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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 181, FM 0, shortwave 26

Radios [time series]

9.04 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

modern and expanding domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1.44 million (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

3.3 million (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $11.99 billion expenditures : $11.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3 billion (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos

Debt - external [time series]

$26.5 billion (1996)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $46 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for roughly 25% of GDP, 70% of export earnings, and 50% of central government revenues. It is likely to become even more important as the state petroleum company plans to double its production over the next ten years. The non-petroleum sectors have been contracting, however, with GDP shrinking by 1.6% during 1996. Realizing the failure of interventionist policies, the CALDERA administration embarked on a comprehensive reform program and successfully negotiated a $1.4 billion stand-by agreement with the IMF. The state eliminated price and exchange controls, reduced the long-standing subsidy on gasoline, and revitalized its stalled privatization program. Foreign investors reacted positively and the Caracas stock exchange ended 1996 as the world's best performing stock market. The influx of foreign investment and a windfall of oil revenues resulting from higher-than-expected international oil prices raised Venezuela's reserves to over $15 billion. As a result, Venezuela used only the first tranche of the IMF credit - $400 million. The currency depreciated sharply following the exchange liberalization, and caused an inflationary burst that led to a 103% yearly rate of inflation, the highest in Venezuelan history. The bolivar has since strengthened and inflation fell near the end of the year. The macroeconomic adjustments should take hold in 1997, and the economy is expected to grow by 4% or more. Increased salary demands by public and private sector workers, however, threaten a renewal of inflationary pressures.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

18.966 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

2,887 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

74.886 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 476.840 (January 1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995), 148.503 (1994), 90.826 (1993), 68.376 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value : $22.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum 72%, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures partners: US and Puerto Rico 55%, Japan, Netherlands, Italy

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $197 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 5% industry: 41% services: 54% (1993)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

-1.6% (1996)

Imports [time series]

total value : $10.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials partners: US 40%, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Canada

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.5% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

103% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

total: 8.8 million by occupation : services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1993)

Unemployment rate [time series]

13% (1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly more than twice the size of California

Climate [time series]

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Coastline [time series]

2,800 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

8 00 N, 66 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

on major sea and air routes linking North and South America

Irrigated land [time series]

1,900 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land : 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures : 20% forests and woodland: 34% other: 41% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

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 [time series]

subject to floods, rockslides, mud slides; periodic droughts

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

23 January 1961

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica de Venezuela local short form : Venezuela

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission : Ambassador John Francis MAISTO embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1060 mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037 telephone: [58] (2) 977-2011

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Luis ECHEVERRIA chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone : [1] (202) 342-2214

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (since 2 February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (since 2 February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998) election results : Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez elected president; percent of vote - Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (National Convergence) 30.45%, Claudio FERMIN (AD) 23.59%, Oswaldo ALVAREZ PAZ (COPEI) 22.72%, Andres VELASQUEZ (Causa R) 21.94%, other 1.3%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[58] (2) 977-0843

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session

Legal system [time series]

based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (53 seats, two from each state and the Federal District, and retired presidents; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (203 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998); Chamber of Deputies - last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AD 18, COPEI 15, Causa R 9, MAS 5, National Convergence 6; note - three former presidents (2 from AD, 1 from COPEI) hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - AD 27.9%, COPEI 26.9%, MAS 12.4%, National Convergence 12.9%, Causa R 19.9%; seats by party - AD 55, COPEI 53, MAS 24, National Convergence 26, Causa R 40, other 5

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Caracas

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

National Convergence (Convergencia), Jose Miguel UZCATEGUI, president, Juan Jose CALDERA, national coordinator; Social Christian Party (COPEI), Luis HERRERA Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general; Democratic Action (AD), Pedro PARIS Montesinos, president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Gustavo MARQUEZ, president, and Enrique OCHOA Antich, secretary general; Radical Cause (La Causa R), Lucas MATHEUS, secretary general

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers (CTV, labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS groups

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$902 million (1996)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.4% (1996)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49 : 5,997,099 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 4,333,497 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 238,650 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years : 34% (male 3,964,886; female 3,720,984) 15-64 years: 61% (male 6,877,890; female 6,838,799) 65 years and over: 5% (male 456,182; female 537,666) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.67 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.03 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Amerindian 2%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

28.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), native dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians in the remote interior

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population : 72.37 years male: 69.4 years female : 75.58 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.1% male: 91.8% female: 90.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

22,396,407 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.83% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.78 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis, opium, and coca leaf for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine and heroin transit the country from Colombia; important money-laundering hub; active aerial eradication program primarily targeting opium VIETNAM

Transportation

Airports [time series]

360 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 261 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 153 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 99 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 92 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 82,700 km paved: 32,501 km unpaved: 50,199 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 525,123 GRT/933,016 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 7, combination bulk 1, container 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 9, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1 (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total : 584 km (336 km single track; 248 km privately owned) standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

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