Venezuela counted an estimated 28,917,613 people in 2023, but its numbers also reveal deep pressure points, from a net migration rate of -7.49 per 1,000 to a population growth rate of -0.45%. With life expectancy at 73.1 years alongside a poverty rate above 96% and oil still driving 95% of exports, the country’s social and economic indicators move in ways that rarely line up neatly. Alongside age, health, and infrastructure metrics, these figures help explain how Venezuela got where it is today.
Key Takeaways
- Venezuela's population in 2023 was estimated at 28,917,613
- Median age in Venezuela is 29.9 years as of 2023 estimates
- Birth rate was 15.23 births/1,000 population in 2023
- Venezuela's GDP (current US$) in 2022 was $102.332 billion, marking a slight recovery from previous hyperinflation years
- The inflation rate (consumer prices) in Venezuela reached 264,683% in 2018, one of the highest in recorded history
- Venezuela's public debt as a percentage of GDP stood at 350.4% in 2021 estimates, indicating severe fiscal strain
- Venezuela's total area is 912,050 sq km
- Land area 882,050 sq km, water 30,000 sq km
- Comparative area slightly more than twice size of California
- Venezuela's life expectancy at birth was 72.3 years in 2022
- Under-5 mortality rate was 23.8 deaths/1,000 live births in 2022
- Physician density was 1.98 physicians/1,000 population in 2012 (latest)
- Venezuela held presidential elections in 2018 won by Nicolas Maduro with 67.8% amid opposition boycott
- National Assembly controlled by opposition until 2020, then new pro-Maduro assembly elected
- Freedom House score for Venezuela is 15/100 "Not Free" in 2023
Venezuela in 2023 faced population decline and massive hardship, even as most people lived in cities.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics27 stats
01
Venezuela's population in 2023 was estimated at 28,917,613
02
Median age in Venezuela is 29.9 years as of 2023 estimates
03
Birth rate was 15.23 births/1,000 population in 2023
04
Death rate was 5.48 deaths/1,000 population in 2023
05
Net migration rate was -7.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population in 2023, reflecting exodus
06
Urbanization rate was 88.2% in 2023, with 25.54 million urban dwellers
07
Sex ratio at birth was 1.05 male(s)/female
08
Infant mortality rate was 21.6 deaths/1,000 live births in 2023
09
Life expectancy at birth total was 73.1 years in 2023
10
Total fertility rate was 2.19 children born/woman in 2023
11
Ethnic groups: mestizo 51.6%, white 43.6%, Black/Afro-descendant 3.6%, Amerindian 2.8% (per 2011 census)
12
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2% (per 2011 census)
13
Languages: Spanish (official), 150 indigenous languages officially recognized
14
Literacy rate age 15+ was 99.0% (2021 est.)
15
Age structure 0-14 years: 25.3% (male 3,758,882/female 3,589,119)
16
Age structure 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 9,545,569/female 9,539,719)
17
Age structure 65+ years: 8.8% (male 1,025,945/female 1,458,379)
18
Dependency ratios total: 51.8 youth 44.4 elderly 7.4
19
Over 7.7 million Venezuelans have emigrated since 2014, per UNHCR 2023
20
Maternal mortality ratio was 125 deaths/100,000 live births in 2020
21
Population growth rate was -0.45% in 2023
22
Major urban areas pop: Caracas 3.021 million, Maracaibo 2.229 million, Valencia 1.727 million (2023)
23
Population density 34/km² in 2023
24
Obesity adult prevalence rate 26.9% in 2016
25
Drinking water access improved: urban 95%, rural 78% (2020)
26
Sanitation access: urban 94%, rural 75% (2020)
27
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence 0.5% (2022 est.)
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
Venezuela is a nation bursting with the energy of youth yet tragically bleeding out its future, as more people now flee its crises than are born within its borders.
