Map of Venezuela
Venezuela is a country in South America with its capital at Caracas, home to about 28.52 million people across 912,050 km². The interactive map below plots 50 cities and towns, 10 rivers, 5 lakes, 7 mountain summits, 1 major dams and 27 ports recorded for Venezuela in YearMaps.
- Population
- 28.52 million
- Area
- 912,050 km²
- Capital
- Caracas
- Continent
- South America
Interactive Map of Venezuela
Centred on Caracas at 10.5029° N, 66.9190° W. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Venezuela
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and various islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It comprises an area of 912,050 km2 (352,140 sq mi), with a population estimated at 31.8 million in 2025. The capital and largest urban agglomeration is Caracas. The continental territory is bordered on the north by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Colombia, on the south by Brazil, on the east by Guyana, and on the northeast by Trinidad and Tobago. Venezuela consists of 23 states, the Capital District, and the Federal Dependencies covering Venezuela's offshore islands. Venezuela is among the most urbanized countries in Latin America, with an estimated urbanization rate of 88.4% in 2022. The vast majority of Venezuelans live in urban areas in the north, including in the capital.
The territory of Venezuela was colonized by Spain in 1522, amid resistance from Indigenous peoples. In 1811, it became one of the first Spanish American territories to declare independence from the Spanish and to form part of the first federal Republic of Colombia (Gran Colombia). It separated as a fully sovereign country in 1830. During the 19th century, Venezuela suffered political turmoil and autocracy, remaining dominated by regional military dictators until the mid-20th century. From 1958, the country had a series of democratic governments, as an exception where most of the region was ruled by military dictatorships, and the period was characterized by economic prosperity. Economic shocks in the 1980s and 1990s led to major political crises and widespread social unrest, including the deadly Caracazo riots of 1989, two attempted coups in 1992, and the impeachment of a president for embezzlement of public funds charges in 1993. Confidence in the existing political parties collapsed during the 1998 Venezuelan presidential election, in which Hugo Chávez was elected and which became the catalyst for the Bolivarian Revolution. During the 1999 Constituent Assembly, a new Constitution of Venezuela was written and ratified.
The government's populist and social welfare policies were temporarily bolstered by soaring oil prices, temporarily increasing social spending and reducing economic inequality and poverty in the early years of the Chávez government. Poverty began to rapidly increase, however, in mid- to late 2014. The 2013, 2018 and 2024 presidential elections were all widely disputed, with opposition candidates being arrested or exiled.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Venezuela (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Venezuela
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830, the others being Ecuador and New Granada (Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, military strongmen ruled Venezuela and promoted the oil industry while allowing some social reforms. Democratically elected governments largely held sway until 1999, but Hugo CHAVEZ, who was president from 1999 to 2013, exercised authoritarian control over other branches of government. This trend continued in 2018 when Nicolas MADURO claimed the presidency for his second term in an election boycotted by most opposition parties and widely viewed as fraudulent. The legislative elections in 2020 were also seen as fraudulent, and most opposition parties and many international actors consider the resulting National Assembly illegitimate. In 2021, many opposition parties broke a three-year election boycott and participated in mayoral and gubernatorial elections, despite flawed conditions. As a result, the opposition more than doubled its representation at the mayoral level and retained four of 23 governorships. The 2021 regional elections marked the first time since 2006 that the EU was allowed to send an electoral observation mission to Venezuela. MADURO has placed strong restrictions on free speech and the press. Since CHAVEZ, the ruling party has expanded the state's role in the economy through expropriations of major enterprises, strict currency exchange and price controls, and over-dependence on the petroleum industry for revenues. Years of economic mismanagement left Venezuela ill-prepared to weather the global drop in oil prices in 2014, sparking an economic decline that has resulted in reduced government social spending, shortages of basic goods, and high inflation. Worsened living conditions have prompted nearly 8 million Venezuelans to emigrate, mainly settling in nearby countries. The US imposed financial sanctions on MADURO and his representatives in 2017 and on sectors of the Venezuelan economy in 2018. Limited sanctions relief followed when the MADURO administration began making democratic and electoral concessions. The government's mismanagement and lack of investment in infrastructure has also weakened the country's energy sector. Caracas has relaxed some controls to mitigate the impact of its sustained economic crisis, such as allowing increased import flexibility for the private sector and the informal use of US dollars and other international currencies. Ongoing concerns include human rights abuses, rampant violent crime, political manipulation of the judicial and electoral systems, and corruption.
- Location
- Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana.
- Climate
- Tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands.
- Terrain
- Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast.
- Highest point
- Pico Bolivar 4,978 m.
