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Venezuela
South America :: Venezuela
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| page last updated on
June 24, 2010 |
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Background:
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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. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement
his "21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills
while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing
democratic institutions. Current concerns include: a weakening of
democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military,
drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal
drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its
price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are
endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
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Location:
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Northern South America, bordering
the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and
Guyana
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Geographic coordinates:
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8 00 N, 66 00 W
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Map references:
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South America
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Area:
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total: 912,050
sq km
country comparison to the world: 33
land:
882,050 sq km
water:
30,000 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than twice
the size of California
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Land boundaries:
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total: 4,993
km
border countries:
Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
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Coastline:
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2,800 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12
nm
contiguous zone:
15 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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Climate:
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Current Weather
tropical; hot, humid;
more moderate in highlands
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Terrain:
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Andes Mountains and
Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana
Highlands in southeast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean
Sea 0 m
highest point:
Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas,
iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.85%
permanent crops:
0.88%
other:
96.27% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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5,750 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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1,233.2 cu km (2000)
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Freshwater
withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 8.37
cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%)
per capita:
313 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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subject to floods,
rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
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Environment
- current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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on major sea and air
routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana
Highlands is the world's highest waterfall
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Population:
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27,223,228 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 30%
(male 4,153,009/female 4,012,099)
15-64 years:
64.7% (male 8,664,411/female 8,944,598)
65 years and over:
5.3% (male 641,489/female 807,622) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 25.8
years
male:
25.1 years
female:
26.5 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.515% (2010 est.)
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Birth rate:
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20.29 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
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Death rate:
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5.14 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
82
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 93%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.79 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 21.07
deaths/1,000 live births
male:
24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
17.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy
at birth:
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total population: 73.77
years
08
male:
70.69 years
female:
77 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.45 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.7%; note - no country
specific models provided (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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110,000 (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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4,100 (2003 est.)
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Major
infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease:
dengue fever and malaria (2009)
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Nationality:
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noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective:
Venezuelan
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Ethnic groups:
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Spanish, Italian,
Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people
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Religions:
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nominally Roman Catholic
96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
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Languages:
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Spanish (official),
numerous indigenous dialects
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population:
93%
male:
93.3%
female:
92.7% (2001 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to
tertiary education):
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total: 12
years
male:
11 years
female:
12 years (2003)
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Education expenditures:
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3.7% of GDP (2006)
24
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela
conventional short form:
Venezuela
local long form:
Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
local short form:
Venezuela
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Government type:
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federal republic
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Capital:
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name: Caracas
geographic coordinates:
10 30 N, 66 56 W
time difference:
UTC-4.5 (half an hour ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
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Administrative
divisions:
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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**, Distrito Capital*, 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
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Independence:
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5 July 1811 (from Spain)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 5 July
(1811)
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Constitution:
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30 December 1999
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Legal system:
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open, adversarial court
system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President
Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President
Elias JAUA Milano (since 26 January 2010); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Executive Vice President Elias JAUA Milano (since 26 January
2010)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year
term (eligible for unlimited reelection); election last held on 3
December 2006 (next to be held in December 2012)
note:
in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a
new constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an
election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of this
constitution; in 2009, a national referendum approved the elimination of
term limits on all elected officials, including the presidency
election results:
Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of
vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National
Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous
peoples of Venezuela)
elections:
last held on 4 December 2005 (next to be held in
26 September 2010)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other
25), opposition 0; total seats by party as of 16 December 2009 -
pro-government 156 (PSUV 141, PPT 5, PCV 4, other 6), PODEMOS 6, FPH 5
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Tribunal of
Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (32 magistrates are elected by
