Venezuela

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<p>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.<br><br>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. <br><br>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.</p>

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

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8 00 N, 66 00 W

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South America

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almost six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California

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2,800 km

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tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

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

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

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10,550 sq km (2012)

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Rio Negro (shared with Colombia [s] and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco river source and mouth (shared with Colombia) - 2,101 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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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

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subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

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<p><strong>note 1:</strong> the country lies on major sea and air routes linking North and South America</p> <p><strong>note 2:</strong> Venezuela has some of the most unique geology in the world; <em>tepuis </em>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</p>

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unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous

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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.)

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0.88% (2025 est.)

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16.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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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

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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)

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227 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.16 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.05 (2025 est.)

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1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

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1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

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25.6% (2016)

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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 mining operations

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tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

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16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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1.325 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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federal presidential republic

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23 states (<em>estados</em>, singular - <em>estado</em>), 1 capital district* (<em>distrito capital</em>), and 1 federal dependency** (<em>dependencia federal</em>); 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

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<strong>note:</strong> the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

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civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note 1: </strong>the president is both chief of state and head of government<br><br><strong>note 2: </strong>in January 2026, the United States removed Nicolas MADURO Moros from his position as leader; Interim President RODRÍGUEZ has been sworn in and is expected to remain during a transition period<br><br><strong>note 3: </strong>the United States did not recognize Nicolas MADURO Moros as president of Venezuela; the United States recognized 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

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<strong>note:</strong> in 2020, the National Electoral Council increased the number of seats in the National Assembly from 167 to 277 for the December 2020 election

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A New Era (Un Nuevo Tiempo) or UNT<br>Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC<br>Christian Democrats or COPEI (also known as the Social Christian Party)<br>Citizens Encounter or EC<br>Clear Accounts or CC<br>Coalition of parties loyal to Nicolas MADURO - Great Patriotic Pole or GPP<br>Coalition of opposition parties - Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democratica) (includes AD, EL CAMBIO, COPEI, CMC, and AP)<br>Come Venezuela (Vente Venezuela) or VV<br>Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV<br>Consenso en la Zona or Conenzo<br>Convergencia<br>Democratic Action or AD<br>Fatherland for All (Patria para Todos) or PPT<br>Fearless People's Alliance or ABP<br>Fuerza Vecinal or FV<br>Hope for Change (Esperanza por el Cambio) or EL CAMBIO<br>Justice First (Primero Justicia) or PJ<br>LAPIZ<br>Movement to Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo) or MAS<br>Popular Will (Voluntad Popular) or VP<br>Progressive Advance (Avanzada Progresista) or AP<br>The Radical Cause or La Causa R<br>United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV<br>Venezuela First (Primero Venezuela) or PV<br>Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV<br>Venezuela Project or PV

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none<br><br><strong>note</strong>: the embassy, which had been run by the Venezuelan political opposition, announced on 5 January 2023, that it had ended all embassy functions

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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

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5 July 1811 (from Spain)

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Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

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<strong>description: </strong>three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red, with the coat of arms on the left side of the yellow band and an arc of eight five-pointed white stars centered on the blue band<br><br><strong>meaning: </strong>yellow stands for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence<br><br><strong>history:</strong> 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; 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

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troupial (bird)

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yellow, blue, red

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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

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<strong>note:</strong> data in 2015 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<strong>note:</strong> data in 2015 dollars

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$139.395 billion (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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milk, sugarcane, maize, rice, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, chicken, pineapples, potatoes (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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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

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11.136 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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33.1% (2015 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<strong>note:</strong> 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

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<strong>note:</strong> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 50%, China 10%, Spain 9%, Brazil 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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crude petroleum, petroleum coke, scrap iron, alcohols, fertilizers (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<strong>note:</strong> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 35%, USA 24%, Brazil 12%, Colombia 7%, Turkey 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, soybean meal, corn, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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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&nbsp; (2021)

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.ve

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YV

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509 (2025)

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88 (2025)

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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<br><br>Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace: Bolivarian National Police (Policía Nacional Bolivariana, PNB) (2025)

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<strong>note 1: </strong>the Bolivarian Militia and the Presidential Honor Guard are considered special/secondary components of the FANB;<strong> </strong>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<br><br><strong>note 2: </strong>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<br><br><strong>note 3: </strong>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 <br><br><strong>note 4:</strong> there are also pro-government armed groups known as colectivos operating in Caracas and other cities

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information varies; approximately 125-150,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 200,000 Bolivarian Militia (2025)

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the FANB inventory is a mix of mostly older and some more modern armaments from a variety of foreign suppliers, including China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Russia/former Soviet Union, Spain, the UK, and the US (2025)

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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)

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the armed forces (FANB) are responsible for ensuring Venezuela’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; they 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 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<br><br>the FANB has a role in the country’s economy and political sectors; military officers hold key positions in state-owned companies, government ministries, and funding agencies; the FANB runs corporation involved in agriculture, banking, communications, energy, insurance, mining, and transportation (2025)

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Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (Agencia Bolivariana para Actividades Espaciales, ABAE; formed 2007) (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the ABAE is under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation; it was originally known as the Venezuelan Space Center (CEV; created 2005)

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has a small national program primarily focused on acquiring satellites and expanding the country&rsquo;s science and technological capabilities; operates satellites and maintains two satellite ground control stations; participates in multinational space organizations such as the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency; closest bilateral partners are China and Russia; also has bilateral framework agreements for space cooperation with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay (2025)

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2005 - signed space cooperation partnership with China<br><br>2008- first communications satellite (Venesat-1 or Bolivar) financed, built, and launched by China<br><br>2012 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (VRSS-1 or Miranda) built and launched by China<br><br>2017 - second RS satellite (VRSS-2 or Sucre) built and launched by China<br><br>2021 - signed agreement to establish the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (formally established in 2022)<br><br>2023 - joined China-Russia project to construct a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s<br><br>2025 - announced intent to participate in planned Mars sample-return mission (Tianwen-3) led by China

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National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP); Segundo Marquetalia (SM); Tren de Aragua (TdA)

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<strong>note:</strong> 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