Venezuela

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

South America Caracas

Population

31.76M

Area

912,050 km²

GDP

$139.40B

GDP Per Capita

$4,900

Pop. Density

35/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

Bs.S.Venezuelan bolívar soberano(VES)

Calling Code

+58

Timezone

UTC-04:00

Languages

Spanish

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Venezuelan

Background

Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830, the others being Ecuador and New Granada (Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, military strongmen ruled Venezuela and promoted the oil industry while allowing some social reforms. Democratically elected governments largely held sway until 1999, but Hugo CHAVEZ, who was president from 1999 to 2013, exercised authoritarian control over other branches of government. This trend continued in 2018 when Nicolas MADURO claimed the presidency for his second term in an election boycotted by most opposition parties and widely viewed as fraudulent. The legislative elections in 2020 were also seen as fraudulent, and most opposition parties and many international actors consider the resulting National Assembly illegitimate. In 2021, many opposition parties broke a three-year election boycott and participated in mayoral and gubernatorial elections, despite flawed conditions. As a result, the opposition more than doubled its representation at the mayoral level and retained four of 23 governorships. The 2021 regional elections marked the first time since 2006 that the EU was allowed to send an electoral observation mission to Venezuela.

MADURO has placed strong restrictions on free speech and the press. Since CHAVEZ, the ruling party has expanded the state's role in the economy through expropriations of major enterprises, strict currency exchange and price controls, and over-dependence on the petroleum industry for revenues. Years of economic mismanagement left Venezuela ill-prepared to weather the global drop in oil prices in 2014, sparking an economic decline that has resulted in reduced government social spending, shortages of basic goods, and high inflation. Worsened living conditions have prompted nearly 8 million Venezuelans to emigrate, mainly settling in nearby countries. The US imposed financial sanctions on MADURO and his representatives in 2017 and on sectors of the Venezuelan economy in 2018. Limited sanctions relief followed when the MADURO administration began making democratic and electoral concessions.

The government's mismanagement and lack of investment in infrastructure has also weakened the country's energy sector. Caracas has relaxed some controls to mitigate the impact of its sustained economic crisis, such as allowing increased import flexibility for the private sector and the informal use of US dollars and other international currencies. Ongoing concerns include human rights abuses, rampant violent crime, political manipulation of the judicial and electoral systems, and corruption.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↓34.7% since 2006

$183B (2006)$120B (2024)

Population

↑4.3% since 2006

27.2M (2006)28.4M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 72.5 years

2006: 73.0 years2023: 72.5 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography20

Location

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 66 00 W

Map references

South America

Area

total : 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km

Area - comparative

almost six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries

total: 5,267 km
border countries: Brazil 2,137 km; Colombia 2,341 km; Guyana 789 km

Coastline

2,800 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain

Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Elevation

highest point: Pico Bolivar 4,978 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 450 m

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Land use

agricultural land

24.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 20.6% (2023 est.)

forest

53.5% (2023 est.)

other

22.1% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

10,550 sq km (2012)

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s): Lago de Maracaibo - 13,010 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Rio Negro (shared with Colombia [s] and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco river source and mouth (shared with Colombia) - 2,101 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

Population distribution

most of the population is concentrated in the northern and western highlands along an eastern spur at the northern end of the Andes, an area that includes the capital of Caracas

Natural hazards

subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Geography - note

note 1: the country lies on major sea and air routes linking North and South America

note 2: Venezuela has some of the most unique geology in the world; tepuis are the massive table-top mountains of the western Guiana Highlands that tend to be isolated and thus support unique endemic plant and animal species; their sheer cliffsides help create some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, including Angel Falls, the world's highest (979 m; 3,212 ft) that drops from Auyan Tepui

People & Society30

Population

total: 31,755,435 (2025 est.)
male: 15,808,263
female: 15,947,172

Nationality

noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan

Ethnic groups

unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous

Languages

Languages: Spanish (official) 98.2%, indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4% (2023 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Roman Catholic 48.1%, Protestant 31.6% (Evangelical 31.4%, Adventist 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, African American/umbanda 0.7%, other 0.1%, believer 3.5%, agnostic 0.1%, atheist, 0.4%, none 13.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2023 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25% (male 3,987,361/female 3,811,307)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 10,264,353/female 10,330,376)
65 years and over: 9.1% (2024 est.) (male 1,303,737/female 1,553,172)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.8 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 37.5 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 7 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 31.3 years (2025 est.)
male: 30.3 years
female: 31.7 years

Population growth rate

0.88% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

16.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

most of the population is concentrated in the northern and western highlands along an eastern spur at the northern end of the Andes, an area that includes the capital of Caracas

Urbanization

urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

2.972 million CARACAS (capital), 2.368 million Maracaibo, 1.983 million Valencia, 1.254 million Barquisimeto, 1.243 million Maracay, 964,000 Ciudad Guayana (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

227 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 71.5 years
female: 77.7 years

Total fertility rate

2.16 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.05 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total: total: 93.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 6.7% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.3% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy

total population: 97.2% (2017 est.)
male: 97.2% (2017 est.)
female: 97.3% (2017 est.)

