View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2015 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

government supervises a mixture of state-run and private broadcast media; 13 public service networks, 61 privately owned TV networks, a privately owned news channel with limited national coverage, and a government-backed Pan-American channel; state-run radio network includes roughly 65 news stations and another 30 stations targeted at specific audiences; state-sponsored community broadcasters include 235 radio stations and 44 TV stations; the number of private broadcast radio stations has been declining, but many still remain in operation (2014)

Internet country code [time series]

.ve

Internet users [time series]

total: 13.6 million | percent of population: 47.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 46, FM 131, shortwave 3 (2008)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern and expanding | domestic: 2 domestic satellite systems 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; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 130 per 100 persons | international: country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Cuba and the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US; 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 (2013)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 7.81 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 30.5 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

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: $142.6 billion | expenditures: $204 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-29.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213

Central bank discount rate [time series]

29.5% (31 December 2010) | 29.5% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 1

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

17.5% (31 December 2014 est.) | 15.9% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Current account balance [time series]

$8.865 billion (2014 est.) | $11.95 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Debt - external [time series]

$69.66 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $70.16 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

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

39 (2011) | 49.5 (1998) | country comparison to the world: 67

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for roughly 96% of export earnings, about 40% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP. The country ended 2014 with an estimated 4% contraction in its GDP, 68.4% inflation, widespread shortages of consumer goods, and declining central bank international reserves. The International Monetary Fund forecasts that the GDP will shrink another 7% in 2015 and inflation may reach 80%. Under President Nicolas MADURO, the Venezuelan government’s response to the economic crisis has been to increase state control over the economy and blame the private sector for the shortages. The Venezuelan government has maintained strict currency controls since 2003. Currently, three official currency exchange mechanisms are in place for the sale of dollars to private sector firms and individuals, with rates based on the government's import priorities. These currency controls present significant obstacles to trade with Venezuela because importers cannot obtain sufficient dollars to purchase goods needed to maintain their operations. MADURO has used decree powers to enact legislation to deepen the state’s role as the primary buyer and marketer of imports, further tighten currency controls, cap business profits, and extend price controls. Falling oil prices since 2014 have aggravated Venezuela’s economic crisis. Insufficient access to dollars, price controls, and rigid labor regulations have led some US and multinational firms to reduce or shut down their Venezuelan operations. High costs for oil production and state oil company PDVSA’s poor cash flow have slowed investment in the petroleum sector, resulting in a decline in oil production.

Exchange rates [time series]

bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - | 6.284 (2014 est.) | 6.0478 (2013 est.) | 4.29 (2012 est.) | 4.289 (2011 est.) | 2.5821 (2010 est.)

Exports [time series]

$83.2 billion (2014 est.) | $88.76 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum and petroleum products, bauxite and aluminum, minerals, chemicals, agricultural products

Exports - partners [time series]

US 34.6%, India 15.1%, China 12.9%, Cuba 5.3%, Singapore 4.8% (2014)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$205.8 billion (2014 est.)

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

$538.9 billion (2014 est.) | $561.4 billion (2013 est.) | $553.9 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 35

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 3.8% | industry: 35.4% | services: 60.8% (2014 est.)

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

$17,700 (2014 est.) | $18,400 (2013 est.) | $18,200 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 88

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

-4% (2014 est.) | 1.3% (2013 est.) | 5.6% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213

Gross national saving [time series]

20.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | 22.4% of GDP (2013 est.) | 29.5% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.7% | highest 10%: 32.7% (2006)

Imports [time series]

$50.34 billion (2014 est.) | $51.93 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 24.2%, China 12.1%, Brazil 9.9%, Colombia 4.3%, Argentina 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Industries [time series]

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) [time series]

62.2% (2014 est.) | 40.6% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 225

Labor force [time series]

14.34 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 7.3% | industry: 21.8% | services: 70.9% (4th quarter, 2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$25.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $5.143 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | $3.991 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Population below poverty line [time series]

31.6% (2011 est.)

Public debt [time series]

51.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | 50.9% of GDP (2013 est.) | 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 intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental 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 | country comparison to the world: 66

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$20.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $21.48 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Stock of broad money [time series]

$360 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $196 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$25.38 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $24.29 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$57.14 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $55.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$372.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $196.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$356 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $192.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

68.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 3

Unemployment rate [time series]

8% (2014 est.) | 7.5% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

184.8 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Crude oil - exports [time series]

1.645 million bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Crude oil - production [time series]

2.475 million bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 12

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

297.7 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1

Electricity - consumption [time series]

94.83 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Electricity - exports [time series]

249 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

35.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

64.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - imports [time series]

480 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

27.5 million kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Electricity - production [time series]

127.6 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

30.5 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.877 billion cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Natural gas - production [time series]

28.4 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

5.562 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

784,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

638,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

16,660 bbl/day (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

1.11 million bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 912,050 sq km | land: 882,050 sq km | water: 30,000 sq km | country comparison to the world: 33

Area - comparative [time series]

almost six times the size of Georgia; 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 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands | signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 9.06 cu km/yr (23%/4%/74%) | per capita: 358.6 cu m/yr (2008)