02 · Category
Economy29 stats
01
Venezuela's GDP (current US$) in 2022 was $102.332 billion, marking a slight recovery from previous hyperinflation years
02
The inflation rate (consumer prices) in Venezuela reached 264,683% in 2018, one of the highest in recorded history
03
Venezuela's public debt as a percentage of GDP stood at 350.4% in 2021 estimates, indicating severe fiscal strain
04
Oil exports accounted for 95% of Venezuela's total exports in 2022, highlighting extreme dependency on petroleum
05
Unemployment rate in Venezuela was 33.3% in 2018, with underemployment affecting over 50% of the workforce
06
Venezuela's GDP per capita (PPP) was $3,641in 2022, down from $18,000 pre-crisis levels
07
Foreign direct investment net inflows were -$845 million in 2021, reflecting capital flight
08
The poverty rate in Venezuela exceeded 96% in 2021 according to the Venezuelan Academy of Sciences
09
Venezuela's current account balance was -5.2% of GDP in 2022, driven by import needs
10
Remittances received were $4.1 billion in 2022, a lifeline for many households
11
Venezuela's fiscal deficit was estimated at 20% of GDP in 2023 by IMF projections
12
Gold production in Venezuela was 29 tonnes in 2022, amid illegal mining issues
13
Venezuela's external debt totaled $154 billion in 2023 estimates
14
The black market exchange rate for USD/VES reached 36.5 in 2023
15
Agriculture contributes only 4.7% to GDP but employs 7.3% of workforce in 2021
16
Manufacturing sector GDP share was 12% in 2022, severely contracted
17
Services sector accounts for 52.4% of GDP in 2022 data
18
Venezuela's budget revenue from oil was 72% in 2022
19
Ease of doing business rank was 188 out of 190 in 2020 World Bank report
20
Corruption Perceptions Index score for Venezuela was 13/100 in 2022, ranking 177/180
21
Venezuela's proven oil reserves are 303.3 billion barrels, largest in world
22
Daily oil production averaged 802,000 barrels per day in 2023
23
Natural gas production was 863 billion cubic feet in 2021
24
Venezuela's Gini coefficient was 39 in 2021, indicating high inequality
25
Central government debt total was 78.4% of GDP in 2022
26
Exports of goods and services were 12.28% of GDP in 2022
27
Imports of goods and services were 26.44% of GDP in 2022
28
Final consumption expenditure was 93.8% of GDP in 2022
29
Gross capital formation was -3.92% of GDP in 2022, negative investment
Interpretation
Economy Interpretation
Venezuela has perfected a uniquely tragic alchemy, transforming the world's largest oil reserves into a nation where hyperinflation renders money a museum piece, debt has become an astronomical art form, unemployment is a mainstream career, and survival increasingly depends on remittances from those who escaped.
03 · Category
Geography26 stats
01
Venezuela's total area is 912,050 sq km
02
Land area 882,050 sq km, water 30,000 sq km
03
Comparative area slightly more than twice size of California
04
Coastline 2,800 km
05
Maritime claims territorial sea 12 nm, contiguous zone 15 nm, EEZ 200 nm
06
Elevation extremes lowest Orinoco delta -1.2 m, highest Pico Bolivar 4,978 m
07
Mean elevation 450 m
08
Land use arable 0.4%, permanent crops 0.9%, permanent pasture 5%, forest 52.1%, other 41.6% (2018)
09
Irrigated land 13,340 sq km (2012)
10
Major renewable water resources 1.44 trillion cu m (2020)
11
Freshwater withdrawal 9.66 cu km/yr 49% agricultural
12
Climate tropical lowland hot humid, tropical highland cool
13
Terrain Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest, central plains, Guiana Highlands southeast
14
Natural hazards seismic activity, Mount Pico Bolivar vol, floods, rockslides, mudslides
15
Volcanism Sangay active, Santiaguito 2012-22
16
Environment current issues climate change, pollution Orinoco, deforestation 0.5%/yr, illegal mining
17
Environment international agreements party to 17, signed 5 (2023)
18
Air pollution PM2.5 24.9 ug/cu m 2019
19
Biodiversity terrestrial 13,000 species plants, 1,300 birds, 350 mammals
20
Protected areas 18% land, 3% marine (2022)
21
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite
22
Land boundaries 5,626 km Guyana 464 Brazil 2,200 Colombia 2,341 Trinidad/Tobago 0 Caribbean Sea 2,800 km
23
Major rivers Orinoco 2,000 km, Rio Negro, Casiquiare
24
Natural hazards floods frequent in north
25
Population distribution 90% within 100 km of coast
26
Major watersheds Orinoco basin covers 80%
Interpretation
Geography Interpretation
Venezuela is a lesson in geographical irony, where nature's staggering generosity—from the life-giving Orinoco basin to vast underground wealth—is perpetually undercut by human governance, leaving its people stranded between potential and peril.
