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PEOPLE

Language
Spanish is the official and predominant language. Some 31 indigenous languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	28.6 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	27.5 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	27.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	26.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	26.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	25.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	25.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	24.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	24.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
42.0 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Venezuelans are descended from the integration of indigenous peoples, Afro-Caribbean and European settlers. Indigenous peoples and Afro-Caribbeans each account for less than 7 percent of the population.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Predominantly Catholic (93 percent)
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	94.1 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	93.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	93.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	93.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	92.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	92.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	91.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	91.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1946
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
92 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	31.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	31.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	32.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	33.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	33.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	34.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT -4

Climate description
Variable with altitude from tropical to temperate, with high temperatures throughout the year. Rainy season between April-October.

Currency
Bolivar

Telephone dialling code
(+) 58

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	73.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	73.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	72.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	73.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	73.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	72.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	70.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	70.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	70.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	70.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	70.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	76.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	76.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	75.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	76.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	76.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	76.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	17 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	18 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	18 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	16 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	18 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	19 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	19 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	20 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	19 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	21 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	21 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	19 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	21 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	22 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	23 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	95 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	95 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	95 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	57 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	96 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	74	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	72	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	75	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	68	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	69	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	69	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	5 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	5 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	5 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	4 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	No data available percent
1995-2001	5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	21 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	12 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	18 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	18 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	No data available percent
2004	83 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	83 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	83 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	No data available percent
2004	68 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	68 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	68 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	93.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	93.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	93.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	92.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	92.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	93.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	93.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	93.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	93.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	93.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	92.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	92.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	92.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	92.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	92.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	224 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	188 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	155 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	137 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	127 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	115 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	112 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	109 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	104 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	963 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	861 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	691 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	468 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	321 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	272 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	258 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	260 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	223 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	255 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	207 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	152 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	125 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	84 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	75 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	49 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	46 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	34 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	158 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	162 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	138 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	130	Transparency International
2004	Not ranked
2003	100 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	81 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	69 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	71 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	18.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	8.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	15 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	15.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	15.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	7550 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	6120 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	4950 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	4080 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3470 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3970 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	4580 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	4100 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	No data available current US$ billions
2006	No data available current US$ billions
2005	No data available current US$ billions
2004	No data available current US$ billions
2003	No data available current US$ billions
2002	No data available current US$ billions
2001	No data available current US$ billions
2000	No data available current US$ billions

Annual GDP growth

2006	10.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	10.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	18.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	-7.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	-8.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	3.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	14.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	18.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	29.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	34.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	34.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	33.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	8.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	29.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
35.2 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	194 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	194 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	200 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	203 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	No data available percent
2006	No data available percent
2005	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2003	No data available percent

Malaria
Risk from P.vivax throughout the year in some rural areas of Apure Amazonas, Barinas, Bolivar, Sucre and Tachira states. Risk from P.falciparum restricted to municipalities in jungle areas of Amazonas (Atabapo), Bolivar (Cedeno, Gran Sabana, Raul Leoni, Sifontes and Sucre) and Delta Amacuro (Antonia Diaz, Casacomia and Pedernales). Chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	34 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	34 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	34 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	34 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	34 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	34 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	34 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	34 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	5807	UNHCR
2007	5094	UNHCR
2006	3829	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	2590	UNHCR
2004	1256	UNHCR
2003	598	UNHCR
2002	526	UNHCR
2001	466	UNHCR
2000	471	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	1161	UNHCR
2007	907	UNHCR
2006	720	UNHCR
2005	408	UNHCR
2004	244	UNHCR
2003	58	UNHCR
2002	58	UNHCR
2001	59	UNHCR
2000	132	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	5	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003