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]

10,550 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 5,267 km | border countries (3): Brazil 2,137 km, Colombia 2,341 km, Guyana 789 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 24.5% | arable land 3.1%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 20.6% | forest: 52.1% | other: 23.4% (2011 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]

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 15 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

1,233 cu km (2011)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, 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]

name: Caracas | geographic coordinates: 10 29 N, 66 52 W | time difference: UTC-4.5 (a half hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

many previous; latest adopted 15 December 1999, effective 30 December 1999; amended 2009 (2013)

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lee MCCLENNY (July 2014) | 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) 975-6411, 907-8400 (after hours) | FAX: [58] (212) 907-8199

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maximilien SANCHEZ Arvelaiz (since July 2014) | chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 | telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214 | FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820 | consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Nicolas MADURO Moros (since 19 April 2013); Executive Vice President Jorge Alberto ARREAZA Montserrat (since 19 April 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Nicolas MADURO Moros (since 19 April 2013); Executive Vice President Jorge Alberto ARREAZA Montserrat (since 19 April 2013) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits); election last held on 14 April 2013 - a special election held following the death of President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias on 5 March 2013 (next election expected in late 2018 or early 2019 pending official convocation by the country's electoral body) | election results: Nicolas MADURO Moros elected president; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 50.6%, Henrique CAPRILES Radonski (PJ) 49.1%, other 0.3%

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 eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band; the flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; yellow is interpreted as standing for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence; the seven stars on the original flag represented the seven provinces in Venezuela that united in the war of independence; in 2006, then President Hugo CHAVEZ ordered an eighth star added to the star arc - a decision that sparked much controversy - to conform with the flag proclaimed by Simon Bolivar in 1827 and to represent the historic province of Guayana

Government type [time series]

federal republic

Independence [time series]

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCT jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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), Mercosur, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Tribunal of Justice (consists of 32 judges organized into 6 divisions - constitutional, political administrative, electoral, civil appeals, criminal appeals, and social (mainly agrarian and labor issues) | 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 non-renewable 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 [time series]

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (as of 23 April 2015, 165 seats; 110 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 52 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote, and 3 seats reserved for indigenous peoples of Venezuela; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 26 September 2010 (next expected to be held on 6 December 2015) | election results: percent of vote by party - pro-government 48.9%, opposition coalition 47.9%, other 3.2%; seats by party - pro-government 99, opposition 65, other 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Gloria al bravo pueblo" (Glory to the Brave People) | lyrics/music: Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA | note: adopted 1881; lyrics written in 1810, the music some years later; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela's struggle for independence

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

National symbol(s) [time series]

troupial (bird); national colors: yellow, blue, red

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

A New Time or UNT [Enrique MARQUEZ] | Brave People's Alliance or ABP [Richard BLANCO] | Christian Democrats or COPEI [Roberto ENRIQUEZ] | Coalition of opposition parties -- The Democratic Unity Table or MUD [Jesus "Chuo" TORREALBA] | Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA] | Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS ALLUP] | Fatherland for All or PPT [Rafael UZCATEGUI] | For Social Democracy or PODEMOS [Didalco Antonio BOLIVAR GRATEROL] | Justice First or PJ [Julio BORGES] | Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Segundo MELENDEZ] | Popular Will or VP [Leopoldo LOPEZ] | Progressive Wave or AP [Henri FALCON] | The Radical Cause or La Causa R [Americo DE GRAZIA] | United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Nicolas MADURO] | Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV [Simon CALZADILLA] | Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique Fernando SALAS FEO]

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

Bolivarian and Socialist Workers' Union (a ruling-party-oriented organized labor union) | Confederacion Venezolana de Industriales or Coindustria (a conservative business group) | Consejos Comunales (pro-government local communal councils) | Federation of Chambers and Associations of Commerce and Production of Venezuela or FEDECAMARAS (a conservative business group) | Union of Oil Workers of Venezuela or FUTPV | Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (opposition-oriented labor organization) | other: various civil society groups and human rights organizations

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 Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). 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. Under Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, and his hand-picked successor, President Nicolas MADURO, the executive branch has exercised increasingly authoritarian control over other branches of government. At the same time, democratic institutions have deteriorated, threats to freedom of expression have increased, and political polarization has grown. The ruling party's economic policies have expanded the state's role in the economy through expropriations of major enterprises, strict currency exchange and price controls that discourage private sector investment and production, and overdependence on the petroleum industry for revenues, among others. Current concerns include: an increasingly politicized military, rampant violent crime, high inflation, and widespread shortages of basic consumer goods, medicine, and medical supplies. Venezuela assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2015-16 term.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 7,013,854 | females age 16-49: 7,165,661 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 5,614,743 | females age 16-49: 6,074,834 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 277,210 | female: 273,353 (2010 est.)

