2020 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 (Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, military strongmen ruled Venezuela and promoted the oil industry while allowing some social reforms. Democratically elected governments largely held sway until 1999, but Hugo CHAVEZ, who was president from 1999 to 2013, exercised authoritarian control over other branches of government. This trend continued in 2018 when Nicolas MADURO claimed the presidency for his second term in an election boycotted by most opposition parties and widely viewed as fraudulent. The legislative elections in 2020 were also seen as fraudulent, and most opposition parties and many international actors consider the resulting National Assembly illegitimate. In 2021, many opposition parties broke a three-year election boycott and participated in mayoral and gubernatorial elections, despite flawed conditions. As a result, the opposition more than doubled its representation at the mayoral level and retained four of 23 governorships. The 2021 regional elections marked the first time since 2006 that the EU was allowed to send an electoral observation mission to Venezuela. MADURO has placed strong restrictions on free speech and the press. Since CHAVEZ, the ruling party has expanded the state's role in the economy through expropriations of major enterprises, strict currency exchange and price controls, and over-dependence on the petroleum industry for revenues. Years of economic mismanagement left Venezuela ill-prepared to weather the global drop in oil prices in 2014, sparking an economic decline that has resulted in reduced government social spending, shortages of basic goods, and high inflation. Worsened living conditions have prompted nearly 8 million Venezuelans to emigrate, mainly settling in nearby countries. The US imposed financial sanctions on MADURO and his representatives in 2017 and on sectors of the Venezuelan economy in 2018. Limited sanctions relief followed when the MADURO administration began making democratic and electoral concessions. The government's mismanagement and lack of investment in infrastructure has also weakened the country's energy sector. Caracas has relaxed some controls to mitigate the impact of its sustained economic crisis, such as allowing increased import flexibility for the private sector and the informal use of US dollars and other international currencies. Ongoing concerns include human rights abuses, rampant violent crime, political manipulation of the judicial and electoral systems, and corruption.

Area

land

882,050 sq km

total

912,050 sq km

water

30,000 sq km

Area - comparative

almost six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Coastline

2,800 km

Elevation

highest point

Pico Bolivar 4,978 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

mean elevation

450 m

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 66 00 W

Geography - note

note 1: the country lies on major sea and air routes linking North and South America note 2: Venezuela has some of the most unique geology in the world; tepuis are the massive table-top mountains of the western Guiana Highlands that tend to be isolated and thus support unique endemic plant and animal species; their sheer cliffsides help create some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, including Angel Falls, the world's highest (979 m; 3,212 ft) that drops from Auyan Tepui

Irrigated land

10,550 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Brazil 2,137 km; Colombia 2,341 km; Guyana 789 km

total

5,267 km

Land use

agricultural land

24.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 20.6% (2023 est.)

forest

53.5% (2023 est.)

other

22.1% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

Lago de Maracaibo - 13,010 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Rio Negro (shared with Colombia [s] and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco river source and mouth (shared with Colombia) - 2,101 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

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

Natural hazards

subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

most of the population is concentrated in the northern and western highlands along an eastern spur at the northern end of the Andes, an area that includes the capital of Caracas

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

25% (male 3,987,361/female 3,811,307)

15-64 years

65.9% (male 10,264,353/female 10,330,376)

65 years and over

9.1% (2024 est.) (male 1,303,737/female 1,553,172)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

16.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

14.3 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

7 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.8 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

37.5 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 93.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 6.7% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

10.3% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous

Gross reproduction rate

1.05 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

15.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Spanish (official) 98.2%, indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4% (2023 est.)

major-language sample(s)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.7 years

male

71.5 years

total population

74.5 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

97.3% (2017 est.)

male

97.2% (2017 est.)

total population

97.2% (2017 est.)

Major urban areas - population

2.972 million CARACAS (capital), 2.368 million Maracaibo, 1.983 million Valencia, 1.254 million Barquisimeto, 1.243 million Maracay, 964,000 Ciudad Guayana (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

227 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

31.7 years

male

30.3 years

total

31.3 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Venezuelan

noun

Venezuelan(s)

Net migration rate

-1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.6% (2016)

Physician density

1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

female

15,947,172

male

15,808,263

total

31,755,435 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.88% (2025 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 48.1%, Protestant 31.6% (Evangelical 31.4%, Adventist 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, African American/umbanda 0.7%, other 0.1%, believer 3.5%, agnostic 0.1%, atheist, 0.4%, none 13.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2023 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.16 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.4% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoátegui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guárico, La Guairá, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia

Capital

etymology

named for the Caracas tribe that originally settled in the area; the origin of their name is unknown

geographic coordinates

10 29 N, 66 52 W

name

Caracas

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years; reduced to five years in the case of applicants from Spain, Portugal, Italy, or a Latin American or Caribbean country

