From a nation with the world’s largest proven oil reserves to one where 96% of its people live in poverty, Venezuela’s staggering statistics paint a portrait of a profound economic and social collapse despite its vast natural wealth.
Key Takeaways
- 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 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 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'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'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 remains mired in a severe economic and humanitarian crisis despite its vast resources.
Demographics
1Venezuela's population in 2023 was estimated at 28,917,613
Verified2Median age in Venezuela is 29.9 years as of 2023 estimates
Verified3Birth rate was 15.23 births/1,000 population in 2023
Verified4Death rate was 5.48 deaths/1,000 population in 2023
Directional5Net migration rate was -7.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population in 2023, reflecting exodus
Single source6Urbanization rate was 88.2% in 2023, with 25.54 million urban dwellers
Verified7Sex ratio at birth was 1.05 male(s)/female
Verified8Infant mortality rate was 21.6 deaths/1,000 live births in 2023
Verified9Life expectancy at birth total was 73.1 years in 2023
Directional10Total fertility rate was 2.19 children born/woman in 2023
Single source11Ethnic groups: mestizo 51.6%, white 43.6%, Black/Afro-descendant 3.6%, Amerindian 2.8% (per 2011 census)
Verified12Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2% (per 2011 census)
Verified13Languages: Spanish (official), 150 indigenous languages officially recognized
Verified14Literacy rate age 15+ was 99.0% (2021 est.)
Directional15Age structure 0-14 years: 25.3% (male 3,758,882/female 3,589,119)
Single source16Age structure 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 9,545,569/female 9,539,719)
Verified17Age structure 65+ years: 8.8% (male 1,025,945/female 1,458,379)
Verified18Dependency ratios total: 51.8 youth 44.4 elderly 7.4
Verified19Over 7.7 million Venezuelans have emigrated since 2014, per UNHCR 2023
Directional20Maternal mortality ratio was 125 deaths/100,000 live births in 2020
Single source21Population growth rate was -0.45% in 2023
Verified22Major urban areas pop: Caracas 3.021 million, Maracaibo 2.229 million, Valencia 1.727 million (2023)
Verified23Population density 34/km² in 2023
Verified24Obesity adult prevalence rate 26.9% in 2016
Directional25Drinking water access improved: urban 95%, rural 78% (2020)
Single source26Sanitation access: urban 94%, rural 75% (2020)
Verified27HIV/AIDS adult prevalence 0.5% (2022 est.)
VerifiedDemographics 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.
Economy
1Venezuela's GDP (current US$) in 2022 was $102.332 billion, marking a slight recovery from previous hyperinflation years
Verified2The inflation rate (consumer prices) in Venezuela reached 264,683% in 2018, one of the highest in recorded history
Verified3Venezuela's public debt as a percentage of GDP stood at 350.4% in 2021 estimates, indicating severe fiscal strain
Verified4Oil exports accounted for 95% of Venezuela's total exports in 2022, highlighting extreme dependency on petroleum
Directional5Unemployment rate in Venezuela was 33.3% in 2018, with underemployment affecting over 50% of the workforce
Single source6Venezuela's GDP per capita (PPP) was $3,641 in 2022, down from $18,000 pre-crisis levels
Verified7Foreign direct investment net inflows were -$845 million in 2021, reflecting capital flight
Verified8The poverty rate in Venezuela exceeded 96% in 2021 according to the Venezuelan Academy of Sciences
Verified9Venezuela's current account balance was -5.2% of GDP in 2022, driven by import needs
Directional10Remittances received were $4.1 billion in 2022, a lifeline for many households
Single source11Venezuela's fiscal deficit was estimated at 20% of GDP in 2023 by IMF projections
Verified12Gold production in Venezuela was 29 tonnes in 2022, amid illegal mining issues
Verified13Venezuela's external debt totaled $154 billion in 2023 estimates
Verified14The black market exchange rate for USD/VES reached 36.5 in 2023
Directional15Agriculture contributes only 4.7% to GDP but employs 7.3% of workforce in 2021
Single source16Manufacturing sector GDP share was 12% in 2022, severely contracted
Verified17Services sector accounts for 52.4% of GDP in 2022 data
Verified18Venezuela's budget revenue from oil was 72% in 2022
Verified19Ease of doing business rank was 188 out of 190 in 2020 World Bank report
Directional20Corruption Perceptions Index score for Venezuela was 13/100 in 2022, ranking 177/180
Single source21Venezuela's proven oil reserves are 303.3 billion barrels, largest in world
Verified22Daily oil production averaged 802,000 barrels per day in 2023
Verified23Natural gas production was 863 billion cubic feet in 2021
Verified24Venezuela's Gini coefficient was 39 in 2021, indicating high inequality
Directional25Central government debt total was 78.4% of GDP in 2022
Single source26Exports of goods and services were 12.28% of GDP in 2022
Verified27Imports of goods and services were 26.44% of GDP in 2022
Verified28Final consumption expenditure was 93.8% of GDP in 2022
Verified29Gross capital formation was -3.92% of GDP in 2022, negative investment
DirectionalEconomy 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.
