Introduction

Background: |  |

`
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
`

Geography

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 country comparison to the world: 33 land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly more than twice the size of California`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 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 extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar 5,007 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 0.88% other: 96.27% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`5,750 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`1,233.2 cu km (2000)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 8.37 cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%) per capita: 313 cu m/yr (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations`
Environment - international agreements: |  |
`party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements`
Geography - note: |  |
`on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall`

People

Population: |  |
`27,635,743 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 45`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 29.5% (male 4,149,781/female 4,002,931) 15-64 years: 65.1% (male 8,846,945/female 9,130,561) 65 years and over: 5.4% (male 665,436/female 840,089) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 26.1 years male: 25.4 years female: 26.8 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`1.493% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 79`
Birth rate: |  |
`20.1 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 88`
Death rate: |  |
`5.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 181`
Net migration rate: |  |
`0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 111`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 93% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`CARACAS (capital) 3.051 million; Maracaibo 2.153 million; Valencia 1.738 million; Barquisimeto 1.159 million; Maracay 1.04 million (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 20.62 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 95 male: 24.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 73.93 years country comparison to the world: 110 male: 70.84 years female: 77.17 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`2.42 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 92`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA; NA note - no country specific models provided`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Major infectious diseases: |  |
`degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 94% of population rural: 74% of population total: 92% of population unimproved: urban: 6% of population rural: 26% of population total: 8% of population (2000)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 93% of population rural: 54% of population total: 89% of population unimproved: urban: 7% of population rural: 46% of population total: 11% of population (2000)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people`
Religions: |  |
`nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%`
Languages: |  |
`Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 93.3% female: 92.7% (2001 census)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 15 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`3.7% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 113`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela local short form: Venezuela`
Government type: |  |
`federal republic`
Capital: |  |
`name: Caracas geographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 W time difference: UTC-4.5 (half an hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |

`
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
`

Independence: |  |
`5 July 1811 (from Spain)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 5 July (1811)`
Constitution: |  |
`30 December 1999`
Legal system: |  |
`civil law system based on the Spanish civil code`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 2 February 1999); Executive Vice President Elias JAUA Milano (since 26 January 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 2 February 1999); Executive Vice President Elias JAUA Milano (since 26 January 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for unlimited reelection); election last held on 3 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2012)
note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of this constitution; in 2009, a national referendum approved the elimination of term limits on all elected officials, including the presidency
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%, other 0.2%
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held on 26 September 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - pro-government 48.9%, opposition coalition 47.9%, other 3.2%; seats by party - pro-government 98, opposition 65, other 2
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (32 magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |

`
A New Time or UNT [Omar BARBOZA]; Brave People's Alliance or ABP [Oscar PEREZ, currently in exile]; Christian Democrats or COPEI [Roberto ENRIQUEZ]; Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; For Social Democracy or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Nicolas SOSA]; The Radical Cause [Daniel SANTOLO]; United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]
`

Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); various civil society groups and human rights organizations`
International organization participation: |  |
`Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angelo RIVERO Santos chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214 FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John CAULFIELD embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080 mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037 telephone: [58] (212) 975-6411, 907-8400 (after hours) FAX: [58] (212) 907-8199`
Flag description: |  |

