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| The World Factbook |
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Venezuela |
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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
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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, has promoted a controversial policy
of "democratic socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at
the same time attacking globalization and undermining regional stability.
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
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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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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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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25,730,435 (July 2006 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 29.1%
(male 3,860,116/female 3,620,440)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 8,494,944/female 8,410,874)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 609,101/female 734,960) (2006 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 26 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.6 years (2006 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.38% (2006 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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18.71 births/1,000 population
(2006 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.92 deaths/1,000 population
(2006 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2006 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 21.54
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
74.54 years
male: 71.49 years
female: 77.81 years (2006 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.23 children born/woman
(2006 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.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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4,100 (2003 est.) |
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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: 93.4%
male: 93.8%
female: 93.1% (2003 est.) |
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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 (1 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 Federal*, 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 |
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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); Vice President Jose
Vicente RANGEL Vale (since 28 April 2002); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL Vale (since 28 April 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006 (next to be
held 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 new
constitution
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of
vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 63%, Manuel ROSALES 37% |
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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 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Tribunal of Justice
or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (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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Christian Democrats or COPEI
[Eduardo FERNANDEZ]; Democratic Action or AD [Jesus MENDEZ Quijada];
Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR
[Hugo CHAVEZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or
MAS [Hector MUJICA]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]; We Can
or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA] |
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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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CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3,
G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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 William R. BROWNFIELD
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) 975-9234, 975-6411
FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991 |
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Venezuela continues to be
highly dependent on the petroleum sector, accounting for roughly one-third
of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and over half of government operating
revenues. Government revenue also has been bolstered by increased tax
collection, which has surpassed its 2005 collection goal by almost 50%. Tax
revenue is the primary source of non-oil revenue, which accounts for 53% of
the 2006 budget. A disastrous two-month national oil strike, from December
2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. The economy
remained in depression in 2003, declining by 9.2% after an 8.9% fall in
2002. Output recovered strongly in 2004-2005, aided by high oil prices and
strong consumption growth. Venezuela continues to be an important source of
crude oil for the US market. Both inflation and unemployment remain
fundamental problems. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$162.1 billion (2005 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$106.1 billion (2005 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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9.3% (2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$6,400 (2005 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 4%
industry: 41.9%
services: 54.1% (2005 est.) |
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Labor force:
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12.31 million (2005 est.)
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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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12.2% (2005 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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47% (1998 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 36.5% (1998) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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49.1 (1998) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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16% (2005 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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19% of GDP (2005 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $39.63
billion
expenditures: $41.27 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.6
billion (2005 est.) |
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Public debt:
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34.2% of GDP (2005 est.) |
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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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7.2% (2005 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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87.44 billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 31.7%
hydro: 68.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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81.32 billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2003) |
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Oil - production:
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3.081 million bbl/day (2005
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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530,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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2.1 million bbl/day (2004
est.) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA bbl/day |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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75.59 billion bbl (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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29.7 billion cu m (2003 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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29.7 billion cu m (2003 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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4.191 trillion cu m (2005)
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Current account balance:
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$25.36 billion (2005 est.)
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Exports:
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$52.73 billion f.o.b. (2005
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 51.2%, Netherlands
Antilles 7.3%, Canada 2.4% (2005) |
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Imports:
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$24.63 billion f.o.b. (2005
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 31.6%, Colombia 11%,
Brazil 9.1%, Mexico 6.9% (2005) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$29.64 billion (2005 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$41.51 billion (2005 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$74 million (2000) |
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Currency (code):
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bolivar (VEB) |
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Currency code:
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VEB |
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Exchange rates:
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bolivares per US dollar -
2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004), 1,607 (2003), 1,161 (2002), 723.7 (2001)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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3,605,500 (2005) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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12.496 million (2005) |
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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
international: country code - 58; 3 submarine coaxial cables;
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 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 201, FM NA (20 in
Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998) |
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Radios:
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10.75 million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
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Televisions:
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4.1 million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.ve |
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Internet hosts:
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51,968 (2006) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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16 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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3.04 million (2005) |
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Airports:
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375 (2006) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 129
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 19 (2006) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 246
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 90
under 914 m: 147 (2006) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2006) |
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Pipelines:
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extra heavy crude 992 km; gas
5,369 km; oil 7,607 km; refined products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141
km (2006) |
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Railways:
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total: 682 km
standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2005) |
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Roadways:
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total: 96,155 km
paved: 32,308 km
unpaved: 63,847 km (1999) |
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Waterways:
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7,100 km
note: Orinoco River and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing
vessels, Orinoco for 400 km (2005) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 56 ships (1000
GRT or over) 824,941 GRT/1,327,924 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 10, chemical tanker 2, container 1,
liquefied gas 6, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 18
foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 3, Greece 3, India 1, Mexico 3, Panama 1,
Russia 1, Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 1, Panama 14) (2006) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Amuay, La Guaira, Maracaibo,
Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon |
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Military branches:
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National Armed Forces (Fuerzas
Armadas Nacionales or FAN): Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or
Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada; includes Marines, Coast
Guard), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation
or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age for
compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 30
months (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49:
6,236,012
females age 18-49: 6,137,622 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49:
4,907,947
females age 18-49: 5,151,843 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males age 18-49:
252,396
females age 18-49: 237,300 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$1.61 billion (2005 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.2% (2005 est.) |
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Transnational Issues |
Venezuela |
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Disputes - international:
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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 Los Monjes islands and maritime
boundary near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics
and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region
resulting in several thousand residents migrating away from the border; US,
France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's claim to give full effect
to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending
over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's claim
that Aves Island sustains human habitation and other states' recognition of
it |
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Trafficking in persons:
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current situation:
Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for women and
children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced
labor; women and children from Colombia, China, Peru, Ecuador, and the
Dominican Republic are trafficked to and through Venezuela and subjected to
commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor; Venezuelans are trafficked
internally and to Western Europe, particularly Spain and the Netherlands,
and to countries in the Caribbean region for commercial sexual exploitation;
Venezuela is a transit country for illegal migrants from other countries in
the region and for Asian nationals, some are believed to be trafficking
victims
tier rating: Tier 3 - Venezuela does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so |
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Illicit drugs:
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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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This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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