Venezuela

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

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, Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Coastline

2,800 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 15 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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%

Irrigated Land

2,640 sq km (1989 est.)

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, mudslides; periodic droughts
International agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping

Note: On major sea and air routes linking North and South America

PEOPLE

Population

21,983,188 (July 1996 est.)
21,004,773 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

35% (male 3,946,196; female 3,704,561) (July 1995 est.)
35% (male 3,795,032; female 3,650,705) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

61% (male 6,702,404; female 6,666,626) (July 1995 est.)
60% (male 6,313,887; female 6,350,466) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

4% (male 442,659; female 520,742) (July 1996 est.) 5% (male 408,663; female 486,020) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.89% (1996 est.)
2.1% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

24.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
25.11 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

5.09 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
4.57 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-0.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 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.)
26.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 72.09 years (1996 est.), 73.31 years (1995 est.)
Male: 69.11 years (1996 est.), 70.48 years (1995 est.)
Female: 75.29 years (1996 est.), 76.29 years (1995 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.87 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Venezuelan(s)
Adjective: Venezuelan

Ethnic Divisions

Mestizo 67%
White 21%
Black 10%
Amerindian 2%

Religions

Nominally Roman Catholic 96%
Protestant 2%

Languages

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

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)

Total population: 91.1%
Male: 91.8%
Female: 90.3%

Labor Force

7.6 million

By occupation:

Services 63%
Industry 25%
Agriculture 12% (1993)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: Republic of Venezuela
Conventional short form: Venezuela
Local long form: Republica de Venezuela
Local short form: Venezuela

Digraph

Type

Republic

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

Legal System

Based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state and head of government: President Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (since 2 February 1994); 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; 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

Member of

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

Anthem

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

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.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $195.5 billion (1995 est.); $178.3 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

2.2% (1995 est.)
-3.3% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$9,300 (1995 est.)
$8,670 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

57% (1995 est.)
71% (1994 est.)

Unemployment Rate

11.7% (1995 est.)
9% (1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues: $7.25 billion (1995 est.); $10.3 billion (1994 est.)
Expenditures: $9.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1995 est.); $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $103 million (1994 est.)

Exports

$18.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
$15.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

Commodities:

Petroleum 72%
Bauxite and aluminum
Steel
Chemicals
Agricultural products
Basic manufactures

Partners:

Imports

$11.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
$7.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

Commodities:

Raw materials
Machinery and equipment
Transport equipment
Construction materials

Partners:

U.S. 40%
Germany
Japan
Netherlands
Canada

External Debt

$40.1 billion (1994)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 0.5% (1995 est.); -1.4% (1993 est.); accounts for 41% of GDP

Electricity

Capacity: 18,740,000 kW
Production: 72 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 3,311 kWh (1993)

Industries

Petroleum
Iron-ore mining
Construction materials
Food processing
Textiles
Steel
Aluminum
Motor vehicle assembly

Agriculture

Accounts for 5% of GDP; products - corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish; not self-sufficient in food other than meat

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

Economic Aid

Recipient: ODA, $46 million (1993); U.S. commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $10 million

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), 46.90 (1990)

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

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.)

Inland 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 2,438 m: 8
With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 96 (1995 est.)

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

1.44 million telephones (1987 est.); modern and expanding

Local: NA
Intercity: 3 domestic satellite earth stations
International: 3 submarine coaxial cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 181, FM 0, shortwave 26
Radios: 9.04 million (1992 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 59
Televisions: 3.3 million (1992 est.)

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperation or Guardia Nacional)

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 5,856,391; males fit for military service 4,235,519; males reach military age (18) annually 236,084 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $902 million, 1.4% of GDP (1996); $1.95 billion, 4% of GDP (1991)

History
World Atlas

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