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{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''República Bolivariana de Venezuela''
|conventional_long_name = Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela{{ref label|name|1|none}}</small>
|common_name = Venezuela
|image_flag = Flag of Venezuela.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Venezuela.svg
|image_map = Venezuela_(orthographic projection).svg
|national_motto = ''Dios y Federación''{{spaces|2}}<small>{{es icon}}<br/>"God and Federation"</small>
|national_anthem = '']''{{spaces|2}}<small>{{es icon}}<br/>Glory to the Brave People</small>
|official_languages = ]{{ref label|languages|2|none}}
|languages_type = ]
|languages = ] {{ref label|languages|2|none}}
|ethnic_groups = 55% ], <br/>35% ], <br/>1% ], <br/>9% others (], ], ])
|demonym = Venezuelan
|capital = ]
|latd=10 |latm=30 |latNS=N |longd=66 |longm=58 |longEW=W
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = ] ] ]
|leader_title1 = ]
|leader_name1 = ]
|leader_title2 = ]
|leader_name2 = ]
|area_rank = 33rd
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|area_km2 = 916,445
|area_sq_mi = 353,841
|percent_water = 0.32{{ref label|area|3|none}}
|population_estimate = 26,814,843
|population_estimate_rank = 40th
|population_estimate_year = July 2009
|population_census = 23,054,985
|population_census_year = 2001
|population_density_km2 = 30.2
|population_density_sq_mi = 77
|population_density_rank = 173rd
|GDP_PPP = $358.623 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=299&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=42&pr.y=0 |title=Venezuela|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $12,785<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|GDP_nominal = $319.443 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank =
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $11,388<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
|sovereignty_type = ]
|established_event1 = from Spain
|established_date1 = July 5, 1811
|established_event2 = from ]
|established_date2 = January 13, 1830
|established_event3 = Recognized
|established_date3 = March 30, 1845
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.826 <ref>http://hdrstats.undp.org/2008/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_VEN.html</ref>
|HDI_rank = 61st
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font>
|Gini = 42.2<ref name="CIA"/>
|Gini_year = 2007
|Gini_category = <font color="#e0584e">high</font>
|currency = ]{{ref label|currency|4|none}}
|currency_code = VEF
|country_code =
|time_zone = ]
|utc_offset =
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|drives_on = right
|cctld = ]
|calling_code = 58
|footnotes = {{note label|name|1|none}} The "Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela" has been the full official title since the adoption of the new ], when the state was renamed in honor of ].<br/>{{note label|languages|2|none}} The Constitution also recognizes all ] spoken in the country.<br/>{{note label|area|3|none}} Area totals include only Venezuelan-administered territory.<br/>{{note label|currency|4|none}} On January 1, 2008 a new bolivar, the ''bolívar fuerte'' (ISO 4217 code VEF), worth 1,000 VEB, was introduced.
}}

'''Venezuela''' ({{pron-en|ˌvɛnɨˈzweɪlə}} or {{IPA|/ˌvɛnɨˈzwɛlə/}}; in Spanish {{IPA-es|beneˈswela|pron}}), officially titled '''Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela''' (Spanish: ''República Bolivariana de Venezuela''), is a ] country on the northern coast of ]. It is a continental mainland with numerous islands located off its coastline in the ].

Venezuela possesses recognized borders with ] to the east of the Essequibo river, ] to the south, and ] to the west. ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and the ] lie just north, off the Venezuelan coast. Its size is 916,445&nbsp;km² with an estimated population of 26,414,816. Its capital is Caracas. The colors of the Venezuelan flag are yellow, blue and red, in that order: the yellow stands for land wealth, the blue for courage, and the red for independence from Spain.

A former ], which has been an independent republic since 1821, Venezuela holds territorial disputes with Guyana, largely concerning the ] area, and with Colombia concerning the ]. In 1895, after the dispute over the Essequibo river border flared up, it was submitted to a "neutral" commission (composed of ], ] and ]n representatives and without a direct Venezuelan representative), which in 1899 decided mostly against Venezuela's claim.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/venezuela1895.htm |title=Venezuela Boundary Dispute, 1895&ndash;1899}}</ref> Venezuela is known widely for its ] industry, the ] of its territory, and its natural features. Venezuela is considered to be among the world's ],<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |coauthors= |title=South America Banks on Regional Strategy to Safeguard Quarter of Earth's Biodiversity |date= |publisher= |url=http://www.conservation.org/xp/news/press_releases/2003/091603_andean_eng.xml |work=Conservation International |pages= |accessdate=2007-06-29 |language=}}</ref> featuring diverse ] in a variety of ].

Venezuela is among the most urbanized countries in ];<ref name="encartaSA">{{cite web |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574914_3/South_America.html |title=South America |accessdate=2007-03-13 |publisher=Encarta}}</ref><ref name="UNpopstats">{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup1999/WUP99ANNEXTABLES.pdf |title=Annex tables |accessdate=2007-03-13 |publisher=United Nations |work=World Urbanization Prospects: The 1999 Revision |format=pdf}}</ref> the vast majority of Venezuelans live in the cities of the north, especially in the capital ] which is also the largest city. Other major cities include ], ], ], ] and ].

== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of Venezuela}}
Venezuela's mainland rests on the ]. With {{convert|2800|km|mi|0}} of coastline, Venezuela is home to a wide variety of landscapes. The extreme northeastern extensions of the ] reach into Venezuela's northwest and continue along the northern Caribbean coast. ], the nation's highest point at {{convert|4979|m|ft|0}}, lies in this region. The country's center is characterized by the '']'', extensive plains that stretch from the Colombian border in the far west to the ] ] in the east. To the south, the dissected ] is home to the northern fringes of the ] and ], the world's highest ]. The Orinoco, with its rich ]s, binds the largest and most important ] of the country; it originates in one of the largest ] in Latin America. The ] and the ] are other major rivers. The country can be further divided into ten geographical areas, some corresponding to climatic and biogeographical regions. In the north are the ] and the ], a mountainous tract in the northwest, is home to several ]s and valleys. East of it are lowlands abutting ] and the ]. The ] runs parallel to the coast and includes the hills surrounding ]; the Eastern Range, separated from the Central Range by the ], covers all of ] and northern ]. The Llanos region comprises a third of the country's area north of the Orinoco River. South of it lies the ], a massive ] geological formation featuring '']s'', mysterious table-like mountains. The ] includes all of Venezuela's ] possessions: ] and the various ]. The ], which forms a triangle covering ], projects northeast into the ].


=== Climate ===

]]]
Though Venezuela is entirely situated in the tropics, its climate varies from humid low-elevation plains, where average annual temperatures range as high as {{convert|28|°C|°F|0}}, to glaciers and highlands (the ''páramos'') with an average yearly temperature of {{convert|8|°C|°F|0}}. Annual rainfall varies between {{convert|430|mm|in|0}} in the semiarid portions of the northwest to {{convert|1000|mm|in|0}} in the Orinoco Delta of the far east. Most precipitation falls between June and October (the rainy season or "winter"); the drier and hotter remainder of the year is known as "summer", though temperature variation throughout the year is not as pronounced as at temperate latitudes.<ref name="LOC_2005"/>

=== Subdivisions ===
{{main|States of Venezuela|Regions of Venezuela}}
Venezuela is divided into twenty-three states (''Estados''), a ] (''distrito capital'') corresponding to the city of Caracas, the Federal Dependencies (''Dependencias Federales'', a special territory), and ] (claimed in a border dispute with Guyana). Venezuela is further subdivided into 335 ] (''municipios''); these are subdivided into over one thousand ]es (''parroquias''). The states are grouped into nine administrative regions (''regiones administrativas''), which were established by presidential decree. Historically, Venezuela has also claimed all Guyanese territory west of the Essequibo River; this {{convert|159500|km2|sqmi|0}} tract was dubbed ''Guyana Esequiba'' or the ''Zona en Reclamación'' (the "zone to be reclaimed").<ref name="mre_ginebra">{{cite web|url=http://www.mre.gob.ve/metadot/index.pl?id=3870&isa=Category&op=show|title=El acuerdo de Ginebra del 17 Feb 1996|accessdate=2007-12-01|publisher=Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores}}{{es icon}}</ref>

{{Venezuelan subdivisions}}

== History ==
{{main|History of Venezuela|History of the Venezuelan oil industry|German colonization of the Americas}}

]]]
Human habitation of Venezuela could have commenced at least 15,000 years ago from which period ]-shaped tools, together with chopping and ]-convex scraping implements, have been found exposed on the high riverine terraces of the Rio Pedregal in western Venezuela.<ref name="Kipfer_2000_91">{{cite book|last=Kipfer|first=Barbara Ann|year=2000|title=Encyclopedic Dictionary of YUPArchaeology|publisher=Springer|isbn=0-30646-158-7|pages=91}}</ref> ] hunting artifacts, including spear tips, have been found at a similar series of sites in northwestern Venezuela known as "El Jobo"; according to ], these date from 13,000 to 7,000 BC.<ref name="Kipfer_2000_172">Kipfer 2000, p. 172.</ref>

Venezuela was first ] by Spain in 1522 in what is now ]. These portions of eastern Venezuela were incorporated into ]. Administered by the ] of ] since the early 16th century, most of Venezuela became part of the ] in the early 18th century, and was then reorganized as an autonomous ] starting in 1776.