Geography
1Venezuela's total area is 912,050 sq km
Verified2Land area 882,050 sq km, water 30,000 sq km
Verified3Comparative area slightly more than twice size of California
Verified4Coastline 2,800 km
Directional5Maritime claims territorial sea 12 nm, contiguous zone 15 nm, EEZ 200 nm
Single source6Elevation extremes lowest Orinoco delta -1.2 m, highest Pico Bolivar 4,978 m
Verified7Mean elevation 450 m
Verified8Land use arable 0.4%, permanent crops 0.9%, permanent pasture 5%, forest 52.1%, other 41.6% (2018)
Verified9Irrigated land 13,340 sq km (2012)
Directional10Major renewable water resources 1.44 trillion cu m (2020)
Single source11Freshwater withdrawal 9.66 cu km/yr 49% agricultural
Verified12Climate tropical lowland hot humid, tropical highland cool
Verified13Terrain Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest, central plains, Guiana Highlands southeast
Verified14Natural hazards seismic activity, Mount Pico Bolivar vol, floods, rockslides, mudslides
Directional15Volcanism Sangay active, Santiaguito 2012-22
Single source16Environment current issues climate change, pollution Orinoco, deforestation 0.5%/yr, illegal mining
Verified17Environment international agreements party to 17, signed 5 (2023)
Verified18Air pollution PM2.5 24.9 ug/cu m 2019
Verified19Biodiversity terrestrial 13,000 species plants, 1,300 birds, 350 mammals
Directional20Protected areas 18% land, 3% marine (2022)
Single source21Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite
Verified22Land boundaries 5,626 km Guyana 464 Brazil 2,200 Colombia 2,341 Trinidad/Tobago 0 Caribbean Sea 2,800 km
Verified23Major rivers Orinoco 2,000 km, Rio Negro, Casiquiare
Verified24Natural hazards floods frequent in north
Directional25Population distribution 90% within 100 km of coast
Single source26Major watersheds Orinoco basin covers 80%
VerifiedGeography 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.
Health
1Venezuela's life expectancy at birth was 72.3 years in 2022
Verified2Under-5 mortality rate was 23.8 deaths/1,000 live births in 2022
Verified3Physician density was 1.98 physicians/1,000 population in 2012 (latest)
Verified4Hospital beds per 1,000 people was 1.3 in 2012
Directional5Immunization measles 89% in 2022
Single source6Diabetes prevalence 9.2% among adults 2014
Verified7Tuberculosis incidence 26.6 per 100,000 in 2021
Verified8Malaria cases 254,843 in 2022 per WHO
Verified9COVID-19 deaths official 5,757 as of 2023, underreported
Directional10Adolescent fertility rate 65.8 births/1,000 women 15-19 in 2021
Single source11Antenatal care coverage 80% in 2018
Verified12Children with acute respiratory infection taken to health provider 34.5% (2011-16)
Verified13Exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months 29.7% (2015-16)
Verified14Vitamin A supplementation 77% (2014)
Directional15Suicide mortality rate 10.1 per 100,000 in 2019
Single source16Health expenditure public 22.6% of total in 2020
Verified17Health expenditure total 5.5% of GDP in 2020
Verified18Incidence of tuberculosis HIV+ 1.7 per 100,000 in 2021
Verified19Hepatitis B prevalence 0.5% infants vaccinated 3 doses 92% 2022
Directional20Polio vaccination 3 doses 76% 2022
Single source21School enrollment primary net 92.6% 2018
Verified22Adjusted net enrollment secondary 59.7% 2018
Verified23Youth literacy rate 15-24 99.2% 2021
Verified24Government expenditure on education 3.3% GDP 2015 latest
Directional25Primary completion rate female 92.1% 2016
Single source26Out-of-school children primary age 4.3% 2018
Verified27Pupil-teacher ratio primary 22.9 2018
Verified28Trainee teachers per new teachers primary 0.4 2012
Verified29Researchers in R&D per million 57.6 2015
DirectionalHealth 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.
Politics
1Venezuela held presidential elections in 2018 won by Nicolas Maduro with 67.8% amid opposition boycott
Verified2National Assembly controlled by opposition until 2020, then new pro-Maduro assembly elected
Verified3Freedom House score for Venezuela is 15/100 "Not Free" in 2023
Verified4Human Rights Watch reports over 18,000 arbitrary detentions since 2014 protests
Directional5Venezuela's government type is Federal Presidential Republic
Single source6Suffrage age 18 years, universal
Verified7Executive branch: President Nicolas Maduro (since 19 April 2013)
Verified8Legislative: National Assembly unicameral 277 seats since 2021
Verified9Judicial: Supreme Tribunal of Justice with 32 magistrates appointed by Maduro-controlled assembly
Directional10Corruption Perceptions Index rank 177/180 in 2022, score 13
Single source11Press Freedom Index rank 158/180 in 2023 by RSF
Verified12Over 300 political prisoners reported by Foro Penal in 2023
Verified13Venezuela withdrew from OAS in 2019 after sanctions
Verified14Juan Guaido recognized as interim president by 50+ countries in 2019
Directional152021 regional elections won by PSUV with 65% amid opposition abstention
Single source16Military loyalty key, with 150,000 active personnel
Verified17Political parties: PSUV dominant, opposition fragmented (VP, AD, PJ)
Verified18International disputes: Essequibo region claim with Guyana
Verified19US sanctions since 2017 affected 150+ officials and entities
Directional20EU sanctions on 55 individuals and 16 entities as of 2023
Single source21Russia and China vetoed UNSC actions on Venezuela crisis multiple times
Verified222017 Constituent Assembly created with 545 seats, all pro-Maduro
Verified23Voter turnout in 2018 presidential election was 46.1%, lowest ever
Verified24Amnesty International documents 90+ deaths in 2017 protests
Directional25World Justice Project Rule of Law Index rank 129/142 in 2023
Single sourcePolitics 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.
Sources & References
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