| 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
- More than 800 political prisoners remain jailed as Venezuela signals partial openness
on January 12, 2026The Venezuelan interim government of caretaker President Delcy Rodríguez has allowed some relatives to visit political prisoners still held by Caracas at the Rodeo I detention facility. Among them is Argentine Border Guard (Gendarmería Nacional) NCO Nahuel Gallo, about whom nothing concrete has been heard.
- Delcy Rodríguez vows to rescue Nicolás Maduro through diplomacy
on January 12, 2026Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has vowed to secure Nicolás Maduro's return while simultaneously opening a fragile diplomatic "exploratory process" with the United States.
- Delcy Rodríguez wants to travel to Washington
on January 10, 2026Venezuela's caretaker President Delcy Rodríguez is reportedly interested in traveling to the United States for talks with the Donald Trump administration regarding the following steps of her transition government. She intends to travel on Tuesday, presumably coinciding with Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado's presence, as analysts juggle with […]
- Venezuela stocks surge 124% a week after Maduro’s removal
on January 10, 2026Venezuelan assets have surged in a dramatic fashion this week, with the Caracas Stock Exchange’s main index up about 124% in U.S. dollar terms, Bloomberg data shows, as global investors react to political upheaval after the removal of President Nicolás Maduro last Saturday by United States forces.
- Copa announces resumption of Caracas route
on January 9, 2026Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines announced on Thursday its resumption of the Caracas route following a long suspension amid US warnings that Venezuela's airspace was unsafe.
- Venezuela releases political prisoners in first major gesture since Maduro’s capture
on January 8, 2026Venezuela has begun releasing a “significant number” of political prisoners, including Venezuelan citizens and foreign nationals, in what authorities described as a unilateral gesture to help consolidate peace and peaceful coexistence in the country. The announcement comes less than a week after former president Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. […]
- Venezuela releases three Argentine political prisoners
on January 8, 2026Venezuela's interim Government of caretaker President Delcy Rodríguez released a series of foreign and domestic political prisoners on Thursday, including three Argentine nationals, it was reported in Caracas.
- Venezuela's new oil revenues to be spent solely on US goods
on January 8, 2026President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that the proceeds from his country's future oil purchases from Venezuela under caretaker President Delcy Rodríguez will be spent entirely on US-made products, making Washington Caracas' new main trading partner instead of Moscow, Beijing, or Tehran.
- Trump invites Petro to White House following phone call
on January 8, 2026US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he would host Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House in the coming days to resolve a "pre-war" climate between the two nations. The initiative was agreed upon after a telephone call between both leaders lasting over one hour.
- Rubio outlines three-phase plan for Venezuela's recovery
on January 8, 2026US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described on Wednesday before his country's Senate the President Donald Trump administration's three-phase plan for Venezuela’s political and economic future.