In the 16th century, during the ], ] such as many of the ], themselves descendants of the ]s rejected paganism and embraced ]. Some Spaniards treated the natives harshly. Indian ]s (leaders) such as ] and ] attempted to resist Spanish incursions, but were ultimately defeated; Tamanaco was put to death by order of Caracas' founder ].<ref name="UNE">{{cite web |publisher=Universidad Nueva Esparta |url=http://www.une.edu.ve/hatillo/historia.htm |title=Alcaldía del Hatillo: Historia |accessdate=2007-03-10 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

After a series of unsuccessful uprisings, Venezuela—under the leadership of ], a Venezuelan marshal who had fought in the ]—] on July 5, 1811. This began the ]. However, a devastating ], together with the rebellion of the Venezuelan '']s'', helped bring down the ].<ref name="Chasteen_2001_103">{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Chasteen |Given1=John Charles |Year=2001 |Title=Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America |Publisher=Norton |ID=ISBN 0-39305-048-3 |URL=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0393050483&id=fC90B5xkYyIC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=XlrvsIB381&dq=Born+in+blood+and+fire&sig=CkLd_-rnp2QQK_m8Da3C6Yha6QE |Access-date=March 10, 2007}}. p. 103.</ref> A ], proclaimed on August 7, 1813, lasted several months before being crushed as well.
].]]
], liberator of not only Venezuela, but also ], ], ], ], and ]]]
Sovereignty was only attained after ], aided by ] and ], won the ] on June 24, 1821. ] and ]'s victory in the ] on July 24, 1823, helped seal Venezuelan independence. New Granada's congress gave Bolívar control of the Granadian army; leading it, he liberated several countries and founded ]. Sucre, who won many battles for Bolívar, went on to liberate Ecuador and later become the second president of ]. Venezuela remained part of Gran Colombia until 1830, when a rebellion led by Páez allowed the proclamation of a new Republic of Venezuela; Páez became its first president. Two decades of warfare had cost the lives of between a quarter and a third of the Venezuelan population, which in 1830 numbered no more than 800,000.<ref>. New Internationalist, June, 2006.</ref>

Much of Venezuela's nineteenth century history was characterized by political turmoil and ]ial rule.<ref name="LOC_2005">{{cite web |publisher=Library of Congress (Federal Research Division) |title=Country Profile: Venezuela |year=2005 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Venezuela.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref> During first half of the 20th century, '']s'' (military strongmen) continued to dominate, though they generally allowed for mild social reforms and promoted economic growth. Following the death of ] in 1935 and the demise of ''caudillismo'' (authoritarian rule), pro-democracy movements eventually forced the military to withdraw from direct involvement in national politics in 1958. Since that year, Venezuela has had a series of democratically elected governments.<ref name="CIA">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html|title=Venezuela|accessdate=2007-03-13|publisher=CIA|date=]|work=The World Factbook}}</ref> The discovery of massive ] during ] prompted an economic boom that lasted into the 1980s; by 1935, Venezuela's per capita ] was Latin America's highest.<ref name="Crow_1980_616-617">{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Crow |Given1=JA |Year=1980 |Title=Epic of Latin America |Publisher=University of California Press |ID=ISBN 0-52004-107-0}}. pp. 616&ndash;617.</ref>
After ] the ] and heavy immigration from Southern Europe (mainly from Spain, ], ]) and poorer Latin American countries markedly diversified Venezuelan society.

The huge public spending and accumulation of internal and external debts during the Petrodollar years of the 1970s and early 1980s, followed by the ], crippled the Venezuelan economy. As the government started to devaluate the currency in February 1983 in order to face its financial obligations, Venezuelans' real standard of living fell dramatically. A number of failed economic policies and increasing corruption in government led to rising poverty and crime, worsening social indicators, and increased political instability.<ref name="Schuyler_2001_10">{{cite journal |last=Schuyler |first=George W. |work=The Policy Studies Organization |title=Health and Neoliberalism: Venezuela and Cuba |year=2001 |pages=10}}</ref>

In February 1992 ], an army paratrooper, staged a ] attempt seeking to overthrow the government of President ]. Chávez failed and was placed in jail. In November 1992, another unsuccessful coup attempt occurred, organized by groups loyal to Chávez remaining in the armed forces.<ref name="BBCprofile">{{cite web |title=Profile: Hugo Chavez |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1925236.stm |accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref> Chávez was acquitted in March 1994 by president ], with his political rights intact.

In 1998, Chávez was elected president after a vigorous campaign, in contrast with the feeble discourse of the weakened traditional parties' candidates. <ref name="BBCprofile" />
His reform program, which he later called the "]", was aimed at redistributing the benefits of Venezuela's oil wealth to the lower socio-economic groups by using it to fund programs such as health care and education, but has encountered great criticism by the previous establishment. In April 2002 he suffered a ].<ref> The coup installed chamber of commerce leader Pedro Carmona.
{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1927678.stm|title=Profile: Pedro Carmona|date=27 May 2002|publisher=]|dateformat=DMY|accessdate=2009-02-06}}
</ref> He was returned to power after two days as a result of popular demonstrations in his favour and actions by the military.<ref>"Venezuela 2002-2003: Polarisation, Confrontation, and Violence," Margarita L&Oacute;pez Maya; in Olivia Burlimgame Guombri, ed., ''The Venezuela Reader''. 2005, Washington D.C., U.S.A. Page 16.
</ref> Chávez has also survived an all-out national strike that lasted more than two months in December 2002 - February 2003, including a strike/lockout in the state oil company ], and a ] in August 2004. He was elected for another term in December 2006.