the National Assembly for a single 12-year term)
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Political
parties and leaders:
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A New Time or UNT [Omar
BARBOZA]; Brave People's Alliance or ABP [Oscar PEREZ]; Christian
Democrats or COPEI [Luis Ignacio PLANAS]; Communist Party of Venezuela
or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup];
Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; For Social Democracy or
PODEMOS [Ramon MARTINEZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward
Socialism or MAS [Felipe MUJICA]; United Socialist Party of Venezuela or
PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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FEDECAMARAS, a
conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of
Workers or CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action)
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International organization participation:
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Caricom (observer), CDB,
FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur (associate),
MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNASUR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Bernardo ALVAREZ Herrera
chancery:
1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
[1] (202) 342-2214
FAX:
[1] (202) 342-6820
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New
York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Patrick DUDDY
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
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Flag description:
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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 Columbia, 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, President Hugo CHAVEZ
ordered an eighth star added to the star arc - a decision that sparked
much controversy
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Economy - overview:
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Venezuela remains highly dependent
on oil revenues, which account for roughly 90% of export earnings, about
50% of the federal budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. A nationwide
strike between December 2002 and February 2003 had far-reaching
economic consequences - real GDP declined by around 9% in 2002 and 8% in
2003 - but economic output since then has recovered strongly. Fueled by
high oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP by
about 10% in 2006, 8% in 2007, and nearly 5% in 2008, before the world
recession caused a contraction in 2009. This spending, combined with
recent minimum wage hikes and improved access to domestic credit, has
created a consumption boom but has come at the cost of higher inflation -
roughly 20% in 2007 and more than 30% in 2008. Imports also jumped
significantly before the recession of 2009. Declining oil prices in the
latter part of 2008 are undermining the government's ability to continue
the high rate of spending. President Hugo CHAVEZ in 2008-09 continued
efforts to increase the government's control of the economy by
nationalizing firms in the agribusiness, banking, tourism, oil, cement,
and steel sectors. In 2007, he nationalized firms in the petroleum,
communications, and electricity sectors. In January, 2010, CHAVEZ
announced a dual exchange rate system for the fixed rate bolivar. The
system offers a 2.6 bolivar per dollar rate for imports of essentials,
including food, medicine, and industrial machinery, and a 4.3 bolivar
per dollar rate for imports of other products, including cars and
telephones.
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GDP
(purchasing power parity):
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$350.1 billion (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$360.5
billion (2008 est.)
$344
billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP
(official exchange rate):
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$357.6 billion (2009
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-2.9% (2009 est.)
62
4.8%
(2008 est.)
8.2%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$13,100 (2009 est.)
$13,600
(2008 est.)
$13,200
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP -
composition by sector:
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agriculture: 4%
industry:
36.8%
services:
59.2% (2009 est.)
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Labor force:
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12.93 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 13%
industry:
23%
services:
64% (1997 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.9% (2009 est.)
7.4%
(2008 est.)
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Population
below poverty line:
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37.9% (yearend 2005 est.)
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Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%:
32.7% (2006)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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41 (2009)
49.5
(1998)
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Investment
(gross fixed):
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22.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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Budget:
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revenues: $66.37
billion
expenditures:
$86.47 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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18% of GDP (2009 est.)
06
14.4%
of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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27.1% (2009 est.)
20
30.4%
(2008 est.)
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Central bank
discount rate:
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33.5% (31 December 2008)
28.5%
(31 December 2007)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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22.37% (31 December 2008)
17.11%
(31 December 2007)
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Stock of money:
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$78.09 billion (31
December 2008)
9
$61.74
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$10.69 billion (31
December 2008)
$8.687
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$62.42 billion (31
December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 50
$50.24
billion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA
(31 December 2007)
$8.251
billion (31 December 2006)
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Agriculture - products:
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corn, sorghum, sugarcane,
rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
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Industries:
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petroleum, construction
materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum;
motor vehicle assembly
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-4.9% (2009 est.)
11
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Electricity -
production:
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113.3 billion kWh (2007
est.)
9
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Electricity -
consumption:
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83.02 billion kWh (2007
est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
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Electricity - exports:
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540 million kWh (2007
est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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1.651 billion kWh (2007
est.)
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Oil - production:
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2.175 million bbl/day
(2008 est.)
5
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Oil - consumption:
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760,000 bbl/day (2008
est.)
3
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Oil - exports:
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2.182 million bbl/day
(2007 est.)
0
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Oil - imports:
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0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
07
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Oil - proved reserves:
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98.59 billion bbl (1
January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
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Natural gas -
production:
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24.01 billion cu m (2008
est.)
8
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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25.51 billion cu m (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
01
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Natural gas - imports:
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1.5 billion cu m (2008
est.)
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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4.84 trillion cu m (1
January 2009 est.)
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Current account balance:
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$8.561 billion (2009
est.)