`
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band; the flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; yellow is interpreted as standing for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence; the seven stars on the original flag represented the seven provinces in Venezuela that united in the war of independence; in 2006, President Hugo CHAVEZ ordered an eighth star added to the star arc - a decision that sparked much controversy - to conform with the flag proclaimed by Simon Bolivar in 1827 and to represent the province of Guayana
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Gloria al bravo pueblo" (Glory to the Brave Nation) lyrics/music: Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA note: adopted 1881; the lyrics were written in 1810, the music some years later; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela's struggle for independence`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for roughly 95% of export earnings, about 55% of the federal budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. A nationwide strike between December 2002 and February 2003 had far-reaching economic consequences - real GDP declined by around 9% in 2002 and 8% in 2003 - but economic output recovered strongly through 2008. Fueled by high oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP by about 10% in 2006, 8% in 2007, and nearly 5% in 2008, before a sharp drop in oil prices caused a contraction in 2009-10. This spending, combined with recent minimum wage hikes and improved access to domestic credit, created a consumption boom which came at the cost of higher inflation - roughly 32% in 2008, and slowing only slightly to 30% in 2010, despite the lengthy downturn. Imports also jumped significantly before the recession of 2009. President Hugo CHAVEZ's continued efforts to increase the government's control of the economy by nationalizing firms in the agribusiness, financial, construction, oil, and steel sectors have hurt the private investment environment, reduced productive capacity, and slowed non-petroleum exports. In the first half of 2010 Venezuela faced the prospect of lengthy nationwide blackouts when its main hydroelectric power plant - which provides more than 35% of the country's electricity - nearly shut down. In May, 2010, CHAVEZ closed the unofficial foreign exchange market - the "parallel" market - in an effort to stem inflation and slow the currency's depreciation. In June 2010, the government created the "Transaction System for Foreign Currency Denominated Securities" (SITME) to replace the "parallel" market. In December 2010, CHAVEZ eliminated the dual exchange rate system and unified the exchange rate at 4.3 bolivars per dollar. In January 2011, CHAVEZ announced the second devaluation of the bolivar within twelve months. In December 2010, the National Assembly passed a package of five organic laws designed to complete the transformation of the Venezuelan economy in line with CHAVEZ's vision of 21st century socialism. These laws likely will be implemented in 2011. Venezuela began 2011 wrestling with macroeconomic imbalances resulting from the government's unorthodox economic policies, a housing crisis, and a continuing electricity crisis.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$345.2 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 $351.9 billion (2009 est.) $363.9 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$290.7 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`-1.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 -3.3% (2009 est.) 4.8% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$12,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $13,100 (2009 est.) $13,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 4.1% industry: 34.9% services: 61.1% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`13.3 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 13% industry: 23% services: 64% (1997 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`12.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 7.9% (2009 est.)`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`37.9% (2005 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 32.7% (2006)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`41 (2009) country comparison to the world: 56 49.5 (1998)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`16.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $50.12 billion expenditures: $56.53 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`25.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 18% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`29.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 223 27.1% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`29.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 3 33.5% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`19.89% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 22.37% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$69.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $93.19 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$78.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $107 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$54.22 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $75.87 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 69 $8.251 billion`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish`
Industries: |  |
`petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`-8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166`
Electricity - production: |  |
`113.3 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 29`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`83.02 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`540 million kWh (2007 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`1.651 billion kWh (2007 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`2.472 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`740,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23`
Oil - exports: |  |
`2.182 million bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 8`
Oil - imports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`97.77 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`23.06 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`24.86 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`1.8 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`4.983 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9`
Current account balance: |  |
`$22.07 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 $8.561 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$64.87 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $57.6 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, minerals, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures`
Exports - partners: |  |
`US 27.3%, Columbia 11.4%, China 12.8%, Brazil 8.8% (2009 est.)`
Imports: |  |
`$31.37 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $38.44 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`agricultural products, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials`
Imports - partners: |  |
`US 20.6%, Columbia 17.8%, China 12.8%, Mexico 8.7%, Brazil 4.7% (2009 est.)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$29.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 $35 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$55.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $53.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$37.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $41.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$20.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $17.67 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 4.3039 (2010) 2.147 (2009) 2.147 (2008) 2,147 (2007) 2,147 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`6.867 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 28`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`28.124 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 32`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: modern and expanding
domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services; combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 130 per 100 persons
international: country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network; constructing submarine cable to provide connectivity to Cuba with an estimated date of completion in late 2011 (2010)
`

Broadcast media: |  |

`
government supervises a mixture of state-run and private broadcast media; 1 state-run television network, 4 privately-owned TV networks, a privately-owned news channel with limited national coverage, and a government-backed pan-American channel; state-run radio network includes 65 news stations and roughly another 30 stations targeted at specific audiences; state-sponsored community broadcasters include 244 radio stations and 36 television stations; the number of private broadcast radio stations has been declining, but a large number remain in operation (2010)
`

Internet country code: |  |
`.ve`
Internet hosts: |  |
`238,665 (2010) country comparison to the world: 64`
Internet users: |  |
`8.918 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 32`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`409 (2010) country comparison to the world: 20`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 129 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 17 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 280 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 91 under 914 m: 172 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`4 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`extra heavy crude 980 km; gas 5,347 km; oil 6,694 km; refined products 1,620 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 806 km country comparison to the world: 98 standard gauge: 806 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 96,155 km country comparison to the world: 46 paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (2002)`
Waterways: |  |
`7,100 km (the Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo are navigable by oceangoing vessels) (2010) country comparison to the world: 21`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 59 country comparison to the world: 66 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 15, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas 5, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 16 foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Greece 4, Mexico 1, Norway 1, Spain 1) registered in other countries: 9 (Panama 8, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon`
Transportation - note: |  |
`the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as a significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen`

Military

Military branches: |  |

`
Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB): Bolivarian Army (Ejercito Bolivariano, EB), Bolivarian Navy (Armada Bolivariana, AB; includes Naval Infantry, Coast Guard, Naval Aviation), Bolivarian National Military Aviation (Aviacion Militar Nacional Bolivariana, AMNB), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB), Bolivarian Militia (Milicia Bolivariana, MB) (2011)
`

Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 30-month conscript service obligation; Navy requires 6th-grade education for enlisted personnel; all citizens of military service age (18-60 years old) are obligated to register for military service (2011)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 7,013,854 females age 16-49: 7,165,661 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 5,614,743 females age 16-49: 6,074,834 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 277,210 female: 273,353 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`1.2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 122`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |

`
claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; in 2006, an estimated 139,000 Colombians sought protection in 150 communities along the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claim
`

Trafficking in persons: |  |

`
current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, lured from the nation's interior to urban and tourist areas; child prostitution in urban areas and child sex tourism in resort destinations appear to be growing; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Western Europe, Mexico, and Caribbean destinations
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Venezuela is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List, up from Tier 3, as it showed greater resolve to address trafficking through law enforcement measures and prevention efforts in 2007, although stringent punishment of offenders and victim assistance remain lacking (2008)
`

Illicit drugs: |  |

`
small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border
`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011