04 · Category
Health29 stats
01
Venezuela's life expectancy at birth was 72.3 years in 2022
02
Under-5 mortality rate was 23.8 deaths/1,000 live births in 2022
03
Physician density was 1.98 physicians/1,000 population in 2012 (latest)
04
Hospital beds per 1,000 people was 1.3 in 2012
05
Immunization measles 89% in 2022
06
Diabetes prevalence 9.2% among adults 2014
07
Tuberculosis incidence 26.6 per 100,000 in 2021
08
Malaria cases 254,843 in 2022 per WHO
09
COVID-19 deaths official 5,757 as of 2023, underreported
10
Adolescent fertility rate 65.8 births/1,000 women 15-19 in 2021
11
Antenatal care coverage 80% in 2018
12
Children with acute respiratory infection taken to health provider 34.5% (2011-16)
13
Exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months 29.7% (2015-16)
14
Vitamin A supplementation 77% (2014)
15
Suicide mortality rate 10.1 per 100,000 in 2019
16
Health expenditure public 22.6% of total in 2020
17
Health expenditure total 5.5% of GDP in 2020
18
Incidence of tuberculosis HIV+ 1.7 per 100,000 in 2021
19
Hepatitis B prevalence 0.5% infants vaccinated 3 doses 92% 2022
20
Polio vaccination 3 doses 76% 2022
21
School enrollment primary net 92.6% 2018
22
Adjusted net enrollment secondary 59.7% 2018
23
Youth literacy rate 15-24 99.2% 2021
24
Government expenditure on education 3.3% GDP 2015 latest
25
Primary completion rate female 92.1% 2016
26
Out-of-school children primary age 4.3% 2018
27
Pupil-teacher ratio primary 22.9 2018
28
Trainee teachers per new teachers primary 0.4 2012
29
Researchers in R&D per million 57.6 2015
Interpretation
Health Interpretation
Venezuela’s statistics paint a picture of a nation holding onto its literacy and vaccination campaigns by its fingernails while its hospitals and schools slowly crumble beneath the weight of a shattered economy.
05 · Category
Politics25 stats
01
Venezuela held presidential elections in 2018 won by Nicolas Maduro with 67.8% amid opposition boycott
02
National Assembly controlled by opposition until 2020, then new pro-Maduro assembly elected
03
Freedom House score for Venezuela is 15/100 "Not Free" in 2023
04
Human Rights Watch reports over 18,000 arbitrary detentions since 2014 protests
05
Venezuela's government type is Federal Presidential Republic
06
Suffrage age 18 years, universal
07
Executive branch: President Nicolas Maduro (since 19 April 2013)
08
Legislative: National Assembly unicameral 277 seats since 2021
09
Judicial: Supreme Tribunal of Justice with 32 magistrates appointed by Maduro-controlled assembly
10
Corruption Perceptions Index rank 177/180 in 2022, score 13
11
Press Freedom Index rank 158/180 in 2023 by RSF
12
Over 300 political prisoners reported by Foro Penal in 2023
13
Venezuela withdrew from OAS in 2019 after sanctions
14
Juan Guaido recognized as interim president by 50+ countries in 2019
15
2021 regional elections won by PSUV with 65% amid opposition abstention
16
Military loyalty key, with 150,000 active personnel
17
Political parties: PSUV dominant, opposition fragmented (VP, AD, PJ)
18
International disputes: Essequibo region claim with Guyana
19
US sanctions since 2017 affected 150+ officials and entities
20
EU sanctions on 55 individuals and 16 entities as of 2023
21
Russia and China vetoed UNSC actions on Venezuela crisis multiple times
22
2017 Constituent Assembly created with 545 seats, all pro-Maduro
23
Voter turnout in 2018 presidential election was 46.1%, lowest ever
24
Amnesty International documents 90+ deaths in 2017 protests
25
World Justice Project Rule of Law Index rank 129/142 in 2023
Interpretation
Politics Interpretation
A nation whose elections and institutions resemble a democratic pantomime, orchestrated by a powerful executive with a script of universal suffrage but a backstage of political imprisonment, international sanctions, and a judiciary appointed by the very cast it is meant to judge.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Venezuela Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/venezuela-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Venezuela Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/venezuela-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Venezuela Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/venezuela-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level