FACT SHEET ON VENEZUELA

Official Name / Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Area / 916.445 sq. kms.
States / Federal Republic, consisting of 23 States, a federal district and 72 island dependencies in the Caribbean Sea.
Population / 30.206.307(2014 projection using 2011 Census)[1] (Urban 93%, Rural 7%)
Ethnic Groups / Mestizos (67%), Whites (21%), Blacks (10%), Indigenous people (2%)
Capital / Caracas
Population 3 million (2013)
Other main cities / Valencia, Maracaibo, Barquisimeto, Ciudad Guyana & Mérida.
Time zone / UTC -430 (-)10 hours behind India
Language / Spanish
Religion / Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 10%, Others 2% (Indigenous Cults, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism etc)
President
Vice President / Mr. Nicolas MaduroMoros, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. He assumed office on 19 April 2013.
Mr. Jorge Arreaza
System of Government / Participative Democracy with Presidential System.
Membership of
International/Regional
Organizations / UN, IMF, World Bank, OPEC, OAS, NAM, G-15, WTO (G-20), Rio Group, Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of our America (ALBA) and MERCOSUR (signed the Protocol of Accession in July 2006)
GDP (PPP)
Per Capita
GDP Growth / US$ 397.1 billion (2014)
US$ 13.146,61 (2014)
-2.8 % (2014)[2]
GDP by Sector / Agriculture –5.6%, Industry –14.03%, Services – 65% (2013)[3]
Inflation / 68.4% (November 2013 – November 2014)[4]
UN Cost of Living Index / 160.2 (2014)[5]
Currency / Bolivar Fuerte (Bs.F)
Exchange Rate / 1 US$ = BS.F 6.3 (CENCOEX - Since February 2013 for essential imports)
1 US$ = BS.F 12 (SICAD - for non-essential imports and travelers)
1 US$ = BS. 193.32[6] (SIMADI - last updated 27 March 2015)
Forex Reserves / US$ 22.09 billion (March2015)[7]
Proven crude oil reserves / 296.5 billion barrels (July 2011)
Production / 2.9 million barrels per day (in 2014, as per Minister of Petroleum and Mining)
Proven Gas Reserves / 185.24 trillion cubic feet (August 2010)
Mineral Resources / Aluminum, coal, iron, bauxite, gold and diamonds.
Exports / US$ 80.14 billion (2014) (including petroleum)
Major Export Items / Petroleum & derivatives, aluminium, steel, iron ore, chemicals.
Export destinations / United States, China, Colombia, Netherlands, Brazil, Belgium, Trinidad & Tobago, Chile, North Korea, Mexico, India
Imports / US$32.95 billion (2014)[8]
Major import items / Manufactured products, food items, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, equipment and machinery.
National Bird / The Venezuelan Troupial (Icterusicterus)
National Flower / The Venezuelan Orchid, (Cattleyamossiae)
National Tree / The Araguaney (Tabebuiachrysantha)
International Calling Code / +58
31 March 2015

1

[1] Source:

[2]Presidential Address on 21/01/2015. Data from Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) shows decrease in the first three quarters of 2014: First Quarter: 4.8%; Second Quarter: 4.9% and Third Quarter: 2.3%

[3] Source: Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV)

[4]Source: Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV)

[5] United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

[6] Source: Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV)

[7] Source: Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV)

[8]Source: Foreign Trade Statistical System, National Institute of Statistics