4
$37.39
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$57.6 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$95.14
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum, bauxite and
aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
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Exports - partners:
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US 39.8%, Netherlands
Antilles 7.6%, China 4.6% (2008)
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Imports:
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$38.44 billion (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$49.48
billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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raw materials, machinery
and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials
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Imports - partners:
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US 26.1%, Colombia 12.6%,
Brazil 10.7%, China 6.9%, Mexico 4.8% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$36.75 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$42.3
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$43.41 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$47.03
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$38.27 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
$41.38
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$18.45 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$16.62
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Exchange rates:
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bolivars (VEB) per US
dollar - 2.145 (2009), 2.147 (2008), 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8
(2005)
note:
on 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency
with 1000 old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar; in January 2010
Venequela introduced a dual exchange rate system for the fixed rate
bolivar, with 2.6 VEB per US dollar on essentials, and 4.3 VEB per US
dollar on all other products
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| Communications
::Venezuela |
Telephones - main lines in use:
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6.304 million (2008)
8
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
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27.084 million (2008)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: modern
and expanding
domestic:
domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations;
recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;
substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;
installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of
digital multimedia services; combined fixed and mobile-cellular
telephone subscribership 125 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide
connectivity to 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 (2007)
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Radio broadcast
stations:
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AM 46, FM 131, shortwave 3
(2008)
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Television
broadcast stations:
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66 (plus 45 repeaters)
(1997)
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Internet country code:
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.ve
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Internet hosts:
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155,139 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
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Internet users:
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7.167 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 35
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| Transportation
::Venezuela |
Airports:
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406 (2009)
0
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Airports -
with paved runways:
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total: 131
over 3,047 m:
6
2,438 to 3,047 m:
8
1,524 to 2,437 m:
35
914 to 1,523 m:
63
under 914 m:
19 (2009)
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Airports
- with unpaved runways:
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total: 275
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
16
914 to 1,523 m:
103
under 914 m:
155 (2009)
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|
Heliports:
|
|
4 (2009)
|
|
|
Pipelines:
|
|
extra heavy crude 980 km;
gas 5,258 km; oil 6,695 km; refined products 1,484 km; unknown 141 km
(2009)
|
|
|
Railways:
|
|
total: 806
km
01
standard gauge:
806 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
|
|
|
Roadways:
|
|
total: 96,155
km
country comparison to the world: 47
paved:
32,308 km
unpaved:
63,847 km (2002)
|
|
|
Waterways:
|
|
7,100 km
1
note:
Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo
navigable by oceangoing vessels (2008)
|
|
|
Merchant marine:
|
|
total: 62
country comparison to the world: 65
by type:
bulk carrier 9, cargo 16, chemical tanker 3,
liquefied gas 5, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated
cargo 2
foreign-owned:
12 (Chile 1, Denmark 1, Greece 3, Mexico 5, Panama
1, Spain 1)
registered in other countries:
12 (Bahamas 1, Panama 10, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1) (2008)
|
|
|
Ports and terminals:
|
|
La Guaira, Maracaibo,
Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon
|
|
|
Transportation - note:
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Military branches:
|
|
National Bolivarian 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), Bolivarian National Guard
(Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB), Bolivarian Militia (Milicia
Bolivariana, MB) (2010)
|
|
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
|
18-30 years of age for
compulsory and voluntary military service; 30-month conscript service
obligation; all citizens 18-50 years old are obligated to register for
military service (2008)
|
|
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
|
males age 16-49: 6,891,648
females age 16-49:
7,047,565 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
|
males age 16-49: 5,504,152
females age 16-49:
5,976,339 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age
annually:
|
|
male: 276,612
female:
273,819 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Military expenditures:
|
|
1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
22
|
|
|
|
| Transnational Issues
::Venezuela |
Disputes -
international:
|
|
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 (UNCLOS) 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; in 2006, an
estimated 139,000 Colombians sought protection in 150 communities along
the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize
Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a
Venezuelan EEZ/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
|
|
|
Trafficking in persons:
|
|
current situation: Venezuela
is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and
children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation
and forced labor; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked within the
country for sexual exploitation, lured from the nation's interior to
urban and tourist areas; child prostitution in urban areas and child sex
tourism in resort destinations appear to be growing; Venezuelan women
and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Western
Europe, Mexico, and Caribbean destinations
tier rating:
Tier 2 Watch List - Venezuela is placed on the
Tier 2 Watch List, up from Tier 3, as it showed greater resolve to
address trafficking through law enforcement measures and prevention
efforts in 2007, although stringent punishment of offenders and victim
assistance remain lacking (2008)
|
|
|
Illicit drugs:
|
|
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
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