Moving to Venezuela: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

31,250,306

Population Growth Rate

2.34%

Population Distribution

most of the population is concentrated in the northern and western highlands along an eastern spur at the northern end of the Andes, an area that includes the capital of Caracas

Urban Population

• population: 88.4% of total population (2023) rate of
• urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change

Population in Major Urban Areas

2.972 million CARACAS (capital), 2.368 million Maracaibo, 1.983 million Valencia, 1.254 million Barquisimeto, 1.243 million Maracay, 964,000 Ciudad Guayana

Population: Male/Female

• male: 15,555,451
• female: 15,694,855

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Age Structure

• years: 25% (male 3,987,361/female 3,811,307) 15-64
• years: 65.9% (male 10,264,353/female 10,330,376) 65 years and
• over: 9.1% (male 1,303,737/female 1,553,172)

Median Age

• total: 31 years
• male: 30.3 years
• female: 31.7 years

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

17

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

6.5

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

2.18

Gross reproduction rate

1

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

75%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

75%

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.5%

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

• birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14
• years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64
• years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and
• over: 0.84 male(s)/female total
• population: 0.99 male(s)/female

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Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

13.2

Demographic profile

Venezuela’s ongoing socio-economic, political, and human rights crises have resulted in widespread poverty and food insecurity and have devastated the country’s healthcare system.

According to a 2018 national hospital survey, many hospitals were unable to provide basic services, and 20% of operating rooms and intensive care units were non-functional.

Hospitals reported shortages in water (79%), medicines (88%), and surgical supplies (79%).

The poor conditions in healthcare facilities have motivated many doctors and other health professionals to emigrate, resulting in shortages of specialists, particularly in emergency care.

The scarcity of medicines, vaccines, medical supplies, and mosquito controls is leading to a rise in infectious diseases.

Tuberculosis cases jumped by 68% between 2014 and 2017, and malaria rates had the largest rise in the world from 2016 to 2017 at 69%.

Diptheria, which had been eradicated in the country in 1999, re-emerged in 2016, and new cases have surfaced in 2023.

Infectious disease outbreaks, such as measles and malaria, have crossed into neighboring countries.

Infant mortality, which had been decreasing since the 1950s, has been on the rise since 2009.

Between 2015 and 2016, infant deaths increased 30%, while maternal mortality increased 65%.

As of November 2023, more than 7.7 million Venezuelan migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers had been reported by host governments, with approximately 85% relocating in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Colombia has been the largest recipient, accommodating almost 2.5 million as of February 2022, followed by Peru and Ecuador.

As of June 2022, almost 212,000 of the refugees and close to 1.04 million of the asylum seekers were recognized by national authorities.

An additional 4.3 million Venezuelans have been granted residence permits or other types of regular stay arrangements, as of March 2023.

The initial wave of migrants were highly educated professionals.

These were followed by university-educated young people.

As the economy collapsed in 2017-2018, Venezuelan migrants have been less-educated and from low-income households.

Ethnic Groups

unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous

Language Note

Spanish (official) 98.2%, indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4%

Nationality Noun

• noun: Venezuelan(s)
• adjective: Venezuelan

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Literacy - total population

97.5%

Literacy - male

97.4%

Literacy - female

97.7%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

1.3%

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Life Expectancy at Birth

• population: 74.5 years
• male: 71.5 years
• female: 77.7 years

Infant Mortality Rate

• total: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

• total: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

259

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

1.73

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

.9

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

3.8%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

• risk: high food or waterborne
• diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne
• diseases: dengue fever and malaria

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.6%

Alcohol consumption per capita

• total: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol
• beer: 1.54 liters of pure alcohol
• wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol
• spirits: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol other
• alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: NA
• rural: NA
• total: 94.2% of population
• unimproved: urban: NA
• rural: NA
• total: 5.8% of population

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: NA
• rural: NA
• total: 95.8% of population
• unimproved: urban: NA
• rural: NA
• total: 4.2% of population

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Economic Overview

Venezuela, a country located in South America, has been grappling with an economic crisis for years.

The situation has been deteriorating since 2014 when oil prices collapsed, and the government was unable to manage the economy.

Since then, the country has experienced hyperinflation, scarcity of basic goods, and an exodus of millions of its citizens.

In this article, we will examine the current state of the economy in Venezuela and the factors contributing to its current state.

The root of Venezuela's economic crisis can be traced back to its heavy reliance on oil exports.

The country possesses the world's largest oil reserves, and the government relies heavily on oil revenues to fund its social programs and infrastructure development.

However, the collapse of oil prices in 2014, coupled with the country's inefficient management of its oil industry, led to a drastic reduction in government revenues.

This left the government unable to fund its social programs, pay off its debt, or even import basic goods such as food and medicine.

As a result, the country has experienced hyperinflation, with prices doubling every few weeks.

The IMF estimated that inflation in Venezuela reached 1,199,000% in 2018, making the local currency virtually worthless.

The government has been printing money to finance its spending, leading to an increase in the money supply, and ultimately, inflation.

The devaluation of the local currency has also made it difficult for businesses to operate, as they struggle to access foreign currency to import raw materials and equipment.

The scarcity of basic goods has also been a significant challenge for Venezuelans.

With the collapse of the local currency, businesses have been unable to import goods, leading to empty shelves in supermarkets and long queues for basic necessities.

The government has tried to address this issue by implementing price controls, but this has only led to the creation of black markets, where goods are sold at exorbitant prices.

The exodus of millions of Venezuelans is another significant consequence of the economic crisis.

As the situation worsens, more and more people are leaving the country in search of better economic opportunities and basic necessities.

According to the UN, over five million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014, making it one of the largest migrations in recent history.

The government's response to the economic crisis has been largely ineffective.

It has continued to print money to finance its spending, leading to further inflation and devaluation of the local currency.

The government has also implemented policies such as price controls and nationalizations, which have only exacerbated the scarcity of goods and deterred foreign investment.

Industries

petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,100.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-10%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$269,068,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$16,100.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-10%

GDP - official exchange rate

$131,900,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 67.9% government
• consumption: 23.1% investment in fixed
• capital: 7.1% investment in
• inventories: 3.3% exports of goods and
• services: 6% imports of goods and
• services: -7.4%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

3.9%

GDP by Sector- Industry

32.9%

GDP by Sector- services

63.2%

Industrial Growth Rate

-8%

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Inflation Rate

29.8%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

Venezuelan bolivar (VEB)

Currency Name and Code

Venezuelan Bolivar (VEF)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

18%

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Labor Force

13,300,000

Unemployment Rate

12.1%

Major Industries

petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly

Agriculture Products

• corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee
• beef, pork, milk, eggs
• fish

Population Below Poverty Line

37.9%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

404,092

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

8%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

7.3%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

21.8%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

70.9%

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Annual Budget

$50,120,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

32%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-9.8%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

28.1%

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Full Country Name

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Country Name

Venezuela

Local - Long

República Bolivariana de Venezuela

Local - Short

Venezuela

Former Name

State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela

Etymology- history of name

native stilt-houses built on Lake Maracaibo reminded early explorers Alonso de OJEDA and Amerigo VESPUCCI in 1499 of buildings in Venice and so they named the region "Venezuola," which in Italian means "Little Venice"

Independence

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

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Government Type

federal presidential republic

Constitution

• history: many previous; latest adopted 15 December 1999, effective 30 December 1999
• amendments: proposed through agreement by at least 39% of the National Assembly membership, by the president of the republic in session with the cabinet of ministers, or by petition of at least 15% of registered voters; passage requires simple majority vote by the Assembly and simple majority approval in a referendum; amended 2009; note - in 2016, President MADURO issued a decree to hold an election to form a constituent assembly to change the constitution; the election in July 2017 approved the formation of a 545-member constituent assembly and elected its delegates, empowering them to change the constitution and dismiss government institutions and officials

Legal System:

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2025)
• head of government: Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2025)
• cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment
• process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits) most recent election
• date: 28 July 2024
• election results: 2024: official results disputed; Nicolas MADURO Moros was declared the winner by the MADURO-controlled National Electoral Council; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 52%, Edmundo GONZÁLEZ Urrutia (Independent) 43.2%, Luis Eduardo MARTÍNEZ (AD) 1.2%, other 3.6% 2018: Nicolas MADURO Moros reelected president; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 67.9%, Henri FALCON (AP) 20.9%, Javier BERTUCCI 10.8% expected date of next
• election: unknown note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government note 2: in January 2026, the United States removed Nicolas MADURO Moros from his position as leader; Interim President RODRÍGUEZ has been sworn in and is expected to remain during a transition period note 3: the United States did not recognize Nicolas MADURO Moros as president of Venezuela; the United States recognized that Edmundo GONZÁLEZ won the most votes in the 28 July 2024 presidential election because of overwhelming evidence, including more than 80% of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations that indicated GONZÁLEZ received the most votes by an insurmountable margin

Legislative Branch:

• legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 277 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of
• Elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 12/6/2020 percentage of women in chamber: 32.1% expected date of next election: May 2025
• Note: in 2020, the National Electoral Council increased the number of seats in the National Assembly from 167 to 277 for the December 2020 election

Judicial Branch:

• office: judges proposed by the Committee of Judicial Postulation (an independent body of organizations dealing with legal issues and of the organs of citizen power) and appointed by the National Assembly; judges serve nonrenewable 12-year terms; note - in July 2017, the National Assembly named 33 judges to the court to replace a series of judges, it argued, had been illegally appointed in late 2015 by the outgoing, socialist-party-led Assembly; MADURO and the Socialist Party-appointed judges refused to recognize these appointments, however, and many of the new judges have since been imprisoned or forced into exile
• subordinate courts: Superior or Appeals Courts (Tribunales Superiores); District Tribunals (Tribunales de Distrito); Courts of First Instance (Tribunales de Primera Instancia); Parish Courts (Tribunales de Parroquia); Justices of the Peace (Justicia de Paz) Network

Regions or States:

23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies), Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guarico, La Guaira, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Political Parties and Leaders:

• A New Era (Un Nuevo Tiempo) or UNT Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC Christian Democrats or COPEI (also known as the Social Christian Party) Citizens Encounter or EC Clear Accounts or CC Coalition of parties loyal to Nicolas MADURO - Great Patriotic Pole or GPP Coalition of opposition parties - Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democratica) (includes AD, EL CAMBIO, COPEI, CMC, and AP) Come Venezuela (Vente Venezuela) or VV Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV Consenso en la Zona or Conenzo Convergencia Democratic Action or AD Fatherland for All (Patria para Todos) or PPT Fearless People's Alliance or ABP Fuerza Vecinal or FV Hope for Change (Esperanza por el Cambio) or EL CAMBIO Justice First (Primero Justicia) or PJ LAPIZ Movement to Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo) or MAS Popular Will (Voluntad Popular) or VP Progressive Advance (Avanzada Progresista) or AP The Radical Cause or La Causa R United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV Venezuela First (Primero Venezuela) or PV Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV Venezuela Project or PV

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: yes citizenship by descent
• only: yes dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 10 years; reduced to five years in the case of applicants from Spain, Portugal, Italy, or a Latin American or Caribbean country

Capital Name

Caracas

Capital - geographic coordinate

10 29 N, 66 52 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• Caricom (observer)
• CD
• CDB
• CELAC
• FAO
• G-15
• G-24
• G-77
• IADB
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (national committees)
• ICCt (signatory)
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IHO
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• IMSO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• LAES
• LAIA
• LAS (observer)
• MIGA
• NAM
• OAS
• OPANAL
• OPCW
• OPEC
• PCA
• Petrocaribe
• UN
• UNASUR
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHCR
• UNHRC
• UNIDO
• Union Latina
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCT jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025); note - serves as the chief of mission of the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located in the US Embassy, Bogota
• Embassy: Venezuela Affairs Unit, US Embassy, Carrera 45 N. 24B-27, Bogota, Colombia
• Mailing Address: 3140 Caracas Place, Washington DC 20521-3140
• Telephone: 1-888-407-4747
• Email: ACSBogota@state.gov
• Website: https://ve.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• none
• Note: the embassy, which had been run by the Venezuelan political opposition, announced on 5 January 2023, that it had ended all embassy functions

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Geographic Location

South America

Geographic Coordinates

8 00 N, 66 00 W

Total Area

352,143 Square Miles 912,050 Square Kilometers

Land Area

340,560 Square Miles 882,050 Square Kilometers

Water Area

11,583 Square Miles 30,000 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

3,103 Miles 4,993 Kilometers

Border Countries

Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Coastline

1,740 Miles 2,800 Kilometers

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Terrain

• Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest
• central plains (llanos)
• Guiana Highlands in southeast

Highest Point

5,007 Meters

Highest Point Location

Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Lowest Point Location

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Irrigated Land

4,073 Square Miles 10,550 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain

• Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest
• central plains (llanos)
• Guiana Highlands in southeast

Location

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Total Area

352,143 Square Miles 912,050 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Environment - Current Issues

• sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia
• oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo
• deforestation
• soil degradation
• urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast
• threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$64,870,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$31,370,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures

Major Imports

raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials

Top Export Partners

US 45.1%, Netherlands Antilles 12.8%, Dominican Republic 2.8%

Top Import Partners

US 32.1%, Colombia 8%, Brazil 6.2%, Germany 4.6%, Mexico 4.4%, Italy 4.1%

Export Partners

US 45.1%, Netherlands Antilles 12.8%, Dominican Republic 2.8%

Import Partners

US 32.1%, Colombia 8%, Brazil 6.2%, Germany 4.6%, Mexico 4.4%, Italy 4.1%

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Country Description

Venezuela is a medium-income country with a large and important petroleum sector.

Venezuela’s political leadership maintains an anti-U.S. government discourse, and its political climate is highly polarized and fluid.

Violent crime is a serious problem, and the capital city of Caracas has one of the highest per capita homicide rates in the world.

Kidnappings, assaults, and robberies occur throughout the country; no areas are safe.

Scheduled air service and all-weather roads connect major cities and most regions of the country.

Venezuela’s tourism infrastructure varies in quality according to location and price.

Safety & Security

Violent crime in Venezuela is pervasive, both in the capital, Caracas, and in the interior.

The country’s overall per capita murder rate is cited as one of the top five in the world.

According to the non-governmental organization, Venezuelan Violence Observatory (VVO), there were 21,692 homicides in 2012, a rate of 73 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, among the highest in the region.

This number is up from VVO’s reported rate of 67 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2011.

In Caracas, the rates were even higher, with VVO reporting a rate of 122 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in the Capital District.

According to the Venezuelan National Counter Kidnapping Commission official statistics have shown alarming increases in reported kidnappings throughout the country since the commission's founding in 2006.

According to Venezuelan government statistics, 583 kidnappings were officially reported to officials.

Police sources indicate that as many as 80% of kidnappings go unreported, meaning that the official figure of 583 kidnappings in 2012 is likely much lower than actual numbers.

Armed robberies take place throughout Caracas and other cities, including in areas generally presumed safe and frequented by tourists.

Well-armed criminal gangs operate widely, often setting up fake police checkpoints.

Only a very small percentage of crimes results in trials and convictions.

VVO estimates that less than 10% of homicides result in prosecutions.

It names impunity as one of the major factors for the increase in crime.

Maiquetía International Airport: Travel to and from Maiquetía Airport, the international airport serving Caracas, can be dangerous.

Both arriving and departing travelers, including foreigners, have been victims of personal property theft and muggings in the airport.

The Embassy has received multiple, credible reports that individuals wearing what appear to be official uniforms or other credentials are involved in facilitating or perpetrating these crimes.

For this reason, U.S. citizen travelers should be wary of all strangers, even those in official uniform or carrying official identification, and should not pack valuable items or documents in checked luggage.

Valuable documents and personal items should be kept in carry-on luggage; numerous travelers have reported valuable gifts and other items being stolen from their checked luggage, especially around the holiday season.

The Embassy has also received several, credible reports of victims of “express kidnappings” occurring at the door of the airport, in which individuals are kidnapped and taken to make purchases or to withdraw as much money as possible from ATMs, often at gunpoint.

Furthermore, there are known drug trafficking groups working from the airport.

Travelers should not accept packages from anyone and should keep their luggage with them at all times.

The Embassy also has received reports of uniformed airport officials attempting to extort money from travelers, including U.S. citizens, as they go through the normal check-in and boarding process for departing flights.

Other information provided by U.S. citizens and U.S. government officials indicates that uniformed individuals have approached travelers immediately upon entering the terminal when exiting Venezuela through Maiquetía Airport.

These uniformed individuals reportedly may ask travelers where they are traveling and then escort them to a separate area to inspect their bags for illegal drugs or money.

In certain cases U.S. citizens have reported that they were forced to sign documents in Spanish that they did not understand.

Travelers should not sign documents that they do not understand, but if they feel they must, they should sign “I do not understand this document” or “I cannot read the above statement” as part of their signature.

The road between Maiquetía Airport and Caracas is particularly dangerous.

Visitors traveling this route at night have been kidnapped and held captive for ransom in roadside huts that line th

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Crime

Venezuela and its capital, Caracas, have among the highest per capita murder rates in the world.

According to the VVO, a rate of 122 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in the Capital District and a rate of 100 per 100,000 inhabitants in the state of Miranda, which incorporates most of the greater Caracas metropolitan area, were recorded in 2012.As noted above, the vast majority of murders and other violent crimes go unsolved.

Armed criminal gangs often operate with impunity throughout the urban areas.

Poor neighborhoods that cover the hills around Caracas are extremely dangerous.

These "barrios" are seldom patrolled by police and should be avoided.

They are off limits to U.S.

Embassy employees.Armed robberies are common in urban and tourist areas throughout Venezuela, even areas presumed safe and visited by tourists.

Crimes committed against travelers are usually economic crimes, such as theft and armed robbery.

Incidents occur during daylight hours as well as at night.

Many criminals are armed with guns or knives and will use force.

Jewelry of all sorts, even inexpensive but flashy jewelry, and expensive electronics attract the attention of thieves.

Travelers are advised to leave jewelry items, including expensive-looking wristwatches, at home.

Gangs of thieves will often surround their victims and use a chokehold to disable them, even in crowded market areas where there is little or no police presence.

Theft from hotel rooms and safe deposit boxes is a problem, and theft of unattended valuables on the beach and from cars parked near isolated areas or on city streets is a common occurrence.

A guarded garage or locked trunk is not a guarantee against theft.

Pickpockets concentrate in and around crowded bus and subway stations in downtown Caracas.

Subway escalators are favored sites for "bump and rob" petty thefts by roving bands of young criminals.

Many of these criminals are well dressed to allay suspicion and to blend in with crowds using the subways during rush hour.

Travelers should not display money or valuables.

Kidnappings: Kidnappings, including "express kidnappings" in which victims are seized in an attempt to get quick cash in exchange for their release, are a serious problem.

One common practice is for kidnappers to follow potential victims into building garages and kidnap them at gunpoint, although the majority of kidnappings occur while traveling in vehicles.

Kidnappings of U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals from homes, hotels, unauthorized taxis and the airport terminal do occur, and are more frequently being reported to the embassy.

As a recent example, in March 2012, a U.S. citizen, currently residing in Caracas was traveling home in his vehicle when he was overtaken and then blocked by a single vehicle.

Several armed men exited the blocking vehicle and forced the victim out of his car and into a separate vehicle.

The kidnappers held the victim while driving throughout Caracas conducting other kidnappings and robberies.

The victim was eventually released unharmed.“Virtual kidnappings,” in which scam surveys are conducted to collect contact information on minors, which is then used to call parents for ransoms without the children being taken, and “inside kidnappings,” in which domestic employees are being paid large sums of money for keys and information in order to enter and kidnap children for ransom, have also been reported to the embassy.

U.S. citizens should be alert to their surroundings and take necessary precautions.

The Embassy also has received reports of robberies during nighttime and early morning hours on the highways around and leading to Caracas.

Reports have specifically involved cars being forced off the La Guaira highway leading from Caracas to the Maiquetía International Airport, and the "Regional del Centro" highway leading from Caracas to Maracay/Valencia.

Once the victims are stopped on the side of the road they are robbed.

The Embassy recommends avoiding driving at night and in the e

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Venezuela, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

For example, in Venezuela it is illegal to take pictures of sensitive installations to include the presidential palace, military bases, government buildings, and airports.

Just as in the United States, driving under the influence can land you immediately in jail.

Criminal penalties will vary however.

There are also acts that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States.

You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

Drug trafficking is a serious problem in Venezuela and treated as such by Venezuelan authorities.

Convicted traffickers receive lengthy prison sentences, usually eight to ten years.

If you do something illegal in Venezuela, your U.S. passport won’t help.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Security within Venezuela’s prisons is lax to nonexistent.

Prison populations are largely under the control of prison gangs with little or no interference from prison authorities.

Drugs and weapons are freely available, and prison authorities generally do not provide even basic protections and amenities, including food, so individual prisoners must deal with gang leaders through payments or other mechanisms just to survive.

Additionally, the

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Medical Facilities

Medical care at private hospitals and clinics in Caracas and other major cities is generally good.

Public, government-funded hospitals and clinics generally provide a lower level of care and basic supplies at public facilities may be in short supply or unavailable.

Cash payment is usually required in advance of the provision of medical services at private facilities, although some facilities will accept credit cards.

Patients who cannot provide advance payment may be referred to a public hospital for treatment.

Private companies that require the patient to be a subscriber to the service or provide cash payment in advance generally provide the most effective ambulance services.

Public ambulance service is unreliable.

U.S. citizens should be aware that due to the currency restrictions in effect in Venezuela they might find it difficult to receive wire transfers from abroad, whether through a bank or Western Union.

Such wire transfers cannot be used reliably as a source of emergency funds.

U.S. citizens traveling to Venezuela may also find it difficult to obtain certain prescription drugs, particularly name brands, and should ensure that they have sufficient quantities of all medications for the duration of their stay.

Dengue fever is common in Venezuela, as it is in other tropical and subtropical parts of the world.

Also called "breakbone fever" due to the muscle and bone pain it causes, dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness.

There is no vaccine available for prevention, and there is no specific treatment available.

However, it is usually a self-limited illness.

Typical symptoms are fever, pain behind the eyes, and body aches.

More serious cases involving bleeding and shock do occur; the fatality rate is one or two per ten thousand cases.

Seek medical care if you believe you are seriously ill, as supportive care greatly reduces the risk of dying.

Avoiding mosquito bites by using insect repellant or clothing to cover skin is the best prevention.

Chagas disease also occurs in Venezuela and in other parts of South America.

Chagas is a parasitic disease carried by the triatomine insect or "kissing bug" or "chipo," as it is called in Venezuela.

It is difficult to treat and can cause permanent heart damage and lead to death.

The Pan American Health Organization estimates that 1,500 new cases of the illness are recorded in Venezuela each year and that 789 people die from the disease every year.

It is uncommon for travelers to contract Chagas disease, but those staying in older adobe and thatch buildings or sleeping out in the open are at risk.

In Venezuela, Chagas disease occurs mostly in the rural states of Trujillo, Lara, Portuguesa, and Barinas, but cases have been reported throughout the entire country and sporadic outbreaks occur in Caracas.

It can be transmitted either through the bite of the "chipo" or through ingestion of food contaminated with the insect's feces.

Outbreaks in Caracas have been traced to non-commercially prepared fruit juices.

Symptoms vary and are often undetectable, but when symptoms occur they often include fever, fatigue, body aches, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Those experiencing these symptoms should seek medical care immediately.

Avoiding insect bites by using insect repellant or clothing to cover skin is the best prevention.

Malaria is present throughout the states of Amazonas, Bolivar, and Delta Amacuro, and rural areas of certain municipalities within the states of Sucre and Monagas.

Chemoprophylaxis with atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine is recommended in addition to insect precautions.

Leishmaniasis, another insect-borne parasitic disease, is present in some areas.

Insect precautions are recommended.

Schistosomiasis, a water-borne parasite that penetrates intact skin, is present in some areas.

Avoiding contact with fresh water in pools, streams, and lakes is recommended.

Traffic Safety

While in Venezuela, U.S. citizens will encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Driving regulations in Venezuela are similar to those in the United States, although many drivers do not obey them.

Defensive driving is a necessity.

Motorcyclists often weave in and out of lanes and cars, so caution is advised.

Child car seats and seatbelts are not required and are seldom available in rental cars and taxis.

Some Caracas municipalities have outlawed the use of hand held cell phones while driving.

Outside the major cities, night driving can be dangerous because of unmarked road damage or repairs in progress, unlighted vehicles, and livestock.

Even in urban areas, road damage is often marked by a pile of rocks or sticks left by passersby near or in the pothole or crevice, without flares or other devices to highlight the danger.

Severe flooding, construction projects, traffic accidents, and other such disruptive occurrences can shut down primary and secondary roads for unexpectedly long periods of time, and detours are often not well-marked or easy to follow.

Traffic jams are common within Caracas during most of the day and are frequently exploited by criminals.

Armed motorcycle gangs often operate in traffic jams and tend to escape easily.

Cases of armed robbery by motorcyclists and theft of other motorcycles have increased and may result in death if the victim does not comply.

Stops at National Guard and local police checkpoints are mandatory.

Drivers should follow all National Guard instructions and be prepared to show vehicle and insurance papers and passports.

Vehicles may be searched.

Inexpensive bus service is available to most destinations throughout the country, but the high incidence of criminal activity on public transportation makes bus travel inadvisable.

Peak holiday travel occurs during summer and winter school breaks and major civil and religious holidays, including Carnival, Easter, Christmas, and New Year's holidays.

Lengthy delays due to road congestion are common during these peak periods.

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Airports - total

444

Airports with Paved Runways

127

Heliports

3

Railways

501 Miles 806 Kilometers

Roadways- total

59,748 Miles 96,155 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

20,075 Miles 32,308 Kilometers

Waterways

4,412 Miles 7,100 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon

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Pipelines: extra heavy crude

610 Miles 981 Kilometers

Pipelines: Gas

3,692 Miles 5,941 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

4,715 Miles 7,588 Kilometers

Pipelines: Refined Products

1,105 Miles 1,778 Kilometers

7 facts — expand for details.

Telephones

6,857,000

Cell Phones

23,820,000

Internet Users

5,720,000

Internet Country Code

.ve

Internet Hosts

238,665

Broadcast Media

• The government supervises a mixture of state-run and private broadcast media
• 1 state-run TV network, 4 privately owned TV networks, a privately owned news channel with limited national coverage, and a government-backed pan-American channel
• state-run radio network includes 65 news stations and roughly another 30 stations targeted at specific audiences
• state-sponsored community broadcasters include 244 radio stations and 36 TV stations
• the number of private broadcast radio stations has been declining, but many still remain in operation

Telephone System

• Assessment: modern and expanding
• Domestic: 2 domestic satellite systems with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; a substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services; combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 130 per 100 persons
• International: country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Cuba and the Caribbean, Central, and South America, and the United States; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network

12 facts — expand for details.

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

83,020,000,000

Electricity Exports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

540,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

1,651,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

110,700,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

27,110,000,000

Natural Gas Imports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

2,110,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

25,280,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

5,524,000,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

571,000

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,645,000

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

3,081,000

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

297,600,000,000

Anthem Lyrics

Gloria al bravo pueblo, que el yugo lanzo, La ley respetando, la virtud y honor (bis) 1.

Abajo Cadenas Gritaba el señor El pobre en su choza, libertad pidio.

Y a este santo nombre temblo de pavor el vil egoismo que otra vez triunfo. 2 Gritemos con brio, Muera la opresión!!

Compatriotas fieles, la fuerza es la unión.

Y desde el empireo, el supremo autor, un sublime aliento al pueblo infundió. 3 Unida con lazos que el cielo formo, la América toda existe en nación.

Y si el despotismo levanta la voz, seguid el ejemplo que Caracas dio.