Venezuela at a glance
Venezuela lies on the northern coast of South America, on the Caribbean Sea. It has the world's largest proven crude oil reserves and is a founding member of OPEC.
| Official name | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela |
|---|---|
| Area | 916,445 sq. km |
| Political divisions | Federal republic of 23 states, a Capital District and 72 island Federal Dependencies in the Caribbean Sea |
| Population | 29,789,736 (2022, World Bank) |
| Capital | Caracas (about 5 million inhabitants, 2020) |
| Other main cities | Valencia, Maracaibo, Barquisimeto, Ciudad Guayana and Mérida |
| Language | Spanish |
| Ethnic groups | Mestizo 51%, White 43%, Afro-descendant 3.6%, Indigenous 2%, others 0.4% |
| Religion | Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 10%, others 2% |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (9 hours 30 minutes behind India) |
| System of government | Participatory democracy with a presidential system |
| Head of State | [To be updated by the Embassy] |
| Vice President | [To be updated by the Embassy] |
| International calling code | +58 |
Economy
| Currency | Bolívar (Bs.) |
|---|---|
| GDP growth | 9.32% (first quarter of 2025, BCV) |
| GDP by sector | Agriculture 4.7%, industry 40.4%, services 54.9% |
| Inflation | 85% (December 2024) |
| GDP (PPP), per capita income, forex reserves | [To be updated by the Embassy] |
| Proven crude oil reserves | 303.008 billion barrels (2024, OPEC) |
| Oil production | 921,000 barrels per day (December 2024, OPEC) |
| Proven gas reserves | [To be updated by the Embassy] |
| Mineral resources | Aluminium, coal, iron, bauxite, gold and diamonds |
| Main exports | Petroleum and derivatives, scrap metal, acyclic alcohols and fertilisers |
| Main export destinations | United States, China, Spain, Brazil, Türkiye, India and Colombia |
| Main imports | Refined petroleum, soybean meal, maize, broadcasting equipment and cars |
National symbols
| National bird | Turpial (Venezuelan troupial) |
|---|---|
| National flower | Orchid (Cattleya mossiae) |
| National tree | Araguaney (Tabebuia chrysantha) |
Membership of international organisations
Venezuela is a member of the United Nations and its agencies, OPEC, the Non-Aligned Movement, G-15, G-77, CELAC, the Organization of American States, the World Trade Organization and the Latin American Integration Association, among others.
Source: Fact sheet on Venezuela, Embassy of India, Caracas (June 2025), based on INE, BCV, OPEC and World Bank data.