- Lowest point
- Caribbean Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 2,800 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 5,267 km; border countries: Brazil 2,137 km; Colombia 2,341 km; Guyana 789 km.
- Major rivers
- Rio Negro (shared with Colombia [s] and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco river source and mouth (shared with Colombia) - 2,101 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Major lakes
- Salt water lake(s): Lago de Maracaibo - 13,010 sq km.
- Natural resources
- Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 24.4% (2023 est.); arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 20.6% (2023 est.); forest: 53.5% (2023 est.); other: 22.1% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts.
- Geographic note
- Note 1: the country lies on major sea and air routes linking North and South America note 2: Venezuela has some of the most unique geology in the world; tepuis are the massive table-top mountains of the western Guiana Highlands that tend to be isolated and thus support unique endemic plant and animal species; their sheer cliffsides help create some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, including Angel Falls, the world's highest (979 m; 3,212 ft) that drops from Auyan Tepui.
- Languages
- Spanish (official) 98.2%, indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4% (2023 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 48.1%, Protestant 31.6% (Evangelical 31.4%, Adventist 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, African American/umbanda 0.7%, other 0.1%, believer 3.5%, agnostic 0.1%, atheist, 0.4%, none 13.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2023 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous.
- Economy
- South American economy; ongoing hyperinflation since mid-2010s; chaotic economy due to political corruption, infrastructure cuts, and human rights abuses; in debt default; oil exporter; hydropower consumer; rising Chinese relations.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Venezuela in Numbers
- Population
- 28.52 million
- GDP
- US$99.7 billion
- GDP per person
- US$3,495
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years
- Population growth
- 0.39% a year
- Population density
- 32 per km²
- Urban population
- 89.3%
- Surface area
- 912,050 km²
- Forest cover
- 53.4%
- Arable land
- 3.0%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 76.7%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Venezuela in Depth
History
Evidence exists of human habitation in the area now known as Venezuela from about 15,000 years ago. Tools have been found on the high riverine terraces of the Rio Pedregal in western Venezuela. Late Pleistocene hunting artifacts, including spear tips, have been found at a similar series of sites in northwestern Venezuela; according to radiocarbon dating, these date from 13,000 to 7,000 BC.
It is estimated that one million people lived in the region before Spanish conquest. In addition to Indigenous peoples known today, the population included groups such as the Kalina (Caribs), Auaké, Caquetio, Mariche, and Timoto–Cuicas. The Timoto–Cuica culture was the most complex society, with planned permanent villages surrounded by irrigated, terraced fields.
Geography
Venezuela is located in the north of South America. Geologically, its mainland rests on the South American Plate. It has a total area of 916,445 km2 (353,841 sq mi) and a land area of 882,050 km2 (340,560 sq mi), making Venezuela the 32nd largest country in the world. The territory it controls lies between latitudes 0° and 16°N and longitudes 59° and 74°W.
Shaped roughly like a triangle, Venezuela has a 2,800 km (1,700 mi) coastline in the north, which includes numerous islands in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean.
Economy
Almost 82 per cent of Venezuelans live in poverty, with 53 per cent in extreme poverty, unable to buy even basic foodstuffs.– A UN special rapporteur said in February 2024 after visiting the country.
Venezuela has a market-based mixed economy dominated by the petroleum sector, which accounts for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of exports, and more than half of government revenues. Per capita GDP for 2016 was estimated at US$15,100, ranking 109th in the world. Historically, Venezuela had the least expensive petrol in the world because the consumer price of petrol was heavily subsidized. The private sector controls two-thirds of Venezuela's economy. Venezuela was ranked 136th out of 139 ranks in the Global Innovation Index in 2025.
Demographics
Venezuela is among the most urbanized countries in Latin America. About 93% of the population lives in urban areas in northern Venezuela, especially in Caracas, which is the largest city. 73% of people live less than 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the coastline. Though almost half the land area lies south of the Orinoco, only 5% of Venezuelans live there. The largest and most important city south of the Orinoco is Ciudad Guayana, which is the sixth most populous conurbation. Other major cities include Barquisimeto, Valencia, Maracay, Maracaibo, Barcelona-Puerto La Cruz, Mérida and San Cristóbal.
According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 28,199,867 in 2021, representing a significant increase from 5,482,000 in 1950.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Venezuela (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Venezuela: Key Facts
| Currency | sovereign bolivar |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Spanish, Venezuelan Sign Language |
| Head of state | Delcy Rodriguez |
| Form of government | presidential system, federal republic |
| Calling code | +58 |
| Internet domain | .ve |
| Highest point | Pico Bolívar |
| Lowest point | Lagunillas |
| Established | 5 July 1811 |
Facts from Wikidata Q717 (CC0).
