| Area Total | 912,050 sq km |
| Climate | tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands |
| Natural Resources | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds |
| Imports | agricultural products, livestock, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials, medical equipment, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel products – US 24.8%, China 14.2%, Mexico 9.5% (2017) |
| Government | federal presidential republic |
| Capital | Caracas |
| Population | 31,689,176 (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people |
| Language | Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects |
| Exports | petroleum and petroleum products, bauxite and aluminum, minerals, chemicals, agricultural products – US 34.8%, India 17.2%, China 16%, Netherlands Antilles 8.2%, Singapore 6.3%, Cuba 4.2% (2017) |
News about Venezuela
- Trump claims control of Venezuelan oil: Up to 50 million barrels bound for US
on January 7, 2026US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Venezuela's interim authorities had agreed to "turn over" between 30 and 50 million barrels of crude oil to the United States.
- Delcy Rodríguez declares week of mourning for fallen Maduro's guardsmen
on January 7, 2026Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has declared seven days of national mourning to honor those fallen during the Jan. 3 US military mission to capture former ruler Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez said the week will be dedicated to the "honor and glory" of the "martyrs."
- Conspiracy theories: Why did Maduro fall so quickly?
on January 6, 2026Rumors, speculation, and conspiracy theories of all kinds are surfacing about who betrayed former Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro so that US troops could abduct him from Caracas and make him stand trial in New York.
- Gunshots near Caracas' Presidential Palace amounted to nothing important
on January 6, 2026Gunshots were heard in Caracas on Monday at around 8 pm near the Miraflores presidential palace, prompting speculations as to the motives behind the havoc. Later unofficial reports pointed to a succession of misunderstandings resulting in a friendly fire clash.
- Maduro and his wife arraigned in New York court
on January 6, 2026Former Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores formally pleaded not guilty to federal charges of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses during their arraignment on Monday in New York before Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
- US Begins preparations to reopen Embassy in Caracas after Maduro’s capture
on January 5, 2026The United States confirmed on Monday that it is “making the necessary preparations” to potentially reopen its embassy in Caracas, closed since 2019, following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation carried out early Saturday.
- Delcy Rodríguez sworn in as caretaker President of Venezuela
on January 5, 2026Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez chaired the 757th Council of Ministers on Sunday to establish a strategy for national stability following Nicolás Maduro's detention by US forces.
- Leftwing governments object to Washington's abduction of Maduro
on January 5, 2026The governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing “deep concern and rejection” of the US military operation that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
- Maduro's arrest leaves between 40 and 80 dead, including 32 Cubans
on January 5, 2026Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, US President Donald Trump addressed the mounting death toll from the “Operation Absolute Resolve” raid in Caracas to abduct former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and outlined his administration’s new doctrine regarding ties with Latin American countries.
- Attack on Venezuela was the first of many changes: Cuban government could be “ready to fall”
on January 5, 2026While former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, pending his arraignment at noon on Monday, Caracas' Supreme Court (TSJ) ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of Acting President to ensure "administrative continuity."
