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Venezuela
Venezuela
 
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Capital: Caracas
Area size: 882050 sq. km Slightly larger than Turkey
Time zone: GMT -4
Currency: Bolivar
Area code: (+) 58
Driving: Right
Climate description: Variable with altitude from tropical to temperate, with high temperatures throughout the year. Rainy season between April-October.
 

People
Standard of living
Economy & aid
Health
Disasters, conflict & migration
Language
Spanish is the official and predominant language. Some 31 indigenous languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population
2007 27.5 million U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006 27.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2005 26.7 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2004 26.3 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2003 25.8 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2002 25.3 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2001 24.9 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2000 24.4 million U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
41.0 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)

Ethnic groups
Venezuelans are descended from the integration of indigenous peoples, Afro-Caribbean and European settlers. Indigenous peoples and Afro-Caribbeans each account for less than 7 percent of the population.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Predominantly Catholic (93 percent)
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population
2007 94.1 percent U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006 93.8 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2005 93.4 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2004 93.0 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2003 92.6 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2002 92.1 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2001 91.6 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2000 91.1 percent U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1946
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
91 (2006)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15
2005 31.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 31.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 32.1 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 33.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 33.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 34.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002


Average life expectancy
2005 73.2 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 73.0 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 72.9 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 73.6 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 73.5 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 72.9 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male
2005 70.4 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 70.2 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 70.0 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 70.8 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 70.6 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 70.4 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female
2005 76.3 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 76.1 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 75.9 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 76.6 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 76.4 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 76.2 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality
2006 18 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005 18 per 1,000 live births U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004 16 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003 18 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 19 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 19 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 20 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
2006 21 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005 21 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004 19 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003 21 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 22 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000 23 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel
1997-2005 95 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004 94 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003 94 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002 94 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001 95 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000 95 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality
2005 57 per 100,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000 96 per 100,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)
2005 74 UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 72 UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 75 UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 68 UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 69 UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 69 UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
2000-2006 5 percent UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005 5 percent UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004 4 percent UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003 4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002 No data available percent
1995-2001 5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000 21 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population
2002-2004 average 18 percent U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average 18 percent FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
2006 No data available percent
2004 83 percent UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002 83 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000 83 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation
2006 No data available percent
2004 68 percent UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002 68 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000 68 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average
2004 93.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 93.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 93.1 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 92.8 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 92.6 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male
2004 93.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 93.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 93.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 93.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 93.1 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female
2004 92.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 92.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 92.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 92.4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 92.1 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones
2007 184 per 1,000 people International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2008
2006 155 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2005 137 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2004 127 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2003 115 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2002 112 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2001 109 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2000 104 per 1,000 people ITU 2008

Cellular telephone subscribers
2007 861 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2006 690 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2005 467 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2004 320 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2003 272 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2002 258 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2001 260 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2000 223 per 1,000 people ITU 2008

Internet users
2007 207 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2006 152 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2005 125 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2004 84 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2003 75 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2002 49 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2001 46 per 1,000 people ITU 2008
2000 34 per 1,000 people ITU 2008

Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
2008 158 (joint) Transparency International 2008
2007 162 (joint) Transparency International 2007
2006 138 (joint) Transparency International
2005 130 Transparency International
2004 Not ranked
2003 100 (joint) Transparency International
2002 81 (joint) Transparency International
2001 69 (joint) Transparency International
2000 71 (joint) Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
1990-2005 18.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004 8.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003 15 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002 15.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001 15.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method
2006 6070 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005 4940 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004 4080 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003 3470 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002 3970 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001 4580 current US$ WorldBankDataProfileTables2008
2000 4100 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
2006 181.9 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005 144.8 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004 112.5 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003 83.5 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002 92.9 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001 122.9 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000 117.1 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual GDP growth
2006 10.3  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005 10.3  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004 18.3  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003 -7.8  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002 -8.9  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001 3.4  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000 3.7  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation
2006 16.9  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005 29.0  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004 34.0  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003 34.9  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002 33.0  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001 8.0  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000 29.5  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
35.2 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians
2000-2004 194 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004 194 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003 200 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002 203 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
2007 No data available percent
2006 No data available percent
2005 No data available percent
2004 No data available percent
2003 No data available percent

Malaria
Risk from P.vivax throughout the year in some rural areas of Apure Amazonas, Barinas, Bolivar, Sucre and Tachira states. Risk from P.falciparum restricted to municipalities in jungle areas of Amazonas (Atabapo), Bolivar (Cedeno, Gran Sabana, Raul Leoni, Sifontes and Sucre) and Delta Amacuro (Antonia Diaz, Casacomia and Pedernales). Chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases
2006 41 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2005 42 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2004 42 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2003 42 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2002 42 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2001 42 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2000 42 per 100,000 people WHO 2008

Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium

Number of refugees originating here
2007 5094 UNHCR
2006 3829 Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005 2590 UNHCR
2004 1256 UNHCR
2003 598 UNHCR
2002 526 UNHCR
2001 466 UNHCR
2000 471 UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here
2007 907 UNHCR
2006 720 UNHCR
2005 408 UNHCR
2004 244 UNHCR
2003 58 UNHCR
2002 58 UNHCR
2001 59 UNHCR
2000 132 UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
No data available

Landmine casualties per year
2004 5 Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003 0 Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
2005 1.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 1.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 1.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on health
2004 2.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004 2.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002 2.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001 3.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000 2.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003


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