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Background: 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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Common Name: Venezuela
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Local Official Name: Venezuela
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Abbreviated Name: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
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Official Name: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
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Official Script Name: Venezuela
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Local Common Name: Venezuela
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Former Name: Venezuela
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias
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Government Type: federal republic
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Independence: 1811 July 5 (from Spain)
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Constitution: 1999 December 30
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National Holiday: Independence Day, 5 July
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International Organization Participation: 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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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
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage: 18 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
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%
Legislative Branch:
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
Judicial Branch;
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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Party Leaders: 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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International Disputes: 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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Illicit Drugs: 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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Location of Venezuela: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
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Continent: South America
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Land Area Total: 912,050 sq km
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Region: Southern American |
Land Area Land: 882,050 sq km
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Capitol City: Caracas
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Land Area Water: 30,000 sq km
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Current: -4
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Latitude: 008 00 N
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Border Boundary Land: 4,993 km
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Longitude: 066 00 W
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Border Boundary Coastline: 2,800 km
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Arable Land: 2.85 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 0.88 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 5,007 m
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Location: Pico Bolivar (La Columna)
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Caribbean Sea
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Largest City in Venezuela: Caracas
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Caracas Largest City Population: 3,127,000
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Threatened Species: 150
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Environmental 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
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Environmental 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
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Irrigated Land: 5,750
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Bordering Countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
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Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
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Geographical Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
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Comparative Area of Venezuela: slightly more than twice the size of California
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Venezuela's Geography: 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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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Venezuela.
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General Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
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Natural Hazards: subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
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Economic Overview: 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: $162,100,000,000 USD
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Currency: bolivar
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GDP per Capita: $6,400 USD
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Currency Code: VEB
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GDP Growth Rate: 9.30 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% VEB
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Currency Exchange Rate History: 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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GDP of Agriculture: 4.00 %
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GDP of Industry: 41.90 %
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GDP of Services: 54.10 % |
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Inflation Rate: 16.00 % |
Population in Poverty: 47.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 12.20 %
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Tourism: 587,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.80 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $39,630,000,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 36.50 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $41,270,000,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 87,440,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 81,320,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 22.87%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 77.13%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 3,081,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 29,700,000,000 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 530,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 29,700,000,000 cu m
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Oil Exports: 2,100,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 75,590,000,000 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 4,191,000,000,000 cu m
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External Debt: $41,510,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $740,000,000 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $41,510,000,000 USD
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Agricultural Products: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
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Primary Industries: petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly
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Industrial Growth Rate: 7.20 %
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Import Amount in USD: $24,630,000,000 USD - raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials
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Import Partners: US 31.6%, Colombia 11%, Brazil 9.1%, Mexico 6.9%
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Export Amount in USD: $52,730,000,000 USD - petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
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Export Partners: US 51.2%, Netherlands Antilles 7.3%, Canada 2.4%
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GINI Index: 49.10%
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Labor Force Number of People: 12,310,000
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Labor Force by Occupations: services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 212 |
Number of People with Radios: 10,750,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 66 |
Number of People with Televisions: 4,100,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 3,605,500 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 12,496,000 |
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Internet Service Providers: 51,968 |
Internet Users: 3,040,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .ve |
Newspapers: 206 |
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Two Letter Country Code: VE |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 58 |
Electricity Voltage: 120 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: 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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Highways: 32,308 km |
Railways: 682 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 10,421 km |
Waterways: 7,100 km
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Airports: 129 |
Heliports: 1
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Motor Vehicles: 110 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 187,395,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 8.20 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: 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)
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Ports and Harbors: Amuay, La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon
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Population: 25,730,435 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 18.71 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 28.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 4.92 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 1.38% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 2.23 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 3,860,116 |
Population Female 0-14: 3,620,440 |
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Population Male 15-64: 8,494,944 |
Population Female 15-64: 8,410,874 |
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Population Male 65+: 609,101 |
Population Female 65+: 734,960 |
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Population 0-14: 29.10% |
Literacy Rate: 93.40% |
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Population 15-64: 65.70% |
Literacy rate of Males: 93.80% |
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Population 65+: 5.20% |
Literacy rate of Females: 93.10% |
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Population that is Male: 51.00
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Population that is Female: 49.00% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 74.54 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 21.54 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 71.49 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 77.81 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.70%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 110,000
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 4,100 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: -0.11
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Nationality: VENEZUELAN
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Ethnic Groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people
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Primary Language: Spanish
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Other Languages: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
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Primary Religion: Roman Catholic
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Other Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
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Branches: 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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Manpower Fit to Serve: 18 years
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Manpower Available: 12,373,634 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 10,059,790 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 489,696 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 1.20
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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