== Economy ==
]
{{main|Economy of Venezuela}}
] banknote featuring a portrait of ].]]

The ] sector dominates Venezuela's ], accounting for roughly a third of ], around 80% of exports and more than half of government revenues. Gold, diamonds and iron ore are mined as well. Venezuela contains some of the largest oil and natural gas reserves in the world. It consistently ranks among the top ten crude oil producers in the world.<ref>, ], Accessed June 25, 2008.</ref> The country's main petroleum deposits are located around and beneath ], the ] (both in ]), and in the Orinoco River basin (eastern Venezuela), where the country's largest reserve is located. Venezuela has the ] in the world because of its high government subsidies.

=== Petroleum and other resources ===
{{See also|Energy policy of Venezuela}}

When oil was discovered at the Maracaibo strike in 1922, Venezuela's dictator Juan Vicente Gómez allowed Americans to write Venezuela's petroleum law.<ref>Daniel Yergin, ''The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power'' , pp. 233-236; 432</ref> But oil history was made {{Peacock term}} in 1943 when ] accepted a new agreement in Venezuela based on the 50-50 principle, "a landmark event."<ref>Yergin, p. 435</ref> Terms even more favorable to Venezuela were negotiated in 1945, after a coup brought to power a left-leaning government that included ]. In 1958 a new government again included Pérez Alfonso, who devised a plan for the international oil cartel that would become ].<ref>Yergin, pp. 510-513</ref> In 1973 Venezuela voted to nationalize its oil industry outright, effective January 1, 1976, with ] (PDVSA) taking over and presiding over a number of holding companies; in subsequent years, Venezuela built a vast refining and marketing system in the U.S. and Europe.<ref>Yergin. p. 767</ref>

Economic prospects remain highly dependent on oil prices and the export of petroleum. A founding member of the ] (OPEC), Venezuela reasserted its leadership within the organization during its year as OPEC's president, hosting the organization's Second Leadership Conference in 40 years, as well as having its former ], ], appointed as Secretary General. The collapse of oil prices in 1997-98 prompted the Rodriguez administration to expand OPEC-inspired production cuts in an effort to raise world oil prices. In 2002, this sector accounted for roughly a quarter of GDP, 73% of export earnings, and about half of central government's operating revenues. Venezuela is the fourth-leading supplier of imported crude and refined petroleum products to the United States.

The Government of Venezuela has opened up much of the hydrocarbon sector to foreign investment, promoting multi-billion dollar investment in heavy oil production, reactivation of old fields, and investment in several petrochemical joint ventures. Almost 60 foreign companies representing 14 different countries participate in one or more aspects of Venezuela's oil sector. The Venezuelan national oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) and foreign oil companies have signed 33 operating contracts for marginal fields in three bidding rounds. New legislation dealing with natural gas and petrochemicals is further opening the sector. A new domestic retail competition law, however, disappointed investors who had been promised market-determined prices.

On November 13, 2001, under the enabling law authorized by the ], President Chávez enacted the new ], which came into effect in January 2002. This law replaced the Hydrocarbons Law of 1943 and the Nationalization Law of 1975. Among other things, the new law provided that all oil production and distribution activities were to be the domain of the Venezuelan state, with the exception of joint ventures targeting extra-heavy crude oil production. Under the new Hydrocarbons Law, private investors can own up to 49% of the capitol stock in joint ventures involved in upstream activities. The new law also provides that private investors may own up to 100% of the capitol stock in ventures concerning downstream activities, in addition to the 100% already allowed for private investors with respect to gas production ventures, as previously promulgated by the National Assembly.

During the December 2002-February 2003 all-out national strike where managers and skilled highly-paid technicians of PDVSA shut down the plants and left their posts, petroleum production and refining by PDVSA almost ceased. At the same time, many business owners across Venezuela closed down their stores, both actions aimed at ousting Chavez from government. After more than 60 days of getting nowhere the strikle died off, and activities eventually were slowly restarted by returning and substitute oil workers. Out of a total of 45,000 PDVSA management and workers, some 19,000 were subsequently dismissed with no compensation; many of which were managers and highly paid professionals and technicians who thereafter were banned from working in the petroleum industry, even indirectly.