Government23

Country name

conventional long form

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

conventional short form

Venezuela

local long form

República Bolivariana de Venezuela

local short form

Venezuela

former

State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela

etymology

in 1499, the stilt-houses built on Lake Maracaibo reminded explorers Alonso de OJEDA and Amerigo VESPUCCI of buildings in Venice, Italy, and they named the region "Venezuola," meaning "Little Venice"

Government type

federal presidential republic

Capital

name: Caracas
geographic coordinates: 10 29 N, 66 52 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named for the Caracas tribe that originally settled in the area; the origin of their name is unknown

Administrative divisions

23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoátegui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guárico, La Guairá, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia

Legal system

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

Constitution

history: many previous; latest adopted 15 December 1999, effective 30 December 1999
amendment process: proposed through agreement by at least 39% of the National Assembly membership, by the president of the republic in session with the cabinet of ministers, or by petition of at least 15% of registered voters; passage requires simple majority vote by the Assembly and simple majority approval in a referendum

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years; reduced to five years in the case of applicants from Spain, Portugal, Italy, or a Latin American or Caribbean country

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2026)

head of government

Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2026)

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

election/appointment process

president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)

most recent election date

28 July 2024

election results

2024: official results disputed; Nicolas MADURO Moros was declared the winner by the MADURO-controlled National Electoral Council; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 52%, Edmundo GONZÁLEZ Urrutia (Independent) 43.2%, Luis Eduardo MARTÍNEZ (AD) 1.2%, other 3.6%

2018: Nicolas MADURO Moros reelected president; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 67.9%, Henri FALCON (AP) 20.9%, Javier BERTUCCI 10.8%

expected date of next election

unknown

Legislative branch

legislature name

National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

legislative structure

unicameral

number of seats

277 (all directly elected)

electoral system

mixed system

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

12/6/2020

percentage of women in chamber

32.1%

expected date of next election

May 2025

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Tribunal of Justice (consists of 32 judges organized into constitutional, political-administrative, electoral, civil appeals, criminal appeals, and social divisions)
judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by the Committee of Judicial Postulation (an independent body of organizations dealing with legal issues and of the organs of citizen power) and appointed by the National Assembly; judges serve nonrenewable 12-year terms
subordinate courts: Superior or Appeals Courts (Tribunales Superiores); District Tribunals (Tribunales de Distrito); Courts of First Instance (Tribunales de Primera Instancia); Parish Courts (Tribunales de Parroquia); Justices of the Peace (Justicia de Paz) Network

Political parties

A New Era (Un Nuevo Tiempo) or UNT
Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC
Christian Democrats or COPEI (also known as the Social Christian Party)
Citizens Encounter or EC
Clear Accounts or CC
Coalition of parties loyal to Nicolas MADURO - Great Patriotic Pole or GPP
Coalition of opposition parties - Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democratica) (includes AD, EL CAMBIO, COPEI, CMC, and AP)
Come Venezuela (Vente Venezuela) or VV
Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV
Consenso en la Zona or Conenzo
Convergencia
Democratic Action or AD
Fatherland for All (Patria para Todos) or PPT
Fearless People's Alliance or ABP
Fuerza Vecinal or FV
Hope for Change (Esperanza por el Cambio) or EL CAMBIO
Justice First (Primero Justicia) or PJ
LAPIZ
Movement to Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo) or MAS
Popular Will (Voluntad Popular) or VP
Progressive Advance (Avanzada Progresista) or AP
The Radical Cause or La Causa R
United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV
Venezuela First (Primero Venezuela) or PV
Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV
Venezuela Project or PV

Diplomatic representation in the US

none

note: the embassy, which had been run by the Venezuelan political opposition, announced on 5 January 2023, that it had ended all embassy functions

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025); note - serves as the chief of mission of the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located in the US Embassy, Bogota
embassy: Venezuela Affairs Unit, US Embassy, Carrera 45 N. 24B-27, Bogota, Colombia
mailing address: 3140 Caracas Place, Washington DC 20521-3140
telephone: 1-888-407-4747

email address and website:
ACSBogota@state.gov

https://ve.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACS, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red, with the coat of arms on the left side of the yellow band and an arc of eight five-pointed white stars centered on the blue band

meaning: yellow stands for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence

history: the flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors from the flag of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; in 2006, President Hugo CHAVEZ added the eighth star -- the original seven stars represented the country's provinces that united in the war of independence -- to match Simon Bolivar's flag from 1827 and to represent the historic province of Guayana

National symbol(s)

troupial (bird)

National color(s)

yellow, blue, red

National anthem(s)

title: "Gloria al bravo pueblo" (Glory to the Brave People)
lyrics/music: Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA
history: adopted 1881; lyrics were written in 1810; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela's fight for independence

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Coro and its Port (c); Canaima National Park (n); Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (c)

Economy24

Economic overview

South American economy; ongoing hyperinflation since mid-2010s; chaotic economy due to political corruption, infrastructure cuts, and human rights abuses; in debt default; oil exporter; hydropower consumer; rising Chinese relations

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $110.943 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $106.672 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $98.768 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2018: -19.67% (2018 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2017: -15.76% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $4,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2021: $4,000 (2021 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$139.395 billion (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 200.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1,588.5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 2,355.1% (2020 est.)

