2008 Edition

Background

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 globalization and undermining regional stability. 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.

Area

total: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 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

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 8.37 cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%) per capita: 313 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

5,750 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Land use

arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 0.88% other: 96.27% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

South America

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

Natural hazards

subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; 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

Total renewable water resources

1,233.2 cu km (2000)

Age structure

0-14 years: 31% (male 4,162,862/female 4,034,044) 15-64 years: 63.8% (male 8,299,266/female 8,562,290) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 602,725/female 753,628) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

20.92 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.7%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

110,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 22.02 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.45 years male: 70.4 years female: 76.65 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 93.3% female: 92.7% (2001 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (2008)

Median age

total: 25.2 years male: 24.6 years female: 25.8 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan

Net migration rate

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

26,414,816 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

1.498% (2008 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2003)

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: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.52 children born/woman (2008 est.)

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

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)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John CAULFIELD 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)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angelo SANTOS chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214

Executive branch

chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ Rengifo (since 4 January 2008); 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 Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ Rengifo (since 4 January 2008) 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%

FAX

[1] (202) 342-6820 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

[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

Government type

federal republic

Independence

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

International organization participation

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, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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; total seats by party as of 1 January 2008 - pro-government 152 (PSUV 114, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other 25), PODEMOS 15

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Political parties and leaders

A New Time or UNT [Manuel ROSALES]; Christian Democrats or COPEI [Cesar PEREZ Vivas]; Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Jeronimo CARRERA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ]; 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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $65.83 billion expenditures: $58.9 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

28.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.11% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

bolivar (VEB)

Currency code

VEB

Current account balance

$20 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$43.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

48.2 (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

$48.66 million (2005)

Economy - overview

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. 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 in 2006 by about 9% and in 2007 by about 8%. 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 percent in 2007. Imports also have jumped significantly. Embolden by his December 2006 reelection, President Hugo CHAVEZ in 2007 nationalized firms in the petroleum, communications, and electricity sectors, which reduced foreign influence in the economy. Although voters in December 2007 rejected CHAVEZ's proposed constitutional changes, CHAVEZ still has significant control of the economy and has indicated he intends to continue to consolidate and centralize authority over the economy by implementing "21st Century Socialism."

Electricity - consumption

83.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

542 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

110.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 31.7% hydro: 68.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004), 1,607 (2003) note: On 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency with 1000 old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar

Exports

$69.17 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 42.7%, Netherlands Antilles 8%, China 3.1% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.8% industry: 38.4% services: 57.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

8.4% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$236.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$334.3 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 35.2% (2003)

Imports

$45.46 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 26.6%, Colombia 13.5%, Brazil 9.5%, China 6.7%, Mexico 5.2%, Panama 5% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

3.9% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

18.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

12.37 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$8.251 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

26.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

26.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

4.708 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

738,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports

2.203 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - production

2.667 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

87.04 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

37.9% (end 2005 est.)

Public debt

19.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$33.48 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$13.81 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$43.96 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$50.24 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$63.18 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$8.889 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

8.5% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.ve

Internet hosts

145,394 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet users

5.72 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

10.75 million (1997)

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; fixed-line teledensity 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity more than 90 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

5.082 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

23.82 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

4.1 million (1997)

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: 262 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 97 under 914 m: 149 (2007)

Heliports

2 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 62 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)

Pipelines

extra heavy crude oil 992 km; gas 5,400 km; oil 7,607 km; refined products 1,650 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon

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 (2002)

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

Waterways

7,100 km note: Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels (2005)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 6,647,124 females age 16-49: 6,801,133 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 5,280,974 females age 16-49: 5,768,814 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 275,323 female: 274,106 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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)

National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacionale, 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)

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

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, 2008

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 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)