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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]

66 (in addition, there are 45 repeaters) (1997)

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 $3 billion (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$26.5 billion (1996)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$50.8 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. As a result, the steep downturn in international oil prices has had a severe impact on the economy; fiscal cuts spurred by the loss of revenues, high interest rates, and the sharp downturn in export earnings drove the economy into recession in 1998. The recession continued into 1999 with oil prices forecast to stay relatively low, but rising. Although the government has pursued moderate austerity measures to address the downturn in revenues, Venezuela's ongoing reform program has largely stalled. Pressure on the bolivar--overvalued by as much as 40%--was also significant through much of 1998, increasing the probability of an adjustment of the currency in 1999. Newly elected President Hugo CHAVEZ will be hard pressed to address Venezuela's many economic ills. He has promised to strike a balance between reforms designed to address the structural deformities of the economy and addressing declining living standards. CHAVEZ has sought to play down the populism that marked his political campaign for the presidency in an effort to allay investor concerns. The wide range of viewpoints represented on CHAVEZ's economic team is likely to make rapid implementation of a coherent policy difficult.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

72.85 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

150 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

73 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 20.55% hydro: 79.45% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

bolivares (Bs) per US$1--570.267 (January 1999), 547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995), 148.503 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$16.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures (1998)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

US and Puerto Rico 57%, Colombia, Brazil (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$194.5 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 4% industry: 63% services: 33% (1997 est.)

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

purchasing power parity?$8,500 (1998 est.)

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

-0.9% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 35.6% (1995)

Imports [time series]

$12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials (1998)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

US 53%, Japan, Colombia, Italy, Germany (1997)

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) [time series]

29.9% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

9.2 million

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

31.3% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.5% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (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 (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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates [time series]

8 00 N, 66 00 W

Geography - note (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, Central America and the Caribbean

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

Capital [time series]

Caracas

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); 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 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003) election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of vote--NA%

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]

CAN, 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, OPCW, 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 for a nine-year term, one-third are reelected every three years

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 (52 seats, two from each state and the federal district (46), one for each of the retired presidents, and others representing minorities (6); members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (207 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate--last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003); Chamber of Deputies--last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--AD 16, COPEI 14, Causa R 9, National Convergence 5, MAS 3, independents 5; note--two former presidents (1 from AD, 1 from COPEI) hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--AD 25.6%, COPEI 24.6%, MAS 10.6%, National Convergence 8.7%, Causa R 19.3%; seats by party--AD 53, COPEI 51, Causa R 40, MAS 22, National Convergence 18, other 23

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

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

National Convergence or Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general]; ALFARO Ucero, secretary general]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS

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

FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or 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 (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$1.1 billion (1998)

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

1% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 6,268,982 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,522,757 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 242,362 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33% (male 3,988,499; female 3,741,568) 15-64 years: 62% (male 7,231,546; female 7,184,769) 65 years and over: 5% (male 484,071; female 573,013) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

22.25 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.93 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

26.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.95 years male: 69.97 years female: 76.16 years (1999 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]

-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

23,203,466 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.71% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (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 bound for US and Europe; important money-laundering hub; active eradication program primarily targeting opium

Transportation

Airports [time series]

371 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 122 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 249 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 94 under 914 m: 145 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 84,300 km paved: 33,214 km unpaved: 51,086 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 535,882 GRT/937,461 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 9, combination bulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 8, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 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 (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