Venezuela Facts

Fact

V!VA User‘s Description

Total Area: 912,050 km sq 570,000 sq mi.
Coastline: 2,800 km  1,739 sq mi
Climate: tropical, hot, humid; more moderate in the highlands
Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Natural Hazards: subject to flooding, rockslides, mudslides, periodic droughts
Environmental Issues: urban, oil and sewage pollution of lakes; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution – especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to rainforest due to irresponsible mining
Population: 2,017,387 as of July 2004
Population Growth Rate: 1.44%
HIV/AIDS Rate: 0.5%
Ethnic Groups: Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Arab, German, African, indigenous groups
Languages: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy (age 15 and above): 93.4%

Capital:  Caracas
Independence: July 5, 1811 from Spain
Constitution: December 30, 1999
President: Hugo Chavez Frias since Febrauary 3, 1999

Economic Situation: Highly dependent on oil sector, roughly one third of the GDP and around 80% of export earnings.  Economy remained depressive in 2003 despite rising oil prices because of domestic political instability and a two-month oil strike from December 2002 to February 2003.  President Chavez committed $1 billion of the government’s non-existent funds to new social programs.
GDP per capita: $4,800 (as of 2004)
Population below poverty line: 47%
Labor Force: 11.38 million (as of 2004)
Unemployment Rate: 18%