Constitution

amendment process

proposed through agreement by at least 39% of the National Assembly membership, by the president of the republic in session with the cabinet of ministers, or by petition of at least 15% of registered voters; passage requires simple majority vote by the Assembly and simple majority approval in a referendum

history

many previous; latest adopted 15 December 1999, effective 30 December 1999

Country name

conventional long form

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

conventional short form

Venezuela

etymology

in 1499, the stilt-houses built on Lake Maracaibo reminded explorers Alonso de OJEDA and Amerigo VESPUCCI of buildings in Venice, Italy, and they named the region "Venezuola," meaning "Little Venice"

former

State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela

local long form

República Bolivariana de Venezuela

local short form

Venezuela

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025); note - serves as the chief of mission of the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located in the US Embassy, Bogota

email address and website

ACSBogota@state.gov https://ve.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Venezuela Affairs Unit, US Embassy, Carrera 45 N. 24B-27, Bogota, Colombia

mailing address

3140 Caracas Place, Washington DC 20521-3140

telephone

1-888-407-4747  

Diplomatic representation in the US

none note: the embassy, which had been run by the Venezuelan political opposition, announced on 5 January 2023, that it had ended all embassy functions

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2026)

election results

2024: official results disputed; Nicolas MADURO Moros was declared the winner by the MADURO-controlled National Electoral Council; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 52%, Edmundo GONZÁLEZ Urrutia (Independent) 43.2%, Luis Eduardo MARTÍNEZ (AD) 1.2%, other 3.6% 2018: Nicolas MADURO Moros reelected president; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 67.9%, Henri FALCON (AP) 20.9%, Javier BERTUCCI 10.8%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)

expected date of next election

unknown

head of government

Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2026)

most recent election date

28 July 2024

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red, with the coat of arms on the left side of the yellow band and an arc of eight five-pointed white stars centered on the blue band meaning: yellow stands for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence history: the flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors from the flag of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; in 2006, President Hugo CHAVEZ added the eighth star -- the original seven stars represented the country's provinces that united in the war of independence -- to match Simon Bolivar's flag from 1827 and to represent the historic province of Guayana

Government type

federal presidential republic

Independence

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACS, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Tribunal of Justice (consists of 32 judges organized into constitutional, political-administrative, electoral, civil appeals, criminal appeals, and social divisions)

judge selection and term of office

judges proposed by the Committee of Judicial Postulation (an independent body of organizations dealing with legal issues and of the organs of citizen power) and appointed by the National Assembly; judges serve nonrenewable 12-year terms

subordinate courts

Superior or Appeals Courts (Tribunales Superiores); District Tribunals (Tribunales de Distrito); Courts of First Instance (Tribunales de Primera Instancia); Parish Courts (Tribunales de Parroquia); Justices of the Peace (Justicia de Paz) Network

Legal system

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

Legislative branch

electoral system

mixed system

expected date of next election

May 2025

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

most recent election date

12/6/2020

number of seats

277 (all directly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

32.1%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1881; lyrics were written in 1810; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela's fight for independence

lyrics/music

Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA

title

"Gloria al bravo pueblo" (Glory to the Brave People)

National color(s)

yellow, blue, red

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Coro and its Port (c); Canaima National Park (n); Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (c)

total World Heritage Sites

3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

National symbol(s)

troupial (bird)

Political parties

A New Era (Un Nuevo Tiempo) or UNT Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC Christian Democrats or COPEI (also known as the Social Christian Party) Citizens Encounter or EC Clear Accounts or CC Coalition of parties loyal to Nicolas MADURO - Great Patriotic Pole or GPP Coalition of opposition parties - Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democratica) (includes AD, EL CAMBIO, COPEI, CMC, and AP) Come Venezuela (Vente Venezuela) or VV Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV Consenso en la Zona or Conenzo Convergencia Democratic Action or AD Fatherland for All (Patria para Todos) or PPT Fearless People's Alliance or ABP Fuerza Vecinal or FV Hope for Change (Esperanza por el Cambio) or EL CAMBIO Justice First (Primero Justicia) or PJ LAPIZ Movement to Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo) or MAS Popular Will (Voluntad Popular) or VP Progressive Advance (Avanzada Progresista) or AP The Radical Cause or La Causa R United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV Venezuela First (Primero Venezuela) or PV Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV Venezuela Project or PV

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, sugarcane, maize, rice, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, chicken, pineapples, potatoes (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

2.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

52% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$76 million (2017 est.)

revenues

$30 million (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2015

-$16.051 billion (2015 est.)

Current account balance 2016

-$3.87 billion (2016 est.)

Economic overview

South American economy; ongoing hyperinflation since mid-2010s; chaotic economy due to political corruption, infrastructure cuts, and human rights abuses; in debt default; oil exporter; hydropower consumer; rising Chinese relations

Exchange rates

Currency

bolivars (VEB) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

6.048 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

6.284 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

6.284 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

9.257 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

9.975 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2016

$28.684 billion (2016 est.)

Exports 2017

$93.485 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$83.401 billion (2018 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, petroleum coke, scrap iron, alcohols, fertilizers (2023)

Exports - partners

USA 50%, China 10%, Spain 9%, Brazil 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$139.395 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

Imports 2016

$25.81 billion (2016 est.)