===Manufacturing, agriculture, and trade===
Manufacturing contributed 17% of GDP in 2006. The manufacturing sector continues to increase dramatically at a rate of 26.93% annually. Venezuela manufactures and exports ], ], transport equipment, ]s, ], ]s, and ]s. It produces ], ], ], ], and assembles cars both for domestic and export markets.{{Fact|date=December 2008}}

Agriculture accounts for approximately 3% of GDP, 10% of the labor force, and at least one-fourth of Venezuela's land area. Venezuela exports ], ], ], tropical ], ], ], and ]. The country is not self-sufficient in most areas of ]; Venezuela imports about two-thirds of its food needs. In 2002, U.S. firms exported $347 million worth of agricultural products, including ], corn, ]s, ], ], ]s, ]s, and other items to make Venezuela one of the top two U.S. markets in South America. The United States supplies more than one-third of Venezuela's food imports.{{Fact|date=December 2008}}

Thanks to petroleum exports, Venezuela usually posts a ]. In recent years, nonpetroleum exports have been growing rapidly but still constitute only about one-fourth of total exports. The United States is Venezuela's leading trade partner although Brazil is expected to surpass the U.S. by 2011. During 2002, the United States exported $4.4 billion in goods to Venezuela, making it the 25th-largest market for the U.S. Including petroleum products, Venezuela exported $15.1 billion in goods to the U.S., making it its 14th-largest source of goods.

== Demographics ==
{{main|Demographics of Venezuela|Languages of Venezuela}}
]]]

Venezuela's birth rate is among the highest in South America, after ], ] and ].

Since 1930, Venezuelan census does not contain information about ethnicity so only rough estimates are available. Some 60% of the population are ] defined as a mixture of Europeans and Amerindians, respectively; another 30% are unmixed ], mostly of ], ], ] and ] descent. Two of the main ] tribes located in the country are the ], located in the west, in ], and the ], also in the west, in ], in the ]. Other important groups include Afro-Venezuelans, though their numbers are unclear due to poor census data.<ref name="Afro-Venezuelans">{{cite web |publisher=Venezuela Information Office |year=2007 |title=Afro-Venezuelans and the Struggle to End Racism |url=http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/Afro-Venezuelans.htm |accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref> People from the Asian continent, mainly ] and ], make up a small percentage of the population. About 1% of Venezuelans are ].<ref name="Indigenous Venezelans">{{cite web |publisher=Venezuela Information Office |year=2007 |title=Indigenous Peoples in Venezuela |url=http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/Indigenous.htm |accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref> These groups were joined by sponsored migrants from throughout Europe and neighboring parts of South America by the mid-20th century economic boom.

According to the ''World Refugee Survey 2008'', published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Venezuela hosted a population of ] and asylum seekers from Colombia numbering 252,200 in 2007. 10,600 new asylum seekers entered Venezuela in 2007.<ref name="World Refugee Survey 2008">{{cite news|title=World Refugee Survey 2008|publisher=U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants|date=2008-06-19|url=http://www.refugees.org/survey}}</ref> Between 500,000 and one million ]s are estimated to be living in the Venezuela.<ref>. Source: ''U.S. Library of Congress.''</ref>

About 85% of the population live in urban areas in northern Venezuela; 73% live less than {{convert|100|km|mi|0}} from the coastline.<ref name="WRI_2003b">{{cite web |publisher=World Resources Institute |work=EarthTrends Country Profiles |year=2003 |title=Coastal and Marine Ecosystems—Venezuela |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/coa_cou_862.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref> Though almost half of Venezuela's land area lies south of the Orinoco, only 5% of Venezuelans live there.

The national and official language is ]; 31 indigenous languages are also spoken, including ], ], ], ], and the various ].

According to government estimates, 92% of the population is at least nominally ], and the remaining 8% are ], a member of another religion, or non-religious. The Venezuelan Evangelical Council estimates that ] Protestants constitute 10% of the population.<ref>. United States ] (December 21, 2008)</ref>

==Government==
{{main|Government of Venezuela}}
], official workplace of the ]]]

The Venezuelan president is elected by a vote with direct and ], and functions as both ] and ]. The term of office is six years, and a president may be re-elected an unlimited number of times as of February 15, 2009. The president appoints the vice-president and decides the size and composition of the ] and makes appointments to it with the involvement of the legislature. The president can ask the legislature to reconsider portions of laws he finds objectionable, but a simple parliamentary majority can override these objections.

The ] Venezuelan ] is the ] or ''Asamblea Nacional''. Its 167 deputies, of which three are reserved for indigenous people, serve five-year terms and may be re-elected for a maximum of two additional terms. They are elected by popular vote through a combination of party lists and single member constituencies. The highest ] body is the ] or ''Tribunal Supremo de Justicia'', whose magistrates are elected by parliament for a single twelve-year term. The ] (''Consejo Nacional Electoral'', or ''CNE'') is in charge of electoral processes; it is formed by five main directors elected by the National Assembly.

The voting age in Venezuela is 18 and older. Voting is not ].<ref name="TG">{{cite web |publisher=] |title=Compulsory voting around the world |date=July 4, 2005 |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/apathy/story/0,,1521096,00.html |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref>

=== Politics ===
{{main|Politics of Venezuela}}

There are currently two major blocs of ]: the incumbent leftist bloc ] (PSUV), its major allies ] (PPT) and the ] (PCV), and the opposition bloc led by ] (UNT) together with its allied parties ], ], ] and others. Following the fall of ] in 1958, Venezuelan politics was dominated by the ] ] ] and the center-left ] ] (AD) parties; this ] was formalized by the '']'' arrangement. However, this system has been sidelined following the initial ] of current President Hugo Chávez, which started what he calls the ].

Most of the political opposition boycotted the ]. Consequently, Hugo Chávez's MVR-led bloc secured all 167 seats in the National Assembly. Then, the MVR voted to dissolve itself and join the new ], while Chávez requested that MVR-allied parties merge themselves into it as well. The National Assembly has twice voted to grant Chávez the ability to ] in several broadly defined areas, once in 2000 and again in 2007. This power has been granted to previous administrations as well.<ref name="polar">{{cite web|url=http://www.fpolar.org.ve/Encarte/fasciculo24/fasc2402.html|title=Historia de Venezuela en Imágenes. Capítulo VIII 1973 /1983. La Gran Venezuela|accessdate=2007-01-21|publisher=Fundación Polar|work=La experiencia democrática 1958 / 1998}}{{es icon}}</ref><ref name="globovision20061128">{{cite web|url=http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=43974|title=El tema: Historia democrática venezolana |accessdate=2007-01-21|publisher=]|year=]}}{{es icon}}</ref><ref name="cidob">{{cite web |url=http://www.cidob.org/es/documentacion/biografias_lideres_politicos/america_del_sur/venezuela/ramon_jose_velasquez_mujica |title=Ramón José Velásquez Mújica |accessdate=2007-01-21 |publisher=Centro de Investigación de Relaciones Internacionales y desarrollo |date=]}}{{es icon}}</ref>
Chavez has established alliance with several Latin American countries which have elected leftist governments, such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].

===Public health===
{{seealso|Water supply and sanitation in Venezuela}}

] in Venezuela stood at 16 deaths per 1,000 births in 2004, much lower than the South American average (by comparison, the U.S. stands at 5 deaths per 1,000 births in 2006).<ref></ref><ref name="UNDP_2006">]. . Accessed March 8, 2007.</ref><ref name="WRI_2003c">{{cite web |publisher=World Resources Institute |work=EarthTrends Country Profiles |year=2003 |title=Population, Health, and Human Well-Being—Venezuela |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/pop_cou_862.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref> Child ] (defined as stunting or wasting in children under age five) stands at 17%; Delta Amacuro and Amazonas have the nation's highest rates.<ref>FAO. . Accessed September 20, 2006.</ref> According to the ], 32% of Venezuelans lack adequate sanitation, primarily those living in rural areas.<ref>Unicef. . Accessed September 20, 2006.</ref> Diseases ranging from ], ], ], ], ], and ] are present in the country.<ref> Guardian. Accessed September 20, 2006.</ref>

Venezuela has a total of 150 plants for sewage treatment. However still 13% percent of the population lack access to drinking water but this number seems to be dropping. <ref>http://www.gobiernoenlinea.ve/misc-view/sharedfiles/Metas_Milenio.pdf (Page 65)</ref>

Travelers to Venezuela are advised to obtain vaccinations for a variety of diseases including typhoid, yellow fever, cholera, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis D.<ref> Guardian. Accessed September 20, 2006.</ref> In a cholera epidemic of contemporary times in the Orinoco Delta, Venezuela's political leaders were accused of ] of their own indigenous people to deflect blame from the country's institutions, thereby aggravating the epidemic.<ref></ref>

Venezuela has a national universal health care system that is free of charge. The current government has created a program to expand access to health care known as ].<ref name="Venezuela Information Office">{{cite web |publisher=Venezuela Information Office |year=2007 |title=Health Care for All: Venezuela's Health Missions at Work |url=http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/Healthcare%20for%20All.htm |accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/revista/articles/view/1114|title=Barrio adentro a look at the origins of a social mission|last=Castro|first=Arachu|publisher=''David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University''|year=2008| dateformat = dmy|accessdate=29 January 2009}}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{main|Foreign relations of Venezuela}}

Throughout most of the 20th century, Venezuela maintained friendly relations with most Latin American and Western nations. Relations between Venezuela and the United States government worsened in 2002, after the ] during which the U.S. government recognized the short-lived interim presidency of ]. Correspondingly, ties to various ]n and Middle Eastern countries not allied to the U.S. have strengthened. Venezuela seeks alternative ] integration via such proposals as the ] trade proposal and the newly launched pan-Latin American ] ]. The Venezuelan government has also expressed its support for the Russian position on the ], which United States and its allies strongly oppose. Venezuela was a proponent of ]'s decision to adopt its Anti-Corruption Convention, and is actively working in the ] trade bloc to push increased trade and energy integration. Globally, it seeks a "]" world based on strengthened ties among ] countries.

=== Military ===
{{See also|Military of Venezuela}}

Venezuela's national armed forces include roughly 100,000 personnel spread through four service branches: the ], the Navy of Venezuela Navy (including the Marine Corps), the ], and the Armed Forces of Cooperation (FAC), commonly known as the ]. As of 2008, a further 600,000 soldiers were incorporated into a new branch, known as the Armed Reserve.{{Or|date=June 2008}} The ] is the ] of the national armed forces.

== Animals and plants ==
{{main|Fauna of Venezuela|Flora of Venezuela|National symbols of Venezuela|List of birds of Venezuela}}
]'' (''Tabebuia chrysantha''), Venezuela's national tree.]]
Venezuela lies within the ]; large portions of the country were originally covered by ]. One of seventeen ] and among the top twenty countries in terms of ], some 38% of the over 21,000 plant species are unique to the country; 23% of ] and 50% of ] species are also endemic.<ref name="GFW">{{cite web|title=Venezuela: Overview|publisher=Global Forest Watch|url=http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/venezuela/|accessdate=2007-03-10}}.</ref> Venezuela hosts significant ] across habitats ranging from ] in the extreme northwest to coastal ] forests in the northeast.<ref name="LOC_2005"/> Its ] and lowland ]s are particularly rich, for example hosting over 25,000 species of ]s.<ref>Dydynski & Beech 2004, p. 42</ref> These include the ''flor de mayo'' orchid (''Cattleya mossiae''), the national flower.

] is among the more common of Venezuela's ]s.]]

Venezuela's national tree is the '']'', whose characteristic lushness after the rainy season led novelist ] to name it ''«a primavera de oro de los araguaneyes''» ("the golden spring of the ''araguaneyes''"). Notable ]s include the ], ], and the ], the world's largest ]. More than half of Venezuelan avian and ]ian species are found in the ] south of the Orinoco.<ref name="Bevilacqua_2002">{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Bevilacqua |Given1=M |Surname2=Cardenas |Given2=L |Surname3=Flores |Given3=AL et al. |Year=2002 |Title=State of Venezuela's forests: A case study of the Guayana Region |Journal=World Resources Institute |URL=http://pubs.wri.org/pubs_content_text.cfm?ContentID=1607 |Access-date=March 10, 2007}}.</ref> ]s, ] ]s, and ]s, which have been reported to reach up to {{convert|6.6|m|ft|0}} in length, are notable aquatic species. Venezuela hosts a total of 1,417 bird species, 48 of which are endemic.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lepage|first=Denis|authorlink= |coauthors= |year= |url=http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp?region=ve&pg=checklist&list=clements|title=Checklist of birds of Venezuela|format= |work=Bird Checklists of the World|publisher=Avibase|accessdate=2007-05-04}}</ref> Important birds include ]es, ]s, ]s,{{inote|Dydynski & Beech 2004, p. 42.}} and the yellow-orange ]<!--(''Icterus icterus'')-->, the national bird.

In recent decades, logging, mining, ], development, and other human activities have posed a major threat to Venezuela's wildlife; between 1990 and 2000, 0.40% of forest cover was cleared annually.<ref name="GFW"/> In response, federal protections for critical habitat were implemented; for example, 20% to 33% of forested land is protected.<ref name="Bevilacqua_2002"/> Venezuela is currently home to a ] that is part of the ]; five ] are registered under the ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Peck |first=D |year=2000 |title=The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance: Venezuela |work=The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands |publisher=Ramsar Convention Secretariat |url=http://www.ramsar.org/profile/profiles_venezuela.htm |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref> In 2003, 70% of the nation's land was under conservation management in over 200 protected areas, including 43 national parks.<ref name="WRI_2003a">{{cite web |title=Biodiversity and Protected Areas&mdash;Venezuela |publisher=World Resources Institute |work=EarthTrends Country Profiles |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/bio_cou_862.pdf |format=PDF|year=2003 |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref>

<gallery>
Image:La Galera.jpg|La Galera beach in ]
Image:SaltoAngel1.jpg|], the tallest waterfall in the world

Image:Playa Medina.jpg|]
Image:Carlosarvelo.jpg|]
Image:Canaima watervallen.jpg|] has ] geological formations that rank among the world's oldest.
File:Atardecer en los Llanos de Guárico.jpg|]
File:Campo de Mérida.JPG|The countryside in ]

</gallery>

== Culture ==
{{main|Culture of Venezuela|Heritage of Venezuela|Music of Venezuela}}
]]]
] in ]]]
]]]
Venezuela's ], ], and culture have been heavily influenced by the ] context. These elements extend to its historic buildings, architecture,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/658 |title=Coro and its Port |publisher=] World Heritage Centre |year=1993}}</ref> art,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/986 |year=2000 |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref> landscape, boundaries, and monuments. ] has been shaped by ], ] and African influences. Before this period, indigenous culture was expressed in art (]s), ]s, architecture ('']s''), and social organization. Aboriginal culture was subsequently assimilated by Spaniards; over the years, the hybrid culture had diversified by region.