History of Venezuela: Empires and States
The atlas records 3 polities whose mapped territory included part of Venezuela, from The Spanish Empire in 1526 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| The Spanish Empire | 1526–1821 CE | Nearly all |
| Gran Colombia | 1822–1833 CE | Nearly all |
| Venezuela | 1834–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Venezuela
Venezuela on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Venezuela
Venezuela is replete with stunning natural wonders and sights such as countless national parks, magnificent waterfalls, and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The world's tallest waterfall, the Angel Falls (Kerepakupai Vená), is found here.
Venezuela used to be one of South America's most politically and economically stable countries, but since the 1980s, it has been in the news for all the wrong reasons and is unsafe to travel to. A long, winding history of gross economic mismanagement and ineffective governance has completely battered the country and the country has been experiencing its worst ever humanitarian crisis since the mid-20th century.
Venezuelans are known for their tolerance, hospitality, and zest for life and you can expect a warm welcome from them.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Venezuela (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Venezuela
50 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caracas | 2.98 million | Distrito Capital | National capital |
| 2 | Maracaibo | 2.07 million | Zulia | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Valencia | 1.77 million | Carabobo | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Barquisimeto | 1.12 million | Lara | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Maracay | 1.01 million | Aragua | Populated place |
| 6 | Ciudad Guayana | 746,535 | Bolívar | Populated place |
| 7 | Barcelona | 600,954 | Anzoátegui | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Puerto la Cruz | 546,616 | Anzoátegui | Populated place |
| 9 | Cabimas | 441,094 | Trujillo | Populated place |
| 10 | San Cristóbal | 438,798 | Táchira | Admin-1 capital |
| 11 | Maturín | 410,972 | Monagas | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Merida | 345,489 | Mérida | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Ciudad Bolívar | 338,000 | Bolívar | Admin-1 capital |
| 14 | Cumaná | 317,603 | Sucre | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Maiquetía | 315,442 | Vargas | Populated place |
| 16 | Los Teques | 303,470 | Distrito Capital | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Barinas | 284,289 | Barinas | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Acarigua | 260,921 | Portuguesa | Populated place |
| 19 | Punto Fijo | 234,736 | Falcón | Populated place |
| 20 | El Tigre | 197,440 | Anzoátegui | Populated place |
| 21 | Porlamar | 196,934 | Nueva Esparta | Populated place |
| 22 | Coro | 195,227 | Falcón | Admin-1 capital |
| 23 | Valera | 191,167 | Trujillo | Populated place |
| 24 | Puerto Cabello | 174,000 | Carabobo | Populated place |
| 25 | Ocumare del Tuy | 166,072 | Miranda | Populated place |
The other 25 (population, region, role)
- Guanare · 151,642 · Portuguesa · Admin-1 capital
- Carora · 149,711 · Lara · Populated place
- Carúpano · 126,293 · Sucre · Populated place
- San Fernando de Apure · 122,701 · Apure · Admin-1 capital
- Anaco · 117,596 · Anzoátegui · Populated place
- Calabozo · 117,132 · Guárico · Populated place
- San Carlos del Zulia · 97,288 · Zulia · Populated place
- Valle de la Pascua · 89,080 · Guárico · Populated place
- San Juan De Los Morros · 87,739 · Guárico · Admin-1 capital
- San Carlos · 77,192 · Cojedes · Admin-1 capital
- San Felipe · 76,766 · Yaracuy · Admin-1 capital
- Machiques · 62,968 · Zulia · Populated place
- Upata · 53,685 · Bolívar · Populated place
- Puerto Ayacucho · 52,526 · Amazonas · Admin-1 capital
- Tucupita · 51,534 · Monagas · Admin-1 capital
- Trujillo · 50,353 · Trujillo · Admin-1 capital
- Zaraza · 41,483 · Guárico · Populated place
- Altagracia de Orituco · 40,052 · Guárico · Populated place
- La Asunción · 35,084 · Nueva Esparta · Admin-1 capital
- Santa Rita · 31,810 · Trujillo · Populated place
- Guasdualito · 30,860 · Apure · Populated place
- Chaguaramas · 15,000 · Anzoztegui · Populated place
- El Dorado · 2,383 · Bol · Populated place
- El Manteco · 2,215 · Bol · Populated place
- La Esmeralda · 150 · Amazonas · Populated place
Highest Mountains in Venezuela
7 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pico Bolívar | 4,980 m | 16,339 ft | South America |
| 2 | Pico da Neblina | 3,014 m | 9,888 ft | South America |
| 3 | Cerro Marahuaca | 2,832 m | 9,291 ft | South America |
| 4 | Mount Roraima | 2,772 m | 9,094 ft | South America |
| 5 | Pico Naiguatá | 2,765 m | 9,072 ft | South America |
| 6 | Cero Raya | 2,070 m | 6,791 ft | South America |
| 7 | Cerro El Copey | 957 m | 3,140 ft | South America |
Major Dams in Venezuela
1 dam recorded. Ranked by structural height.