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

Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB): Bolivarian Army (Ejercito Bolivariano, EB), Bolivarian Navy (Armada Bolivariana, AB; includes Naval Infantry, Coast Guard, Naval Aviation), Bolivarian Military Aviation (Aviacion Militar Bolivariana, AMB; includes Air National Guard), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB) (2015)

Military expenditures [time series]

2.6% of GDP (2013) | 2.5% of GDP (2012) | 1.8% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 98

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 30-month conscript service obligation; Navy requires 6th-grade education for enlisted personnel; all citizens of military service age (18-60 years old) are obligated to register for military service (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27.76% (male 4,143,988/female 3,983,457) | 15-24 years: 18.71% (male 2,754,818/female 2,724,039) | 25-54 years: 39.7% (male 5,711,044/female 5,911,607) | 55-64 years: 7.68% (male 1,067,661/female 1,180,276) | 65 years and over: 6.14% (male 791,095/female 1,007,475) (2015 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.16 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 404,092 | percentage: 8% (2000 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

2.9% (2009) | country comparison to the world: 115

Death rate [time series]

5.31 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Demographic profile [time series]

Social investment in Venezuela during the CHAVEZ administration reduced poverty from nearly 50 % in 1999 to about 27 % in 2011, increased school enrollment, substantially decreased infant and child mortality, and improved access to potable water and sanitation through social investment. "Missions" dedicated to education, nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation were funded through petroleum revenues. The sustainability of this progress remains questionable, however, as the continuation of these social programs depends on the prosperity of Venezuela's oil industry. In the long-term, education and health care spending may increase economic growth and reduce income inequality, but rising costs and the staffing of new health care jobs with foreigners are slowing development. | While CHAVEZ was in power, more than one million predominantly middle- and upper-class Venezuelans are estimated to have emigrated. The brain drain is attributed to a repressive political system, lack of economic opportunities, steep inflation, a high crime rate, and corruption. Thousands of oil engineers emigrated to Canada, Colombia, and the United States following CHAVEZ's firing of over 20,000 employees of the state-owned petroleum company during a 2002-2003 oil strike. Additionally, thousands of Venezuelans of European descent have taken up residence in their ancestral homelands. Nevertheless, Venezuela continues to attract immigrants from South America and southern Europe because of its lenient migration policy and the availability of education and health care. Venezuela also has been a fairly accommodating host to more than 200,000 Colombian refugees.

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 52.4% | youth dependency ratio: 42.8% | elderly dependency ratio: 9.5% | potential support ratio: 10.5% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.9% of GDP (2009) | country comparison to the world: 22

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.55% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

4,400 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

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

106,900 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

3.6% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 151

Hospital bed density [time series]

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 18.91 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 22.29 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 15.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.54 years | male: 71.4 years | female: 77.83 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 96.3% | male: 96.4% | female: 96.2% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

CARACAS (capital) 2.916 million; Maracaibo 2.196 million; Valencia 1.734 million; Maracay 1.166 million; Barquisimeto 1.039 million (2015)

Median age [time series]

total: 27.2 years | male: 26.4 years | female: 27.9 years (2015 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Venezuelan(s) | adjective: Venezuelan

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

24.3% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 26

Population [time series]

29,275,460 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Population growth rate [time series]

1.39% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Religions [time series]

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Sanitation facility access [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 14 years | male: 13 years | female: 15 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.32 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 17.1% | male: 14.3% | female: 22.6% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 89% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.54% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan Economic Exclusion Zone/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claim

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 173,519 (Colombia) (2014) | stateless persons: 11,000 (2014)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, often lured from the nation's interior to urban and tourist areas with false job offers; women from Colombia, Peru, Haiti, China, and South Africa are also reported to have been sexually exploited in Venezuela; some Venezuelan women are transported to Caribbean islands, particularly Aruba, Curacao, and Trinidad and Tobago, where they are subjected to forced prostitution; some Venezuelan children are forced to beg on the streets or to work as domestic servants, while Ecuadorian children, often from indigenous communities, are subjected to forced labor | tier rating: Tier 3 – Venezuela does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not publically document progress on human trafficking investigations, prosecutions, and convictions or victim identification and assistance in 2013, making it difficult to assess the scope or efficacy of these efforts; victim services appeared to remain inadequate, and the extent of efforts to investigate internal forced labor or to help children in prostitution was unclear; authorities provided limited funding to some NGOs providing victim services; public service announcements and an awareness campaign on human trafficking continued; anti-trafficking legislation drafted in 2010 remained unapproved (2014)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

444 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 19

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 127 | over 3,047 m: 6 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 33 | 914 to 1,523 m: 62 | under 914 m: 17 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 317 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 57 | 914 to 1,523 m: 127 | 130 (2013)

Heliports [time series]

3 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 53 | by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 12, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 5, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 16 | foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Greece 4, Mexico 1, Spain 1) | registered in other countries: 14 (Panama 13, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 69

Pipelines [time series]

extra heavy crude 981 km; gas 5,941 km; oil 7,588 km; refined products 1,778 km (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon | oil terminals: Jose terminal

Railways [time series]

total: 447 km | standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (41.4 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 98

Roadways [time series]

total: 96,189 km (2014) | country comparison to the world: 48

Transportation - note [time series]

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as a significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Waterways [time series]

7,100 km (Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 20