

note

Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels