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.
Geography
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 : 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km
comparison ranking: total 34
Area – comparative
almost six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 5,267 km
border countries (3): Brazil 2,137 km; Colombia 2,341 km; Guyana 789 km
Coastline
2,800 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation
highest point: Pico Bolivar 4,978 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 450 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Land use
agricultural land: 24.4% (2022 est.)
arable land: 2.9% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 20.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 52.3% (2022 est.)
other: 23.3% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
10,550 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Lago de Maracaibo – 13,010 sq km
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)
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
Natural hazards
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
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
People and Society
Population
total: 31,250,306 (2024 est.)
male: 15,555,451
female: 15,694,855
comparison rankings: total 49; female 50; male 49
Nationality
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups
unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous
Languages
Spanish (official) 98.2%, indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4% (2023 est.)
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.
Spanish audio sample:
Religions
Roman Catholic 48.1%, Protestant 31.6% (Evangelical 31.4%, Adventist 0.2%), Jehovah’s Witness 1.4%, African American/umbanda 0.7%, other 0.1%, believer 3.5%, agnostic 0.1%, atheist, 0.4%, none 13.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2023 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 25% (male 3,987,361/female 3,811,307)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 10,264,353/female 10,330,376)
65 years and over: 9.1% (2024 est.) (male 1,303,737/female 1,553,172)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 37.9 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 13.9 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 7.2 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 31 years (2024 est.)
male: 30.3 years
female: 31.7 years
comparison ranking: total 129
Population growth rate
2.34% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 27
Birth rate
16.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 94
Death rate
6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 137
Net migration rate
13.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 3
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
Urbanization
urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
259 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 36
Infant mortality rate
total: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 101
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 74.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 71.5 years
female: 77.7 years
comparison ranking: total population 142
Total fertility rate
2.18 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 87
Gross reproduction rate
1.06 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
75% (2010)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 94.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 5.8% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
4% of GDP (2021)
6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 95.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 4.2% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
25.6% (2016)
comparison ranking: 49
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 123
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.5% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
1.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
0% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 195
Literacy
total population: 97% (2016 est.)
male: 97% (2016 est.)
female: 97% (2016 est.)
Environment
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; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from mining operations
Environment – international 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Land use
agricultural land: 24.4% (2022 est.)
arable land: 2.9% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 20.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 52.3% (2022 est.)
other: 23.3% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 16.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 164.18 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 68.66 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 9,779,093 tons (2010 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Lago de Maracaibo – 13,010 sq km
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 5.12 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 790 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 16.71 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
1.33 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: República Bolivariana de Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela
former: State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela
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 type
federal presidential republic
Capital
name: Caracas
geographic coordinates: 10 29 N, 66 52 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named for the Caracas tribe that originally settled in the area; the origin of their name is unknown
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
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Legal system
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
Constitution
history: many previous; latest adopted 15 December 1999, effective 30 December 1999
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Notification Statement: the United States does not recognize Nicolas MADURO Moros as president of Venezuela
President Nicolas MADURO Moros (since 19 April 2013)
head of government: President Nicolas MADURO Moros (since 19 April 2013)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits); election last held on 28 July 2024 (next to be held in 2030)
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%
note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government
note 2: the United States recognizes that Edmundo GONZÁLEZ won the most votes in the 28 July 2024 presidential election because of overwhelming evidence, including more than 80% of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations that indicated GONZÁLEZ received the most votes by an insurmountable margin
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 277 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 5/25/2025
percentage of women in chamber: 32.1%
expected date of next election: May 2030
note: in 2020, the National Electoral Council increased the number of seats in the National Assembly from 167 to 277 for the December 2020 election
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)
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
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
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
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
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
embassy: Venezuela Affairs Unit, US Embassy, Carrera 45 N. 24B-27, Bogota, Colombia
mailing address: 3140 Caracas Place, Washington DC 20521-3140
telephone: 1-888-407-4747
email address and website:
[email protected]
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
Independence
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
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 from the flag of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; yellow stands for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence; 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
National symbol(s)
troupial (bird)
National colors
yellow, blue, red
National anthem
name: “Gloria al bravo pueblo” (Glory to the Brave People)
lyrics/music: Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA
note: adopted 1881; lyrics written in 1810, the music some years later; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela’s struggle for independence
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Coro and its Port (c); Canaima National Park (n); Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (c)
Economy
Economic overview
South American economy; ongoing hyperinflation since mid-2010s; chaotic economy due to political corruption, infrastructure cuts, and human rights abuses; in debt default; oil exporter; hydropower consumer; rising Chinese relations
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$269.068 billion (2018 est.)
$381.6 billion (2017 est.)
$334.751 billion (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 64
Real GDP growth rate
-19.67% (2018 est.)
-14% (2017 est.)
-15.76% (2017 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 219
Real GDP per capita
$7,704 (2018 est.)
$12,500 (2017 est.)
$9,417 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 156
GDP (official exchange rate)
$482.359 billion (2014 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
146,101.7% (2019 est.)
45,518.1% (2018 est.)
416.8% (2017 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 216
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 5% (2014 est.)
industry: 37.2% (2014 est.)
services: 51.7% (2014 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 137; industry 34; agriculture 116
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 75.3% (2014 est.)
government consumption: 14.6% (2014 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.6% (2014 est.)
investment in inventories: 3.2% (2014 est.)
exports of goods and services: 16.7% (2014 est.)
imports of goods and services: -31.4% (2014 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, sugarcane, maize, rice, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, chicken, pineapples, potatoes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
agricultural products, livestock, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel products, crude oil and petroleum products
Industrial production growth rate
-5.84% (2014 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 200
Labor force
11.136 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 51
Unemployment rate
5.5% (2024 est.)
5.5% (2023 est.)
5.7% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 111
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 10.6% (2024 est.)
male: 9.3% (2024 est.)
female: 13.2% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 123
Population below poverty line
33.1% (2015 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Average household expenditures
on food: 52% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances
0.03% of GDP (2014 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $30 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: $76 million (2017 est.)
Public debt
38.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, as well as the debt of state-owned oil company PDVSA; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include some debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; some debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
comparison ranking: 136
Taxes and other revenues
44.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 7
Current account balance
-$3.87 billion (2016 est.)
-$3.87 billion (2016 est.)
-$16.051 billion (2015 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 172
Exports
$83.401 billion (2018 est.)
$93.485 billion (2017 est.)
$28.684 billion (2016 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 52
Exports – partners
USA 50%, China 10%, Spain 9%, Brazil 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
crude petroleum, petroleum coke, scrap iron, alcohols, fertilizers (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$18.432 billion (2018 est.)
$18.376 billion (2017 est.)
$25.81 billion (2016 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 98
Imports – partners
China 35%, USA 24%, Brazil 12%, Colombia 7%, Turkey 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, soybean meal, corn, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$9.794 billion (2017 est.)
$10.15 billion (2016 est.)
$15.625 billion (2015 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 79
Exchange rates
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
9.975 (2017 est.)
9.257 (2016 est.)
6.284 (2015 est.)
6.284 (2014 est.)
6.048 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 33.493 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 56.493 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 600 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 25.849 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 194; exports 75; consumption 49; installed generating capacity 35
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 21.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
production: 149,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 80,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 730.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 801,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 203,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 303.806 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 5.674 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
76.73 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 179,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 27.928 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 48.623 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 48
Energy consumption per capita
54.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 92
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2.683 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 41
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 18.8 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 67
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)
Internet country code
.ve
Internet users
percent of population: 62% (2017 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 2.7 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total 53
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YV
Airports
509 (2025)
comparison ranking: 17
Heliports
88 (2025)
comparison ranking: 28
Railways
total: 447 km (2014)
standard gauge: 447 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.4 km electrified)
Merchant marine
total: 272 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 1, general cargo 26, oil tanker 17, other 225
comparison ranking: total 60
Ports
total ports: 31 (2024)
large: 1
medium: 2
small: 11
very small: 17
ports with oil terminals: 21
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
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)
note 1: the Bolivarian Militia and the Presidential Honor Guard are considered special/secondary components of the FANB; the Militia is composed of the Military Reserve and the Territorial Militia and is comprised of armed civilians who receive periodic training in exchange for a small stipend
note 2: the National Guard was made part of the FANB in 2007 and is responsible for maintaining public order, guarding the exterior of key government installations and prisons, conducting counter-narcotics operations, monitoring borders, and providing law enforcement in remote areas; it reports to both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace
note 3: the PNB is a federal force created by Hugo CHAVEZ in 2008 as a “preventative police force,” separate from state and local ones; the PNB largely focuses on policing Caracas’ Libertador municipality, patrolling Caracas-area highways, railways, and metro system, and protecting diplomatic missions; the PNB includes the Special Action Forces (Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales, FAES), a paramilitary unit created by President MADURO to bolster internal security after the 2017 anti-government protests
Military expenditures
0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 125-150,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 200,000 Bolivarian Militia (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FANB inventory is comprised mostly of Russian/Soviet-era weapons and equipment; in recent years, it has acquired some material from China and Iran; it also has smaller quantities of older equipment from France, Germany, Spain, the UK, and the US (2024)
note: the US prohibited the sale or transfer of military arms or technology to Venezuela in 2006
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)
Military – note
the armed forces (FANB) are responsible for ensuring Venezuela’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity but 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 conducts internal security operations in large parts of the country and 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 military has a large role in the country’s economy and political sectors; between 2013 and 2017, Venezuela established at least a dozen military-led firms in economic areas such as agriculture, banking, construction, insurance, the media, mining, oil, and tourism; military officers reportedly lead as many as 60 state-owned companies; as of 2023, 14 of 32 government ministries were controlled by the military, including the ministries of agriculture, food, petroleum, and water
members of the terrorist organizations National Liberation Army (ELN) and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia dissidents (FARC-People’s Army and Segundo Marquetalia) operate in Venezuela, mostly in the states of Amazonas, Apure, Bolivar, Guarico, Tachira, and Zulia, although the ELN is assessed to be present in 12 of Venezuela’s 23 states; the Venezuelan military has been deployed to the border region to patrol border crossings and has clashed with both the ELN and the FARC dissident groups (2024)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (Agencia Bolivariana para Actividades Espaciales, ABAE; formed 2007); ABAE was originally known as the Venezuelan Space Center (CEV; created 2005); the ABAE is under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (2024)
Space program overview
has a small program primarily focused on the acquisition of satellites and developing the country’s space engineering and sciences capabilities; operates satellites and maintains two satellite ground control stations; has relations with the space programs of China and Russia (2024)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Tren de Aragua (TdA); National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP); Segundo Marquetalia (SM)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 39,185 (Colombia) (mid-year 2022)
note: As of November 2023, approximately 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants were residing worldwide with 84.7% in Latin America and the Caribbean
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/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/venezuela/
Illicit drugs
a major drug-transit country and trafficking route in the Western Hemisphere for illegal drugs mainly cocaine; government depends on rents from narco-trafficking, along with other illicit activities, to maintain power; evidence of coca cultivation and cocaine production in domestic drug laboratories suggests the country is now also an illicit drug-producing country; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
