Polity · 1834 CE – present
Venezuela
Also recorded as Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- Peak recorded area
- 937,126 km²
- 1900 CE
- Rulers on record
- 49
- from 1812 CE
- Data series
- 411
- 1834 CE–2025 CE
Overview
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and various islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It comprises an area of 912,050 km2 (352,140 sq mi), with a population estimated at 31.8 million in 2025. The capital and largest urban agglomeration is Caracas.
Lead section from Wikipedia, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article.
Territory
6 dated territorial extents on record from Cliopatria. Areas are measured off the recorded polygons; the line steps because each extent holds until the next one is recorded — nothing is interpolated. CShapes 2.0 holds 1 further extent, measured on a different basis and deliberately not merged into this series.
The record
The best-attested series in each category; where several projects publish the same quantity, the one with the most observations is shown. Each row is the most recent value the record holds at or before the last complete year, shown with the year that value belongs to. Some statistical series also publish forward projections — the year column is the honest guide. Nothing on this page is interpolated or estimated by us.
People
6 of 62 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Population297 obs · 1820 CE–2025 CE | 28.5Mpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Urban Population176 obs · 1841 CE–2016 CE | 14.4Mpersons2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Life Expectancy165 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 72.84years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Net Migration141 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | -100.5Kpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Population Growth141 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 0.398% annual2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy Female140 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 76.82years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
Economy
6 of 154 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| GDP per capita PPP196 obs · 1824 CE–2019 CE | 16.4Kint'l $ (inflation adj.)2019 CE · Gapminder |
| GDP per capita195 obs · 1800 CE–2022 CE | 5,267.182011 int'l $2022 CE · Maddison Project Database 2023 |
| Total Exports145 obs · 1870 CE–2014 CE | 79.2Kmillion USD (current)2014 CE · CoW Bilateral Trade v4.0 |
| Total Imports145 obs · 1870 CE–2014 CE | 43.7Kmillion USD (current)2014 CE · CoW Bilateral Trade v4.0 |
| Trade Balance145 obs · 1870 CE–2014 CE | 35.5Kmillion USD (current)2014 CE · CoW Bilateral Trade v4.0 |
| Trade Openness145 obs · 1870 CE–2014 CE | 122.9Kmillion USD (current)2014 CE · CoW Bilateral Trade v4.0 |
Military
6 of 67 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| CINC Score176 obs · 1841 CE–2016 CE | 0.0038CINC (share of world capability)2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Energy Consumption176 obs · 1841 CE–2016 CE | 109.2Mcoal-ton equivalents2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Iron Steel Production176 obs · 1841 CE–2016 CE | 553Ktons2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Military Personnel160 obs · 1857 CE–2016 CE | 115Kpersons2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Military Expenditure % GDP133 obs · 1955 CE–2023 CE | 0.5007% of GDP2023 CE · SIPRI Military Expenditure Database |
| Military Expenditure103 obs · 1914 CE–2016 CE | 1.4Bcurrent USD2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
Territory & resources
6 of 42 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Arable Land %126 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 2.95% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Coal Production125 obs · 1900 CE–2024 CE | 1.85TWh2024 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Gas Production125 obs · 1900 CE–2024 CE | 317.31TWh2024 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Oil Production125 obs · 1900 CE–2024 CE | 576.01TWh2024 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Forest Area %68 obs · 1990 CE–2023 CE | 52.23% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Agricultural Land %63 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 24.38%2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
Governance
6 of 30 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Electoral Democracy Index195 obs · 1830 CE–2024 CE | 0.197index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Liberal Democracy Index195 obs · 1830 CE–2024 CE | 0.049index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Participatory Democracy Index195 obs · 1830 CE–2024 CE | 0.161index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Rule Of Law Index195 obs · 1830 CE–2024 CE | 0.01index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Polity2183 obs · 1830 CE–2012 CE | -3index (-10 to 10)2012 CE · Clio-Infra |
| Regime Type125 obs · 1900 CE–2024 CE | 1RoW index (0-3)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
Development
6 of 56 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Freedom Of Expression Index195 obs · 1830 CE–2024 CE | 0.223index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Tech Radios140 obs · 1830 CE–1999 CE | 11.3Kcount1999 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Railway Line Km128 obs · 1870 CE–1999 CE | 627km1999 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Merchant Shipping Tonnage102 obs · 1888 CE–1998 CE | 705gross tons1998 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Passenger Cars73 obs · 1928 CE–2001 CE | 1.4Mcount2001 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Commercial Vehicles69 obs · 1928 CE–2001 CE | 1,108count2001 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
Rulers
49 on record with dated reigns. Reign years follow the house convention: BCE years are negative.
