Venezuela
Country Guide

Explore Venezuela

Venezuela with its capital Caracas is located in South America (Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 912,051 square kilometers (almost six times the size of Georgia) with a population of 31,304,000. Spanish is the language spoken by the majority in Venezuela. Brazil, Colombia and Guyana are bordering countries.

Venezuela is a country in South America. Having a shoreline along the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, Venezuela borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east and Brazil to the south, and is situated on the major sea and air routes linking North and South America. The Angel Falls (Churun Meru) in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall and one of Venezuela's major tourist attractions.

Popular Destinations in Venezuela

Administrative regions of Venezuela

• Amazonas
• Anzoategui
• Apure
• Aragua
• Barinas
• Bolivar
• Carabobo
• Cojedes
• Delta Amacuro
• Dependencias Federales
• Distrito Federal
• Estado Trujillo
• Estado Yaracuy
• Falcon
• Guarico
• Lara
• Merida
• Miranda
• Monagas
• Nueva Esparta
• Portuguesa
• Sucre
• Tachira
• Vargas
• Zulia

About the country

The terrain is Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest with central plains (llanos) as well as Guiana Highlands in southeast. The average density of population is about 34 per km². The climate in Venezuela can be described as tropicalhot, humid, more moderate in highlands. Possible natural disasters include periodic droughts subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides

To reach someone Venezuela dial +58 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".ve". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 120 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B). The sign for the locally used currency Bolivar is VEB.

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.

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, freedoms of expression and the press have been curtailed, 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: human rights abuses, rampant violent crime, high inflation, and widespread shortages of basic consumer goods, medicine, and medical supplies.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 34)	912,050	sq km
Land (World Rank: 33)	882,050	sq km
Water (World Rank: 19)	30,000	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 85)	20.60	%
Comparative	almost six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California
Coastline
2800
Landborder
5267
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 28)	4,978	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 148)	24.50	%
Arable (World Rank: 165)	3.10	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 130)	0.80	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 85)	20.60	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 45)	10,550	sq km
Map reference
South America
Environment
Issues	- deforestation - especially along the Caribbean coast - oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo - sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia - soil degradation - threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations - urban and industrial pollution
Agreement party	- 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
Agreement signed	: none of the selected agreements
Hazzards	- periodic droughts - subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides
Location
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 42)	31,304,000
Deathrate (World Rank: 179)	0.53	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 89)	1.88	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 89)	1.24	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 109)	-0.12	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 86)	2.32	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 134)	27.60
Female (World Rank: 125)	29.00
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 47)	4,390,770
0 14 female (World Rank: 48)	4,175,080
15 24 male (World Rank: 43)	2,707,930
15 24 female (World Rank: 43)	2,624,030
25 54 male (World Rank: 41)	6,289,670
25 54 female (World Rank: 40)	6,398,220
55 64 male (World Rank: 39)	1,198,520
55 64 female (World Rank: 39)	1,299,500
65 x male (World Rank: 39)	1,003,530
65 x female (World Rank: 43)	1,216,750
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 115)	1.22	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 90)	76	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 89)	79	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 99)	73	years
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 153)	0.90
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 78)	94.40	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 49)	25.60	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 124)	93.10	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 32)	114,400,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 38)	73,990,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 145)	52.80	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 43)	47.10	%
Source renew (World Rank: 162)	0.10	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 11)	2,277,000	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 10)	1,514,000	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 1)	300,900,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 19)	1,028,000	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 29)	747,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 18)	402,300	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 28)	26,000,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 32)	39,620,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 27)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
188000000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 20)	7	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 113)	1	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 132)	5	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 211)	-48	% of GDP
National symbol
troupial
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Venezuelan
Noun
Venezuelan(s)
Background
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, freedoms of expression and the press have been curtailed, 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: human rights abuses, rampant violent crime, high inflation, and widespread shortages of basic consumer goods, medicine, and medical supplies.
Flag description
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 44)	434,900,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 218)	-16.50	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 112)	14,000	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 140)	4.00	%
Source industry (World Rank: 43)	35.50	%
Source service (World Rank: 118)	60.60	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 40)	14,160,000
In poverty (World Rank: 108)	19.70	%
Products
Industries	- agricultural products - chemicals - construction materials - crude oil - equipment - iron - livestock - machinery - medical equipment - petroleum products - pharmaceuticals - raw materials - steel products - transport equipment
Agriculture	- bananas - beef - coffee - corn - eggs - fish - milk - pork - rice - sorghum - sugarcane - vegetables
Exports	- agricultural products - aluminum - bauxite - chemicals - minerals - petroleum - petroleum products
Imports	- agricultural products - chemicals - construction materials - equipment - iron - livestock - machinery - medical equipment - petroleum products - pharmaceuticals - raw materials - steel products - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 23)	7,752,230
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 68)	25.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 147)	89.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 35)	18,547,400
Population (World Rank: 93)	60.00	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 18)	127.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 15)	317
Heliports (World Rank: 46)	3.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 117)	447
Road
Total length (World Rank: 50)	96,189
Water
Total length (World Rank: 21)	7,100

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