Are you curious to learn some weird and wonderful facts about Venezuela?
If so, excellent! You are in exactly the right place my friend…
It’s time to chat about Venezuela facts.
Let’s dive right in…
Facts About Venezuela
1 – Venezuela is located in the Northern part of South America and has a population estimated to be 28.5 million.
2 – The capital city of Venezuela is Caracas (population 2.082 million).
3 – The official language spoken in Venezuela is Spanish.
4 – It has a diverse climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters on the coast; colder winters inland with occasional snowfall along the Andes mountains.
5 – The currency used there is the Bolivar . The Bolivar Fuerte (VEF) was introduced on August 20, 2008 and replaced the old bolívar (VEB) at a rate of 1 VEF = 100 VEB.
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6 – Venezuela’s economy relies heavily on oil exports as their main export commodity which makes up 95% of all exports from this country.
7 – It borders Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana.
8 – The country was first colonized by Spain in 1522. In 1811, it became one of the first countries to declare independence from Spain and establish itself as an independent republic.
9 – It’s home to the world’s highest waterfall – Angel Falls at 3212 feet or 979 metres. It’s a waterfall that drops from a height of 979 meters into an abyss below it which has been named by National Geographic as one of “the world’s most spectacular waterfalls.”
10 – In 2007, Hugo Chavez was elected president of Venezuela after serving ten years as his predecessor’s vice president under the constitution he enacted. He was in office from 24 March 2007 to 5 March 2013 and was succeeded by Nicolas Maduro.
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11 – The death toll from protests against President Nicolas Maduro have reached more than 100 people since 2014.
12 – A popular dish in Venezuela is arepas, which are made from ground maize dough that’s cooked on a griddle and then filled with cheese or meat.
Another popular dishes in Venezuela is cachapas, a corn pancake that’s often eaten with cheese and fried pork.
13 – The country has a high poverty rate, with an estimated 87% of the population living below the poverty line.
14 – The average life expectancy in Venezuela is 72 years old.
15 – In 2016, Venezuela had one of the highest homicide rates in the world at 90 per 100,000 people. It is the third highest in the world, after El Salvador and Jamaica.
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16 – Despite its wealth in natural resources, Venezuela has experienced high rates of poverty and inflation due to government mismanagement.
17 – There are multiple theories about how the name “Venezuela” came to be – some say it means “Little Venice” while others believe it means “Little Venice Island.”
18 – The national anthem is “Gloria al bravo pueblo” (Glory to the brave people).
19 – The country has a tropical climate with an average temperature around 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) year-round.
20 – There are more than three million people who have fled to other countries due to economic hardships.
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21 – From 1998-2015 inflation increased by 539%. Since then, Venezuela has entered hyperinflation and the rate of inflation in 2021 was 5,500%.
22 – It’s home to many national parks, including Canaima National Park which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
23 – In 1989, a new constitution was approved by referendum which re-named the country as Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
24 – The Venezuelan government has a history of corruption and violence, which includes a coup that ousted President Hugo Chavez in 2002.
25 – Venezuelans are currently going through one of the worst economic crises in their country’s history, due to strict currency controls and plummeting oil prices.
