Venezuela

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

republicIndependence 5 July 1811 (from Spain)

Venezuela as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 89 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalCaracas
Position8 00 N, 66 00 W
Area912,050 sq km land area: 882,050 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California
LocationNorthern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
1996

Every edition of Venezuela

Populationas each edition published it
21.98 million July 1996 est. · 19.7m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.89% 1996 est. · 2.22% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 24.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
72.09 years 1996 est. · 72.69 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.87 children per woman 1996 est. · 3.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
29.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 27 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$9,300 1995 est. · $2,800 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.2% 1995 est. · 7.3% in 1993

Communications

No regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)

9 fields
Fixed lines
3,000
(1987 est.)

Telephone system

domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Televisions

2,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Branches

no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Geography

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

15 fields
Coastline
2,800km
contiguous zone: 15 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Irrigated land
2,640sq km
(1989 est.)

Location

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 66 00 W

Map references

South America

Area

total area: 912,050 sq km land area: 882,050 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries

total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

International disputes

claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela

Climate

  • tropical;
  • hot, humid;
  • more moderate in highlands

Terrain

  • Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest;
  • central plains (llanos);
  • Guiana Highlands in southeast lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Land use

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 39% other: 37%

Environment

current 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 natural hazards: subject to floods, rockslides, mud slides;
  • periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
  • signed, but not ratified - Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note

on major sea and air routes linking North and South America

People

15 fields
Population
21,983,188
(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 1.89% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth
24.39Death
5.09Net migration
-0.36

Ethnic divisions

mestizo 67%white 21%black 10%Amerindian 2%
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1995 est.) total population: 91.1% male: 91.8% female: 90.3%

Age structure

0-14 years: 35% (male 3,946,196; female 3,704,561) 15-64 years: 61% (male 6,702,404; female 6,666,626) 65 years and over: 4% (male 442,659; female 520,742) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

29.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.09 years male: 69.11 years female: 75.29 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.87 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan

Religions

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%

Languages

Spanish (official), native dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians in the remote interior

Government

Republic

22 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

30.45%
Rafael CALDERA (National Convergence) 30.45%Claudio FERMIN (AD) 23.59%Oswaldo ALVAREZ PAZ (COPEI) 22.72%Andres VELASQUEZ (Causa R) 21.94%other cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president 1.3%

Legislature, 53 seatsone dot, one seat

AD 18COPEI 15Causa R 9MAS 5

Legislature, 203 seatsone dot, one seat

AD 55COPEI 53MAS 24Causa R 40other 5

Name of country

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

Capital

Caracas

Administrative divisions

  • 21 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 territory* (territorio), 1 federal district** (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency*** (dependencia federal);
  • Amazonas*, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales***, Distrito Federal**, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Independence

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Constitution

23 January 1961

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:
  • President Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (since 2 February 1994) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
  • election last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998);
  • results - Rafael CALDERA (National Convergence) 30.45%, Claudio FERMIN (AD) 23.59%, Oswaldo ALVAREZ PAZ (COPEI) 22.72%, Andres VELASQUEZ (Causa R) 21.94%, other 1.3% cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica)

Senate (Senado)

  • elections last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (53 total) AD 18, COPEI 15, Causa R 9, MAS 5, National Convergence 6;
  • note - 3 former presidents (2 from AD, 1 from COPEI) hold lifetime Senate seats

Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

  • elections last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998);
  • results - AD 27.9%, COPEI 26.9%, MAS 12.4%, National Convergence 12.9%, Causa R 19.9%;
  • seats - (203 total) AD 55, COPEI 53, MAS 24, National Convergence 26, Causa R 40, other 5

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session

Political parties and leaders

  • National Convergence (Convergencia), Jose Miguel UZCATEGUI, president, Juan Jose CALDERA, national coordinator;
  • Social Christian Party (COPEI), Luis HERRERA Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general;
  • Democratic Action (AD), Pedro PARIS Montesinos, president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general;
  • Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Gustavo MARQUEZ, president, and Enrique OCHOA Antich, secretary general;
  • Radical Cause (La Causa R), Pablo MEDINA, secretary general

Other political or pressure groups

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

International organization participation

AG, BCIE, Caricom (observer), CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Luis ECHEVERRIA chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:
  • Ambassador Jeffrey DAVIDOW embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1060 mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A;
  • APO AA 34037 telephone: [58] (2) 977-2011

FAX

[58] (2) 977-0843

Flag

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

Economy

The petroleum sector continues to dominate the economy, accounting for roughly 25% of GDP, 70% of total merchandise exports, and 45% of government revenue.

21 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,300
(1995 est.)
Real growth rate
2.2%
(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 0.5% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate
11.7%
(1995 est.)

Economic overview

The petroleum sector continues to dominate the economy, accounting for roughly 25% of GDP, 70% of total merchandise exports, and 45% of government revenue. According to preliminary Venezuelan government figures, real GDP grew 2.2% in 1995, largely on the strength of 6% growth in the petroleum sector.

Nonoil private sector GDP registered only a 0.8% gain in 1995, however, reflecting difficult domestic operating conditions, including a virtual cutoff of foreign exchange disbursements in the fourth quarter; the government has used foreign exchange controls to conserve reserves since mid-1994.

The CALDERA administration is currently negotiating with the IMF for a $3 billion stand-by agreement; it is unclear whether Caracas is willing to take the tough steps - including a substantial increase in gasoline prices - needed to seal a deal. Most private forecasters predict a difficult 1996, including flat or declining GDP, continued inflationary pressure, a tight foreign exchange situation, and potentially severe budget difficulties for the government.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $195.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: 5% industry: 41% services: 54% (1993)

Labor force

7.6 million by occupation: services 63%, industry 25%, agriculture 12% (1993)

Budget

revenues: $7.25 billion expenditures: $9.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity

capacity: 18,740,000 kW production: 72 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,311 kWh (1993)

Agriculture

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

Illicit drugs

  • illicit producer of cannabis, opium, and coca leaf for the international drug trade on a small scale;
  • however, large quantities of cocaine and heroin transit the country from Colombia;
  • important money-laundering hub;
  • active aerial eradication program primarily targeting opium

Exports

$18.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: petroleum 72%, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures partners: US and Puerto Rico 55%, Japan, Netherlands, Italy

Imports

$11.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials partners: US 40%, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Canada

External debt

$40.1 billion (1994)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $46 million (1993)

Currency

1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates

bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 288.690 (January 1996), 176.843 (1995), 148.503 (1994), 90.826 (1993), 68.376 (1992), 56.816 (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Networkskm

Railways
584Waterways
7,100
Railways: (336 km single track; 248 km privately owned) standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge · Waterways: ; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels

Railways

total: 584 km (336 km single track; 248 km privately owned) standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge

Highways

total: 93,472 km paved: 29,954 km unpaved: 63,518 km (1993 est.)

Waterways

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

Pipelines

  • crude oil 6,370 km;
  • petroleum products 480 km;
  • natural gas 4,010 km

Ports

Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon

Merchant marine

total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 612,645 GRT/1,090,707 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 9, combination bulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 12, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Airports

total: 377 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 59 with paved runways under 914 m: 165 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 96 (1995 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Venezuela.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/venezuela/1996.

How to cite ← 1995 edition 1997 edition →