Co-heads of state: Joan Enric Vives i Sicilia, Bishop of Urgel, Spain, and Nicolas Sarkozy of France Head of government: Antoni Marti
President: Hugo Chavez
Population
85,082
28,047,938
Life Expectancy
82.500 years
74.080 years
Capital City
Caracas
Largest city
Andorra la Vella (population: 20,430)
Maracaibo (population: 2,225,000)
Human Development Index
0
0.826
GDP per capita
$12,700 US
Literacy Rate
100%
93%
Corruption Perception Index
NA
1.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
25%
18.6%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Gustavo Cisneros & family ($3.8bn US)
Unemployment Rate
8.200%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives
federal republic
Independence date
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Religions
Roman Catholic (predominant)
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Languages
Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Exports
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
External Debt
$89,600,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 2.147 (2008 est.), 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004) note: On 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency with 1000 old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.200%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Area
468 km sq
912,050 km sq
Coastline
0 km
2,800 km
Climate
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