- Francisco Javier UstárizPresident of Venezuela1812 CE
- Simón BolívarPresident of Venezuela1813 CE – 1814 CE
- José Antonio PáezPresident of Venezuela1830 CE – 1835 CE
- Andrés NarvartePresident of Venezuela1835 CE
- José María CarreñoPresident of Venezuela1835 CE
- Carlos SoublettePresident of Venezuela1837 CE – 1839 CE
- Julián CastroPresident of Venezuela1858 CE – 1859 CE
- Pedro José Ramón Gual EscandónPresident of Venezuela1858 CE
- Manuel Felipe de TovarPresident of Venezuela1859 CE – 1861 CE
- Juan Crisóstomo FalcónPresident of Venezuela1863 CE – 1868 CE
- Guillermo Tell VillegasPresident of Venezuela1868 CE – 1869 CE
- Manuel Ezequiel BruzualPresident of Venezuela1868 CE
- Antonio José Leocadio Ramón de La Trinidad y María Guzmán BlancoPresident of Venezuela1870 CE – 1877 CE
- Francisco Linares AlcántaraPresident of Venezuela1877 CE – 1878 CE
- Joaquín CrespoPresident of Venezuela1884 CE – 1886 CE
- Hermógenes LópezPresident of Venezuela1887 CE – 1888 CE
- Guillermo Tell Villegas PulidoPresident of Venezuela1892 CE
- Juan Vicente GómezPresident of Venezuela1908 CE – 1913 CE
- José Gil FortoulPresident of Venezuela1913 CE – 1914 CE
- Juan Bautista PérezPresident of Venezuela1929 CE – 1931 CE
- Eleazar Lopez ContrerasPresident of Venezuela1935 CE – 1941 CE
- Isaías Medina AngaritaPresident of Venezuela1941 CE – 1945 CE
- Rómulo BetancourtPresident of Venezuela1945 CE – 1948 CE
- Carlos Delgado ChalbaudPresident of Venezuela1948 CE – 1950 CE
- Rómulo GallegosPresident of Venezuela1948 CE
- Germán Suárez FlamerichPresident of Venezuela1950 CE – 1952 CE
- Marcos Pérez JiménezPresident of Venezuela1953 CE – 1958 CE
- Raúl LeoniPresident of Venezuela1964 CE – 1969 CE
- Carlos Andrés PérezPresident of Venezuela1974 CE – 1979 CE
- Luis Herrera CampinsPresident of Venezuela1979 CE – 1984 CE
- Jaime LusinchiPresident of Venezuela1984 CE – 1989 CE
- Octavio LepagePresident of Venezuela1993 CE – 1994 CE
- Ramón José VelásquezPresident of Venezuela1993 CE – 1994 CE
- Rafael CalderaPresident of Venezuela1994 CE – 1999 CE
- Hugo ChávezPresident of Venezuela1999 CE – 2013 CE
- Adina BastidasVice President of Venezuela2000 CE – 2002 CE
- Isaías RodríguezVice President of Venezuela2000 CE
- Diosdado CabelloPresident of Venezuela2002 CE
- Diosdado CabelloVice President of Venezuela2002 CE
- José Vicente RangelVice President of Venezuela2002 CE – 2007 CE
- Pedro CarmonaPresident of Venezuela2002 CE
- Elías JauaVice President of Venezuela2010 CE – 2012 CE
- Nicolás MaduroVice President of Venezuela2012 CE – 2013 CE
- Jorge ArreazaVice President of Venezuela2013 CE – 2016 CE
- Nicolás MaduroPresident of Venezuela2013 CE – 2026 CE
- Aristóbulo IztúrizVice President of Venezuela2016 CE – 2017 CE
- Delcy RodríguezVice President of Venezuela2018 CE – 2026 CE
- Juan GuaidóPresident of Venezuela2019 CE – 2023 CE
- Delcy RodríguezHead of State2026 CE –
Language & currency
- Official & national languages
- Spanish, Venezuelan Sign Language
- Currency
- sovereign bolivar (VES), hard bolívar (VEF), bolívar (VEB)
Memberships
- 21-member Entente (1936)Historical alliance · member1936 CE – 1945 CE
- Colombia–Venezuela Non-Aggression Pact (1939)Historical alliance · member1939 CE –
- United NationsUNInternational organisation · founding member1945 CE –
- 20-member Defense Pact (1945)Military alliance · member1945 CE – 1947 CE
- 35-member Defense Pact (1947)Military alliance · member1947 CE –
- OPECOPECEconomic bloc · founding member1960 CE –
- MercosurMERCOSUREconomic bloc · member2012 CE –
Sources
Every figure above comes from one of these. Nothing on this page is estimated, interpolated or model-generated.
CHAT (Comin-Hobijn)2009 (FinalCHAT_72909)
Comin, D. & Hobijn, B. (2009). The CHAT Dataset. NBER Working Paper 15319.
NBER research data, freely downloadable
Clio-Infra2017 datasets
Clio-Infra project (2017). Reconstructions of global inequality and well-being. International Institute of Social History.
Academic use, attribution
Seshat Global History Databank. Cliopatria: a historical basemap of polity borders (cliopatria.geojson).
Correlates of War NMC v6.0v6.0
Singer, J.D. (1987). National Material Capabilities Data (NMC), v6.0. Correlates of War Project.
Free academic use, citation
Barbieri, K. & Keshk, O. (2016). Correlates of War Project Trade Data Set, v4.0.
Free academic use, citation
Gapminderv14 / systema globalis
Gapminder Foundation. Gapminder systema globalis dataset.
CC BY 4.0
Maddison Project Database 20232023
Bolt, J. & van Zanden, J.L. (2024). Maddison Project Database 2023. University of Groningen GGDC.
CC BY 4.0
Our World in Data (2024). Energy dataset. Based on Energy Institute & Ember.
CC BY 4.0
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database2024
SIPRI (2024). Military Expenditure Database.
Free for non-commercial use, attribution
UN World Population Prospects 20242024
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
CC BY 3.0 IGO
V-Dem v15v15
Coppedge, M. et al. (2025). V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v15. Varieties of Democracy Project.
Free academic/non-commercial use, attribution
Wikipedia contributors. Article lead sections, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
World Bank World Development Indicators2024 release
World Bank (2024). World Development Indicators. Washington, DC.
CC BY 4.0
Venezuela is one of the polities with a sourced record deep enough to publish.