Imports 2017

$18.376 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$18.432 billion (2018 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, soybean meal, corn, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

Imports - partners

China 35%, USA 24%, Brazil 12%, Colombia 7%, Turkey 4% (2023)

Industries

agricultural products, livestock, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel products, crude oil and petroleum products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

2,355.1% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1,588.5% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

200.9% (2022 est.)

Labor force

11.136 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

33.1% (2015 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

38.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$98.768 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$106.672 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$110.943 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

-15.76% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

-19.67% (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2021

$4,000 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$4,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$4,900 (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015

$15.625 billion (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016

$10.15 billion (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017

$9.794 billion (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

5.8% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

13.2% (2024 est.)

male

9.3% (2024 est.)

total

10.6% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

80,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

production

149,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

730.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

56.493 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

600 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

33.493 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

25.849 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

21.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

54.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

5.674 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

303.806 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

203,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

801,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (2022 est.)

total

2.7 million (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

mix of state-run and private broadcast media subject to high levels of control; 13 public service networks, 61 privately owned TV networks, 1 privately owned news channel with limited national coverage, and a Maduro-backed Pan-American channel; 3 Maduro-aligned radio networks control about 65 news stations and another 30 stations targeted at specific audiences; Maduro-sponsored community broadcasters include 235 radio stations and 44 TV stations; the number of private broadcast radio stations declining, but many remain (2021)

Internet country code

.ve

Internet users

percent of population

62% (2017 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

2.683 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

71 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

20.2 million (2024 est.)

Airports

509 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YV

Heliports

88 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 3, container ship 1, general cargo 26, oil tanker 17, other 225

total

272 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Amuay (Bahia de Amuay), Bahia de Pertigalete, Ciudad Bolivar, Guanta, La Guaira, La Salina, Las Piedras, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Puerto de Hierro, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Miranda, Puerto Ordaz, Punta Cardon

large

1

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

21

small

11

total ports

31 (2024)

very small

17

Railways

standard gauge

447 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.4 km electrified)

total

447 km (2014)

Military - note

the armed forces (FANB) are responsible for ensuring Venezuela’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; they also have a domestic role, including assisting with maintaining internal security, conducting counter-narcotics missions, contributing to national socio-economic development, and providing disaster relief/humanitarian assistance; the military has been deployed against illegal armed groups operating in the Colombian border region and other areas to combat organized crime gangs involved in narcotics trafficking and illegal mining; it has ties with the militaries of China, Cuba, Iran, and Russia the FANB has a role in the country’s economy and political sectors; military officers hold key positions in state-owned companies, government ministries, and funding agencies; the FANB runs corporation involved in agriculture, banking, communications, energy, insurance, mining, and transportation (2025)

Military and security forces

Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB): Bolivarian Army (Ejercito Bolivariano, EB), Bolivarian Navy (Armada Bolivariana, AB; includes marines, Coast Guard), Bolivarian Military Aviation (Aviacion Militar Bolivariana, AMB), Bolivarian Militia (Milicia Bolivariana), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB), Presidential Honor Guard Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace: Bolivarian National Police (Policía Nacional Bolivariana, PNB) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 125-150,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 200,000 Bolivarian Militia (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FANB inventory is a mix of mostly older and some more modern armaments from a variety of foreign suppliers, including China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Russia/former Soviet Union, Spain, the UK, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 (25 for women) for voluntary service; the minimum service obligation is 24-30 months; 17-39 for Militia service; all citizens of military service age (18-50) are obligated to register for military service and subject to military training (2025)

Illicit drugs

USG identification

major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

2,338 (2024 est.)

refugees

20,911 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Tier 3 — Venezuela does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making any efforts to do so, therefore, Venezuela remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/venezuela/

Key space-program milestones

2005 - signed space cooperation partnership with China 2008- first communications satellite (Venesat-1 or Bolivar) financed, built, and launched by China 2012 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (VRSS-1 or Miranda) built and launched by China 2017 - second RS satellite (VRSS-2 or Sucre) built and launched by China 2021 - signed agreement to establish the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (formally established in 2022) 2023 - joined China-Russia project to construct a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s 2025 - announced intent to participate in planned Mars sample-return mission (Tianwen-3) led by China

Space agency/agencies

Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (Agencia Bolivariana para Actividades Espaciales, ABAE; formed 2007) (2025)

Space program overview

has a small national program primarily focused on acquiring satellites and expanding the country’s science and technological capabilities; operates satellites and maintains two satellite ground control stations; participates in multinational space organizations such as the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency; closest bilateral partners are China and Russia; also has bilateral framework agreements for space cooperation with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP); Segundo Marquetalia (SM); Tren de Aragua (TdA)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

179,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

48.623 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

27.928 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

76.73 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental 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 mining operations

International environmental agreements

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

1,007.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

3,595.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

328.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

1.325 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

16.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

793.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

5.123 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

9.779 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

21.3% (2022 est.)