Agricultural products

milk, sugarcane, maize, rice, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, chicken, pineapples, potatoes (2023)

Industries

agricultural products, livestock, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel products, crude oil and petroleum products

Labor force

11.136 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 10.6% (2024 est.)
male: 9.3% (2024 est.)
female: 13.2% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

33.1% (2015 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 52% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $30 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: $76 million (2017 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017: 38.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016: -$3.87 billion (2016 est.)
Current account balance 2015: -$16.051 billion (2015 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018: $83.401 billion (2018 est.)
Exports 2017: $93.485 billion (2017 est.)
Exports 2016: $28.684 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - partners

USA 50%, China 10%, Spain 9%, Brazil 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, petroleum coke, scrap iron, alcohols, fertilizers (2023)

Imports

Imports 2018: $18.432 billion (2018 est.)
Imports 2017: $18.376 billion (2017 est.)
Imports 2016: $25.81 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - partners

China 35%, USA 24%, Brazil 12%, Colombia 7%, Turkey 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, soybean meal, corn, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017: $9.794 billion (2017 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016: $10.15 billion (2016 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015: $15.625 billion (2015 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

bolivars (VEB) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

9.975 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

9.257 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

6.284 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

6.284 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2013

6.048 (2013 est.)

Energy7

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 33.493 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 56.493 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 600 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 25.849 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 21.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

production: 149,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 80,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 730.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 801,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 203,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 303.806 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production: 23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 5.674 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 54.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2.683 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 20.2 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

mix of state-run and private broadcast media subject to high levels of control; 13 public service networks, 61 privately owned TV networks, 1 privately owned news channel with limited national coverage, and a Maduro-backed Pan-American channel; 3 Maduro-aligned radio networks control about 65 news stations and another 30 stations targeted at specific audiences; Maduro-sponsored community broadcasters include 235 radio stations and 44 TV stations; the number of private broadcast radio stations declining, but many remain  (2021)

Internet country code

.ve

Internet users

percent of population: 62% (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 2.7 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)

Transportation6

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

509 (2025)

Heliports

88 (2025)

Railways

total: 447 km (2014)
standard gauge: 447 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.4 km electrified)

Merchant marine

total: 272 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 1, general cargo 26, oil tanker 17, other 225

Ports

total ports

31 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Amuay (Bahia de Amuay), Bahia de Pertigalete, Ciudad Bolivar, Guanta, La Guaira, La Salina, Las Piedras, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Puerto de Hierro, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Miranda, Puerto Ordaz, Punta Cardon

Military & Security6

Military and security forces

Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB): Bolivarian Army (Ejercito Bolivariano, EB), Bolivarian Navy (Armada Bolivariana, AB; includes marines, Coast Guard), Bolivarian Military Aviation (Aviacion Militar Bolivariana, AMB), Bolivarian Militia (Milicia Bolivariana), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB), Presidential Honor Guard

Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace: Bolivarian National Police (Policía Nacional Bolivariana, PNB) (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 125-150,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 200,000 Bolivarian Militia (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FANB inventory is a mix of mostly older and some more modern armaments from a variety of foreign suppliers, including China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Russia/former Soviet Union, Spain, the UK, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 (25 for women) for voluntary service; the minimum service obligation is 24-30 months; 17-39 for Militia service; all citizens of military service age (18-50) are obligated to register for military service and subject to military training (2025)

Military - note

the armed forces (FANB) are responsible for ensuring Venezuela’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; they also have a domestic role, including assisting with maintaining internal security, conducting counter-narcotics missions, contributing to national socio-economic development, and providing disaster relief/humanitarian assistance; the military has been deployed against illegal armed groups operating in the Colombian border region and other areas to combat organized crime gangs involved in narcotics trafficking and illegal mining; it has ties with the militaries of China, Cuba, Iran, and Russia

the FANB has a role in the country’s economy and political sectors; military officers hold key positions in state-owned companies, government ministries, and funding agencies; the FANB runs corporation involved in agriculture, banking, communications, energy, insurance, mining, and transportation (2025)

Transnational Issues3

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 20,911 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 2,338 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 3 — Venezuela does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making any efforts to do so, therefore, Venezuela remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/venezuela/

Illicit drugs

USG identification:
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country

major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

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