Land area: 340,560 sq mi (882,050 sq km);

Total area: 352,144 sq mi (912,050 sq km)

Population (2009 est.): 26,814,843 (growth rate: 1.5%); birth rate: 20.6/1000; infant mortality rate: 21.5/1000; life expectancy: 73.6; density per sq mile: 77

Capital (2003 est.): Caracas, 3,517,300 (metro. area), 1,741,400 (city proper)

Larges cities: Maracaibo, 1,889,000 (metro. area), 1,854,300 (city proper); Valencia, 1,515,400; Barquisimeto, 948,900

Monetary unit: Bolivar

 

National name: República Bolivariana de Venezuela

Current government officials

Languages: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Ethnicity/race: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people

Religions: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%

Literacy rate: 93% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $334.6 billion; per capita $12,200. Real growth rate: 8.4%. Inflation: 18.7%. Unemployment: 8.5%. Arable land: 3%. Agriculture: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish. Labor force: 12.37 million; services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.).Industries: petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly. Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds. Exports: $69.23 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures. Imports:$28.81 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials. Major trading partners: U.S., Netherlands Antilles, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico (2004).