Venezuela: Map & History
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.
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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.
Modern Countries Once Part of Venezuela
At its mapped extent, Venezuela covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Venezuela's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
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.
Government and politics
Two major blocs of political parties are in Venezuela; the incumbent leftist bloc United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), its major allies Fatherland for All (PPT) and the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), and the opposition bloc grouped into the electoral coalition Mesa de la Unidad Democrática. This includes A New Era (UNT) together with allied parties Project Venezuela, Justice First, Movement for Socialism (MAS) and others.
The Venezuelan president is elected by a vote, with direct and universal suffrage, and is both head of state and head of government. The term of office is six years. As of February 2009, a president may be re-elected an unlimited number of times.
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.
Culture
The culture of Venezuela is a melting pot made up of three main groups: the Indigenous Venezuelans, the Spanish, and the Africans. The Spanish influence predominates due to the colonization process and the socioeconomic structure it created. Spanish influences can be seen in the country's architecture, music, religion, and language. The Africans brought in many musical influences, especially introduction of the drum.
Carlos Raúl Villanueva was the most important architect of the modern era; he designed the Central University of Venezuela, (a World Heritage Site) and its Aula Magna.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Venezuela (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Venezuela: Key Facts
| Capital | Caracas |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Spanish, Venezuelan Sign Language |
| Form of government | presidential system, federal republic |
| Currency | sovereign bolivar |
| Founded | 5 July 1811 |
Preceded by
- Gran Colombia
- Republic of Venezuela
Facts from Wikidata Q717 (CC0).
Interactive map
Venezuela on the World War I map →
See Venezuela on the day-by-day map of World War I.
Interactive map
Venezuela on the World War II map →
See Venezuela’s territory change day by day from 16 February 1945, with every battle it fought.
Venezuela Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Venezuela appears, with the other states of the time.
Venezuela: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Venezuela exist?
Venezuela is dated to 1834 CE – 2024 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Venezuela?
The capital of Venezuela was Caracas.
How large was Venezuela at its peak?
At its peak in 2024 Venezuela covered about 937,211 km².
How did the map of Venezuela change over time?
Venezuela appears on 4 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1850 CE to 1945 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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