National name: República Bolivariana de Venezuela

President: Hugo Chavez (1999)

Area: 352,143 sq mi (912,050 sq km)

Population (2005 est.): 25,375,281 (growth rate: 1.4%); birth rate: 18.9/1000; infant mortality rate: 22.2/1000; life expectancy: 74.3; density per sq mile: 72

Capital (2003 est.): Caracas, 3,517,300 (metro. area), 1,741,400 (city proper)

Largest cities: Maracaibo, 1,889,000 (metro. area), 1,854,300 (city proper); Valencia, 1,515,400; Barquisimeto, 948,900

Monetary unit: Bolivar

Languages: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Ethnicity/race: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people

Religions: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Literacy rate: 93% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2004 est.): $145.2 billion; per capita $5,800. Real growth rate: 16.8%. Inflation: 22.4%. Unemployment: 17.1%. Arable land: 3%. Agriculture: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish. Labor force: 12.25 million; services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.). Industries: petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly. Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds. Exports: $35.84 billion (f.o.b., 2004 est.): petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures. Imports: $14.98 billion (f.o.b., 2004 est.): raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials. Major trading partners: U.S., Netherlands Antilles, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico (2003).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 2,600,000; however, 3,500,000 were installed (1998); mobile cellular: 2 million (1998). Radio broadcast stations: AM 201, FM n.a. (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998). Radios: 10.75 million (1997). Television broadcast stations: 66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997). Televisions: 4.1 million (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 16 (2000). Internet users: 1.3 million (2002).

Transportation: Railways: total: 682 km (2002). Highways: total: 96,155 km; paved: 32,308 km; unpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.). Waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels. 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. Airports: 373 (2002).

 Website designed and maintained by Herman Koutouan  © 2005