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Background Note: Venezuela
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela
Geography
Area: 912,050 sq. km. (352,143 sq. mi.); slightly more than
twice the size of California.
Cities: Capital--Caracas (metro. area pop. 3.6 million,
2004 est.). Other major cities--Maracaibo, Valencia,
Barquisimeto, Maracay, Merida, Ciudad Bolivar.
Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest;
central plains; Guiana Highlands in southeast.
Climate: Varies from tropical to temperate, depending on
elevation.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Venezuelan(s).
Population (2006 est.): 27,030,656.
Annual population growth: 1%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Language: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy--93.4%
(male 93.8%, female 93.1%).
Health: Infant mortality rate--15.5 deaths/1,000 live
births. Life expectancy--74.8 yrs.
Ethnic groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German,
African, Amerindian.
Government
Type: Federal Republic.
Independence: July 5, 1811.
Constitution: December 30, 1999.
Branches: Executive--President (head of government and
chief of state; 6-year term); Council of Ministers (cabinet,
appointed by president). Legislative--unicameral Congress
(5-year term). Judicial--32-member Supreme Court (elected
by Congress; 12-year term). Electoral--National Electoral
Council (elected by Congress; 7-year term). Citizen Power--Attorney
General, Ombudsman, Comptroller General (elected by Congress;
7-year term).
Subdivisions: 23 states, one federal district (Caracas), and one
federal dependency (72 islands).
Major political parties: Fifth Republic Movement or Movimiento V
Republica (MVR), Democratic Action or Accion Democratica (AD),
Christian Democrats or Comite Organizador Politico por
Elecciones Independientes (COPEI), Homeland for All or Patria
Para Todos (PPT), Movement to Socialism or Movimiento al
Socialismo (MAS), Radical Cause or La Causa R, First Justice or
Primero Justicia, and the National Convergence or Convergencia.
Suffrage: Universal, age 18 and over.
Principal government officials: See
listing under History and Political Conditions section.
Economy
GDP (2006): $169 billion.
Annual growth rate (2006): 10.3%.
GDP per capita (2006): $6,250.
Government expenditures: 32% of GDP.
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, gold,
diamonds, bauxite, other minerals, hydroelectric power.
Petroleum industry (15 % of GDP): Oil refining, petrochemicals.
Manufacturing (17% of GDP): Types--iron and steel products,
paper products, aluminum, textiles, transport equipment,
consumer products.
Agriculture (3% of GDP): Products--corn, sorghum, rice, bananas,
vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish.
Trade: Exports (2006)--$64.5 billion: petroleum ($ 57.8
billion), aluminum, steel, chemical products, iron ore,
cigarettes, plastics, fish, cement, and paper products. Major
markets (2005)--U.S. 57.5%, the Netherlands 5.2%, Mexico, 4.5%,
Colombia 4.5%. Imports (2006)--$31.3 billion: consumer goods,
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
construction materials. Major suppliers (2006)--U.S. 30.2%,
Brazil 10.1, Colombia 9.9%, Mexico 6.8%, China 6.7%.
Exchange rate (Jan. 2007): 2,150 bolivars=U.S. $1.
PEOPLE
Venezuela is the sixth-most populous country in Latin
America, after Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Peru.
About 85% of the population lives in urban areas in the northern
portion of the country. While almost half of Venezuela's land
area lies south of the Orinoco River in the states of Bolivar
and Amazonas, this region contains only 5% of the population.
The population of Venezuela is comprised of a combination of
European, indigenous, and African heritages. |