| # | Name | Height | River | Capacity | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guri Dam (Simón Bolívar) | 162 m | Caroní | 10,235 MW | 1986 |
Largest Lakes in Venezuela
5 lakes recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Maracaibo | 10,367 km² | Tidal Lake / Estuary |
| 2 | Embalse de Guri | 1,248 km² | Reservoir |
| 3 | Lago de Valencia | 332 km² | Lake |
| 4 | Embalse de Gurico | 184 km² | Reservoir |
| 5 | Camatague | 110 km² | Reservoir |
Rivers in Venezuela
10 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Venezuela
27 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guiria | 49.4 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | medium vessels |
| 2 | Catia la Mar | 45.7 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | medium vessels |
| 3 | Puerto la Cruz | 42.1 m | Major | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 4 | Carupano | 42.1 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | medium vessels |
| 5 | Caripito | 38.4 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 6 | Puerto Ordaz | 38.4 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 7 | Puerto Chichiriviche | 38.4 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | medium vessels |
| 8 | Puerto Borburata | 38.4 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 9 | Maracaibo | 38.4 m | Minor | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 10 | Puerto Cabello | 38.4 m | Minor | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
The other 17 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
- Guanta · 34.7 m · Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- Puerto Miranda · 34.7 m · Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- San Lorenzo · 34.7 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- el Tabiazo · 34.7 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- Venterminals · 34.7 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · point_of_interest
- Bajo Grande · 31.1 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- Punta de Palmas · 31.1 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- Bahia de Pertigalete · 31.1 m · Small · Caribbean Sea · medium vessels
- la Salina · 31.1 m · Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- Jose Terminal · 20.1 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- el Guamache · 9.1 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- Cumana (Puerto Sucre) · 5.5 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · medium vessels
- Puerto Cumarebo · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · medium vessels
- Punta Cardon · Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- Puerto de Hierro · Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- Palua · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- Las Piedras · Small · Caribbean Sea · medium vessels
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Venezuela
3 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coro and its Port | 1993 | Cultural | (iv) (v) |
| 2 | Canaima National Park | 1994 | Natural | (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) |
| 3 | University City of Caracas | 2000 | Cultural | (i) (iv) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Venezuela
8 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South America | 17.91M km² | Continent | South America |
| 2 | Andes | 549,211 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 3 | Llanos | 383,090 km² | Plain | South America |
| 4 | Guiana Shield | 348,461 km² | Plateau | South America |
| 5 | Serra de Curupira | 30,030 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 6 | S. de Pakaraima | 27,469 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 7 | Cordillera Oriental | 15,082 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 8 | Cord. de Mérida | 1,283 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
States and Provinces of Venezuela
3 first-level divisions with their own map.
Countries Bordering Venezuela
Land and maritime neighbours.
- United States map341.78 million
- France map68.72 million
- United Kingdom map69.49 million
- Brazil map212.81 million
- Guyana map835,986
- Colombia map53.43 million
- Trinidad and Tobago map1.37 million
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines map99,924
- Saint Lucia map180,149
- Saint Kitts and Nevis map46,922
- Grenada map117,303
- Dominica map65,871
- Dominican Republic map11.52 million
- Netherlands map18.09 million
More Maps in South America
Venezuela: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Venezuela?
- The capital of Venezuela is Caracas.
- What is the population of Venezuela?
- Venezuela has a population of about 28.52 million, the #53 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Venezuela?
- Venezuela covers 912,050 km², ranking #34 by area, with about 31 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Venezuela in?
- Venezuela is in South America.
- Which countries border Venezuela?
- Venezuela shares a land or maritime border with United States, France, United Kingdom, Brazil, Guyana, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Netherlands.
- What is the largest city in Venezuela?
- Caracas is the largest city in Venezuela, with a metropolitan population of about 2.98 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Venezuela?
- The highest summit recorded for Venezuela in YearMaps is Pico Bolívar at 4,980 m (16,339 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Venezuela?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Venezuela is Lake Maracaibo, at roughly 10,367 km².
- What is the tallest dam in Venezuela?
- The tallest dam recorded for Venezuela is Guri Dam (Simón Bolívar) at 162 m, on the Caroní.