Country Profile: Venezuela

Venezuela, located in northern South America, is bordered by the Caribbean Sea and significant land borders with Colombia and Brazil. The country's population is estimated at approximately 31.8 million, with most people residing in urban areas, particularly in the capital, Caracas. Venezuela's economy heavily depends on oil exports, and it has faced severe economic challenges marked by hyperinflation, reduced social spending, and mass emigration. Governed as a federal presidential republic, the political landscape has been influenced by authoritarian rule and ongoing social unrest.

Geography

Venezuela covers an area of 912,050 square kilometers, making it almost six times larger than Georgia and slightly more than twice the size of California. The country features diverse terrains, including the Andes Mountains in the northwest, central plains (llanos), and the Guiana Highlands in the southeast. Venezuela has a tropical climate, with significant natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, and minerals.

2,800 km of coastline.
53.5% of land classified as forest (2023).
Home to Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall at 979 m.

People and Society

Venezuela's population is predominantly urban, with 88.4% residing in cities. The nation has a rich cultural diversity, with ethnic groups including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, indigenous, and more. Spanish is the official language, spoken by 98.2% of the population. The country has a median age of 31.3 years, and the major religions are Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

31.8 million estimated population (2025).
74.5 years life expectancy at birth (2024).
97.2% literacy rate (2017).

Economy

Venezuela's economy is characterized by extreme volatility, particularly since the mid-2010s due to hyperinflation and political corruption. The country is an oil exporter but faces significant economic challenges, including a current debt default and limited foreign investments. Agriculture remains secondary, focusing on staples like milk, rice, and bananas.

$110.943 billion Real GDP (PPP) as of 2023.
5.5% unemployment rate (2024).
52% of household expenditures dedicated to food (2023).

Government

Venezuela is a federal presidential republic, with a complex political landscape shaped by authoritarian governance. The current interim president is Delcy Rodríguez, appointed in January 2026, amidst political turmoil that has included allegations of electoral fraud. The legislative system is unicameral, consisting of the National Assembly with 277 seats.

23 states plus the capital district.
18 years of age for universal suffrage.
Constitution adopted on 15 December 1999.

Military and Security

Venezuela's military, known as the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, comprises various branches, including the army, navy, and air force. The military plays a significant role in domestic security and has been involved in socioeconomic development initiatives. Military expenditures have remained relatively low, around 0.5-0.6% of GDP in recent years.

Approximately 125,000-150,000 active personnel in armed forces.
0.6% of GDP allocated to military spending (2024).
Involvement of military in state-owned enterprises across various sectors.

Energy

Venezuela's energy sector is heavily reliant on oil and hydropower, with electricity access reported at 100% of the population. The country has significant oil reserves, but mismanagement has impacted production levels in recent years.

801,000 bbl/day crude oil production (2023).
78.3% of electricity generation comes from hydroelectric sources (2023).
33.493 million kW of installed generating capacity (2023).

Environment

Venezuela faces numerous environmental challenges, including pollution of water bodies and deforestation. The country is a participant in various international environmental agreements, though issues like urban pollution and threats to the rainforest remain significant concerns.

21.3% of municipal solid waste is recycled (2022).
76.73 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (2023).
53.5% of land classified as forest (2023).

Transportation

Venezuela's transportation infrastructure includes a considerable number of airports and ports. The country has diverse means of transport, including rail networks, although much of the existing infrastructure requires significant investment to improve.

509 airports (2025).
Total railways measure 447 km (2014).
272 ships in the merchant marine fleet (2023).

Communications

Venezuela has a mixture of state-run and private communications media, but significant control is exercised over the sector. Internet access is considerable, with about 62% of the population using the internet as of 2017.

20.2 million mobile cellular subscriptions (2024).
2.7 million fixed broadband subscriptions (2022).
10 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants for fixed lines (2022).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	31,755,435 (2025 est.)
Area	912,050 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$110.943 billion	2023 est.
Energy consumption per capita	54.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth rate	16.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Unemployment rate	5.5% (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth	74.5 years (2024 est.)