Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
10 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
2.7 million (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.ve
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
76.68% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
10 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
2.683 million (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
71 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
20.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, sugarcane, maize, rice, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, chicken, pineapples, potatoes (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
2.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
52% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$76 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$30 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$4.604 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$4.919 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$16.051 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$3.87 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
38.3784 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
6.0480 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
6.2842 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
6.2842 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
9.2573 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
9.9750 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
6.6839 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
28.6354 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
38.3784 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, petroleum coke, scrap iron, alcohols, fertilizers (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$94.764 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$93.486 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$51.103 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$28.684 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$93.485 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$83.401 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$34.460 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$5.571 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$8.690 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$14.553 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$18.496 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$20.199 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$21,241 (2011 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$139.395 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$619.936 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, soybean meal, corn, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$69.227 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$24.529 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$25.81 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$18.376 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$18.432 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$7.983 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$5.606 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$7.856 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$10.280 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$10.266 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$11.047 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
121.74% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
254.95% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
2,355.1% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1,588.5% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
200.9% (2022 est.)
Economy: Labor force
11.136 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
33.10% (2015 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
38.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$98.768 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$106.672 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$110.943 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-6.22% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
-17.04% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
-15.67% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
-19.66% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-27.66% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-30.00% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
0.96% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
8.00% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.00% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.30% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$4,000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$4,600 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$4,900 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$120.0 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$128.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$161.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$15.625 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$10.15 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$9.794 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
5.89% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
7.53% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
7.03% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
5.65% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
5.41% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
5.32% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
13.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
9.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
10.6% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
80,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
149,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
730.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
21.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
56.493 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
600 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
33.493 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
25.849 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
54.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
5.674 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
303.806 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
203,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
801,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
179,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
48.623 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
27.928 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
76.73 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Environment: 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
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
24.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 20.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
53.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
22.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
1,007.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
3,595.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
328.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
1.325 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
16.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
793.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
5.123 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
89.29% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
9.779 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
21.3% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California
Geography: Area: land
882,050 sq km
Geography: Area: water
30,000 sq km
Geography: Coastline
2,800 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Pico Bolivar 4,978 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
450 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 66 00 W
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
10,550 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Brazil 2,137 km; Colombia 2,341 km; Guyana 789 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
5,267 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
24.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 20.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
53.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
22.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Lago de Maracaibo - 13,010 sq km
Geography: 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)
Geography: Map references
South America
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
15 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
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
Government: Capital: etymology
named for the Caracas tribe that originally settled in the area; the origin of their name is unknown
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
10 29 N, 66 52 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: 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
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
many previous; latest adopted 15 December 1999, effective 30 December 1999
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Venezuela
Government: Country name: 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"
Government: Country name: former
State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela
Government: Country name: local long form
República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Government: Country name: local short form
Venezuela
Government: 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
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSBogota@state.gov https://ve.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Venezuela Affairs Unit, US Embassy, Carrera 45 N. 24B-27, Bogota, Colombia
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3140 Caracas Place, Washington DC 20521-3140
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
1-888-407-4747
Government: 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
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2026)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
unknown
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2026)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
28 July 2024
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Legal system
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
May 2025
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
12/6/2020
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
277 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
32.1%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1881; lyrics were written in 1810; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela's fight for independence
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA
Government: National color(s)
yellow, blue, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Coro and its Port (c); Canaima National Park (n); Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Government: National symbol(s)
troupial (bird)
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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.
Military and Security: 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: 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)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 125-150,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 200,000 Bolivarian Militia (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.94% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.45% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
2.23% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.15% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.79% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.58% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.31% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.65% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.50% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
25% (male 3,987,361/female 3,811,307)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
65.9% (male 10,264,353/female 10,330,376)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
9.1% (2024 est.) (male 1,303,737/female 1,553,172)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
16.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.78% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
14.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
51.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
37.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 93.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 6.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
10.3% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.05 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
6% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.60% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.0 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Spanish (official) 98.2%, indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
76.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
68.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
97.3% (2017 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
97.2% (2017 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
97.18% (2017 est.)
People and Society: 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)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
227 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
31.7 years
People and Society: Median age: male
30.3 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Venezuelan
People and Society: Net migration rate
-1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
25.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
People and Society: Population
28,405,543 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.88% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
15,947,172
People and Society: Population: male
15,808,263
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.84 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.08 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
89.29% (2024 est.)
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: Space agency/agencies
Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (Agencia Bolivariana para Actividades Espaciales, ABAE; formed 2007) (2025)
Space: 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)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
2,338 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
20,911 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: 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/
Transportation: Airports
509 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YV
Transportation: Heliports
88 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 3, container ship 1, general cargo 26, oil tanker 17, other 225
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
272 (2023)
Transportation: 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
Transportation: Ports: large
1
Transportation: Ports: medium
2
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
21
Transportation: Ports: small
11
Transportation: Ports: total ports
31 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
17
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
447 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.4 km electrified)
Transportation: Railways: total
447 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.