Country
Countries A-Z
Venezuela
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Note: President Hugo Chavez (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) died on March 5, 2013, after a long struggle with cancer. Vice President Nicolas Maduro (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) became interim president, with a special election due within 30 days.
Political Status: Independence originally proclaimed in 1821 as part of Gran Colombia; independent republic established in 1830; federal constitutional system restored in 1958. Current constitution approved by referendum on December 15, 1999.
Area: 358,850 sq. mi. (916,445 sq. km).
Population: 23,054,210 (2001C); 30,206,428 (2012E—UN); 28,047,938 (2012E—U.S. Census). The 2001 figure excludes an adjustment for underenumeration as well as for 180,000 Amerindian jungle dwellers.
Major Urban Centers (2005E): CARACAS (2,073,768), Maracaibo (1,764,000), Valencia (1,325,000), Barquisimeto (893,000).
Official Language: Spanish.
Monetary Unit: Bolívar (market rate November 5, ...