Venezuela

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet country code

.ve

Internet users

400,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios

10.75 million (1997)

Telephone system

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: 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

Telephones - main lines in use

2,600,000.00; however, 3,500,000 were installed (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2 million (1998)

Television broadcast stations

66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

4.1 million (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $26.4 billion expenditures: $27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Currency

bolivar (VEB)

Currency code

VEB

Debt - external

$34 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$35 million with more assistance likely as a result of flooding (1999)

Economy - overview

The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. Venezuelan officials estimate that GDP grew by 3.2% in 2000. A strong rebound in international oil prices fueled the recovery from the steep recession in 1999. Nevertheless, a weak nonoil sector and capital flight undercut the recovery. The bolivar is widely believed to be overvalued by as much as 50%. The government is still rebuilding after massive flooding and landslides in December 1999 caused an estimated $15 billion to $20 billion in damage.

Electricity - consumption

75.53 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

81.215 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 32.16% hydro: 67.84% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

bolivares per US dollar - 699.700 (January 2001), 679.960 (2000), 605.717 (1999), 547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996)

Exports

$32.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures

Exports - partners

US and Puerto Rico 57%, Colombia, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Italy (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $146.2 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5% industry: 24% services: 71% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 35.6% (1995)

Imports

$14.7 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities

raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials

Imports - partners

US 53%, Japan, Colombia, Italy, Germany, France, Brazil, Canada (1999)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13% (2000)

Labor force

9.9 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

67% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate

14% (2000 est.)

Area

total: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of California

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Coastline

2,800 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

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 irresponsible mining operations

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 66 00 W

Geography - note

on major sea and air routes linking North and South America

Irrigated land

1,900 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 34% other: 41% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

South America, Central America and the Caribbean

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

Natural hazards

subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Natural resources

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

Terrain

Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Administrative divisions

23 states (estados, singular - estado),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, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Capital

Caracas

Constitution

30 December 1999

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Donna J. HRINAK 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] (2) 975-6411

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo TORO Hardy chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214

Executive branch

chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Adina BASTIDAS Castillo; 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 Adina BASTIDAS Castillo; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of vote - 60% note: government coalition - Patriotic Pole or Polo Patriotico consists of MVR, MAS, and PPT

FAX

[1] (202) 342-6820 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

FAX

[58] (2) 975-6710

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 seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Government type

federal republic

Independence

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

International organization participation

CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, 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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term)

Legal system

based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional; 165 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela elections: last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: Pro-government: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other parties 7;

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Opposition

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other parties 13

Political parties and leaders

Brave Peoples Alliance or ABP [leader NA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR [leader Luis MIQUILENA]; Homeland for All or PPT [Pablo MEDINA]; Justice First [leader NA]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Felipe MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Dr. Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELASQUEZ]; Social Christian Party or COPEI [Jose CURIEL]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Ronier]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Venezuela was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). 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. Current concerns include: drug-related conflicts 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.

Military 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 Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$934 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 6,524,809 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 4,701,062 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 246,185 (2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.11% (male 3,962,517; female 3,716,880) 15-64 years: 63.17% (male 7,581,589; female 7,526,467) 65 years and over: 4.72% (male 515,687; female 613,670) (2001 est.)

Birth rate

20.65 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate

4.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups

Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.49% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

62,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

25.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.31 years male: 70.29 years female: 76.56 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.1% male: 91.8% female: 90.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan

Net migration rate

-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

23,916,810 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.56% (2001 est.)

Religions

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Sex ratio

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: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.46 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of opium for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; important money-laundering center; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border

Airports

371 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 124 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 17 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 247 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 97 under 914 m: 140 (2000 est.)

Heliports

1 (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 490,160 GRT/897,694 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 10, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

total: 584 km (248 km privately owned) standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge

Waterways

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