] was initially dominated by religious motifs but began emphasizing historical and heroic representations in the late 19th century, a move led by ]. ] took over in the 20th century. Notable ] include ], ], ], ]; the ]ists ] and ]; and contemporary artist ].

] originated soon after the Spanish conquest of the mostly pre-literate indigenous societies; it was dominated by ]. Following the rise of political literature during the War of Independence, Venezuelan ], notably expounded by Juan Vicente González, emerged as the first important genre in the region. Although mainly focused on ] writing, Venezuelan literature was advanced by poets such as ] and Fermín Toro. Major writers and novelists include ], ], ], ], ], and ]. The great poet and humanist ] was also an educator and intellectual. Others, such as ] and ], contributed to Venezuelan ].

] was the most important Venezuelan architect of the modern era; he designed the ], (a ]) and its Aula Magna. Other notable architectural works include the Capitolio, the ], the ], and the ].


] holds the record of highest finish for a female driver in the ].]]

Indigenous ] are exemplified by the groups Un Solo Pueblo and ]. The national musical instrument is the ]. Typical musical styles and pieces mainly emerged in and around the ''llanos'' region, including '']'' (by ] and ]), ''Florentino y el Diablo'' (by ]), ''Concierto en la Llanura'' by ], and '']'' (by ]). The Zulian '']'' is also a popular style, generally performed during Christmas. The national dance is the '']''. ] was a world-famous 19th century piano virtuosa. In the last years, Classical Music has had great performances. The ] has realized excellent presentations in many European concert halls, notably at the 2007 ], and has received honors of the public.

] is Venezuela's most popular sport, although ], spearheaded by the ], is gaining influence.

Venezuela is well-known for its successions in beauty pageants. ] is a big event in the country, and Venezuela has received 5 ], 6 ] and 5 ] titles.

The ] has consistently shown Venezuelans to be among the happiest people in the world, with 55% of those questioned saying they were "very happy".<ref name="WVS">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_hap_lev_ver_hap-lifestyle-happiness-level-very-happy|title=Happiness Statistics By Country|accessdate=2007-06-21|publisher=Nationmaster.com}}</ref>{{clear}}

== Etymology ==
]]]

The name "Venezuela" is believed to have originated from ] who, along with ], led a 1499 naval expedition along the northwestern coast's ]. On reaching the ], the crew observed villages ('']s'') that the people had built over the water. This reminded Vespucci of the city of ] ({{lang-it|Venezia}}), so he named the region "''Venezuola''",<ref name="Dydynski_Beech_2004_177">{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Dydynski |Given1=K |Surname2=Beech |Given2=C |Year=2004 |Title=Venezuela |Publisher=Lonely Planet |ID=ISBN 1-74104-197-X |URL=http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN174104197X&id=JDdb1alDGYIC |Access-date=March 10, 2007}}. p. 177.</ref> meaning "little Venice" in Italian. In Spanish, the ] ''-zuela'' is used as a ] term (e.g., ''plaza / plazuela'', ''cazo / cazuela''); thus, the term's original sense would have been that of a "]".<ref name="Thomas_2005_189">{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Hugh|year=2005|title=Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan|publisher=Random House|isbn=0-37550-204-1|pages=189}}</ref>

], a member of the Vespucci and Ojeda's crew, states in his work ''Summa de Geografía'' that the indigenous population they found were called "''Veneciuela''", suggesting that the name "Venezuela" may have evolved from a native word.<ref name="ICH_1958_386"> {{cite journal|year=1958|title= Cuadernos Hispanoamericanos|publisher=Instituto de Cultura Hispánica (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional)|pages=386|language=Spanish}} </ref> The Vespucci story, however, remains the most popular and accepted version of the origin of the country's name.

==See also==
{{portal|Venezuela|Flag of Venezuela.svg}}
{{main|Outline of Venezuela}}

* ]
{{clear}}
<!-- Please place links to all topics directly related to Venezuela in the ] -->

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Venezuela}}
* (in Spanish)
* {{wikitravel|Venezuela}}
**
*{{CIA World Factbook link|ve|Venezuela}}
* at ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
*{{dmoz|Regional/South_America/Venezuela/}}
* at ]
* from the ] (1990)
*

{{Template group
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{{Administrative divisions of Venezuela}}
{{Venezuela topics}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Venezuela}}
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{{Countries of South America}}
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{{Template group
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{{Latin Union}}
{{Union of South American Nations (Unasur\Unasul)}}
{{Andean Community of Nations}}
{{Mercosur\Mercosul (Southern Common Market)}}
{{Organization of American States (OAS)}}
{{G15 nations}}
{{Arab League}}
}}

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Revision as of 15:35, 27 August 2009

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