2025 Edition Primary

Edition Builder

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Countries

267

Data Records

89,153

Venezuela

2025 Edition · 369 data fields

View Current Profile

Introduction

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.

Geography

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

Continent

South America

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
number of neighbors: 3
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.)
arable land: 2.95%
Forest: 53.5% (2023 est.)
Other: 22.1% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.79%

Landlocked

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 links

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/KLCwDN8sec7z2kse9
OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/272644

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

Subregion

South America

Terrain

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

Time zone

UTC-04:00
number of time zones: 1

People and Society

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.)
adult female: 108 per 1,000
adult male: 215 per 1,000

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.)

Education expenditures

0 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.05 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

4 % of GDP
Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6% of national budget (2022 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.54%

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
neonatal: 15 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.
number of languages: 1

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.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

73 births/1,000 women 15-19

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: 26.02%
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)

Vaccination rate

measles: 71%

Government

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
note: note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

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

Coat of arms

svg: https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/ve.svg

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

alternative spellings: VE, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of, República Bolivariana de Venezuela
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"
FIFA code: VEN
Former: State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela
Local long form: República Bolivariana de Venezuela
local long form (spa): 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
Note: note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government note 2: in January 2026, the United States removed Nicolas MADURO Moros from his position as leader; Interim President RODRÍGUEZ has been sworn in and is expected to remain during a transition period note 3: the United States did not recognize Nicolas MADURO Moros as president of Venezuela; the United States recognized that Edmundo GONZÁLEZ won the most votes in the 28 July 2024 presidential election because of overwhelming evidence, including more than 80% of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations that indicated GONZÁLEZ received the most votes by an insurmountable margin

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

Flag description

The flag of Venezuela is composed of three equal horizontal bands of yellow, blue and red. At the center of the blue band are eight five-pointed white stars arranged in a horizontal arc.

Flag image

svg: https://flagcdn.com/ve.svg

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
Note: note: in 2020, the National Electoral Council increased the number of seats in the National Assembly from 167 to 277 for the December 2020 election
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 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

Start of week

Monday

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

UN Member

Yes

Economy

Agricultural products

milk, sugarcane, maize, rice, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, chicken, pineapples, potatoes (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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.)

Currency

code: VES
name: Venezuelan bolívar soberano (VES) [Bs.S.]

Current account balance

Current account balance 2015: -$16.051 billion (2015 est.)
Current account balance 2016: -$3.87 billion (2016 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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

$20.2 billion
Exports 2016: $28.684 billion (2016 est.)
Exports 2017: $93.485 billion (2017 est.)
Exports 2018: $83.401 billion (2018 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, petroleum coke, scrap iron, alcohols, fertilizers (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

USA 50%, China 10%, Spain 9%, Brazil 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows: $1.63 billion

GDP (official exchange rate)

$139.395 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$4,218

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

44.8 (2006)

GNI (gross national income)

$120.8 billion

GNI per capita

$3,820

Gross domestic investment

5 % of GDP

Imports

$11.05 billion
Imports 2016: $25.81 billion (2016 est.)
Imports 2017: $18.376 billion (2017 est.)
Imports 2018: $18.432 billion (2018 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, soybean meal, corn, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 35%, USA 24%, Brazil 12%, Colombia 7%, Turkey 4% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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.)
Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

11.136 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 11.12 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 8.87%
industry: 16.75%
services: 74.37%

Population below poverty line

33.1% (2015 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Note: note: data cover central government debt, as well as the debt of state-owned oil company PDVSA; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include some debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; some debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
Public debt 2017: 38.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Note: note: data in 2015 dollars
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

5.3%
Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2017: -15.76% (2017 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2018: -19.67% (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Note: note: data in 2015 dollars
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

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
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

5.31%
Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
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.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 10.6% (2024 est.)

Energy

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.)
consumption per capita: 1,989 kWh
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.)
hydroelectric: 78.27%
Hydroelectricity: 78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 0%
renewable: 75.45%

Energy consumption per capita

1,478 kg of oil equivalent
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.)

Renewable energy consumption

33.7%

Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants: 11 per 100
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.)

Postal code format

####

Telephone calling code

+58

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 2.683 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100: 70 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions: 20.2 million (2024 est.)

Transportation

Air transport

passengers carried: 1.78 million passengers
registered carrier departures: 23,302 departures

Airports

509 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Driving side

Right

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)

Vehicle registration code

Military and Security

Land forces

armored vehicles
tanks

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)
active duty personnel: 343,000
note: note 1: the Bolivarian Militia and the Presidential Honor Guard are considered special/secondary components of the FANB; the Militia is composed of the Military Reserve and the Territorial Militia and is comprised of armed civilians who receive periodic training in exchange for a small stipend note 2: the National Guard was made part of the FANB in 2007 and is responsible for maintaining public order, guarding the exterior of key government installations and prisons, conducting counter-narcotics operations, monitoring borders, and providing law enforcement in remote areas; it reports to both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace note 3: the PNB is a federal force created by Hugo CHAVEZ in 2008 as a “preventative police force,” separate from state and local ones; the PNB largely focuses on policing Caracas’ Libertador municipality, patrolling Caracas-area highways, railways, and metro system, and protecting diplomatic missions; the PNB includes the Special Action Forces (Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales, FAES), a paramilitary unit created by President MADURO to bolster internal security after the 2017 anti-government protests note 4: there are also pro-government armed groups known as colectivos operating in Caracas and other cities
percent of total labor force: 3.47 %

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

1 % of GDP
current USD: $0
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.)
percent of GDP: 0.50 % of GDP

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)

Military strength ranking

PowerIndex score: 0.9106

Transnational Issues

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/

Space

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)
note: note: the ABAE is under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation; it was originally known as the Venezuelan Space Center (CEV; created 2005)

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)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP); Segundo Marquetalia (SM); Tren de Aragua (TdA)
note: note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Environment

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.)

Protected areas

39 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

-4 % of total

Total renewable water resources

1.325 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

3 % of internal resources
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.)