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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

16 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.ve

Internet users [time series]

1.3 million (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern and expanding domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

2.6 million (however, 3,500,000 have been installed) (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2 million (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $21.5 billion expenditures: $27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

bolivar (VEB)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

VEB

Debt - external [time series]

$38.2 billion (2000)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

49.5 (1998)

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

$74 million (2000)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector, which accounts for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. Despite higher oil prices at the end of 2002 and into 2003, domestic political instability, culminating in a two-month national oil strike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. The economy is likely to remain in a recession in 2003, after sinking an estimated 8.9 percent in 2002.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

81.47 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

87.6 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

bolivares per US dollar - 1,160.44 (2002), 723.67 (2001), 679.96 (2000), 605.72 (1999), 547.56 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$28.6 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 53.4%, Netherlands Antilles 17.3%, Canada 2.9% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $131.7 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 5% industry: 50% services: 45% (2001)

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

purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)

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

-8.9% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)

Imports [time series]

$18.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 27.5%, Colombia 6.9%, Brazil 5.7%, Mexico 4.4% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-5.4% (2002 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

31.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

9.9 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

31.71 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

31.71 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

4.202 trillion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption [time series]

505,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

3.08 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

63.95 billion bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line [time series]

47% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

17% (2002 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; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations

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

party to: Antarctic Treaty, 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 signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

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; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall

Irrigated land [time series]

540 sq km (1998 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: 2.99% permanent crops: 0.96% other: 96.05% (1998 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 territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; 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]

23 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, Vargas, 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]

30 December 1999

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles S. SHAPIRO embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080 mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037 telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411 FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ 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) FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - 60% elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)

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]

federal republic

Independence [time series]

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term)

Legal system [time series]

based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - pro-government 108 (MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other 7), opposition 57 (AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other 13) elections: last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

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

Democratic Action or AD [Claudio FERMIN]; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR [Garcia PONCE]; Homeland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNIZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Juan Jose CALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Antonio HERRERA]; Social Christian Party or COPEI [Oswaldo ALVAREZ Paz]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: an embattled president who is losing his once solid support among Venezuelans, a divided military, drug-related conflicts along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

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 - including marines and Coast Guard), 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]

$934 million (FY99)

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

0.9% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 6,767,862 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,870,751 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 249,319 (2003 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 31% (male 3,944,749; female 3,700,799) 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 7,931,194; female 7,864,697) 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 552,291; female 660,964) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.5% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

2,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

62,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 27.05 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.81 years male: 70.78 years female: 77.07 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.4% male: 93.8% female: 93.1% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 24.8 years male: 24.3 years female: 25.4 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

24,654,694 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.48% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 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 (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.36 children born/woman (2003 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 and the Caribbean Sea; US, France and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest the claim and other states' recognition of it

Illicit drugs [time series]

small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border

Transportation

Airports [time series]

373 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 127 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 18 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 246 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 97 under 914 m: 139 (2002)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 714,073 GRT/1,256,667 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Denmark 1, Greece 1, Italy 1, UK 1, US 2 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 1

Pipelines [time series]

extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,484 km; refined products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2003)

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: 682 km standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)

Waterways [time series]

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