Country
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Venezuela
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
República Bolivariana de Venezuela
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: 28,870,000 (2020E—World Bank); 28,644,603 (2020E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2016E—UN): CARACAS (2,923,000), Maracaibo (2,229,000), Valencia (1,757,000), Maracay (1,186,000), Barquisimeto (1,044,000).
Official Language: Spanish.
Monetary Unit: Bolívar soberano (market rate September 30, 2020: 449,592.76 bolívares soberano = $1US). [Note: The bolívar soberano replaced the bolívar fuerte on August 20, 2018.]
President: Nicolás MADURO (United Socialist Party of Venezuela); inaugurated on April 19, 2013, for a five-year term, following the death of Lt. Col. (Ret.) Hugo Rafael CHÁVEZ Frías (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) on March 5, ...