PEOPLE
An estimated 28 million people lived in Venezuela as of 2008. The population is young, growing, and urbanized. The population growth rate is 1.6% per year, and roughly 50% of Venezuelans are under the age of 25. According to the 2001 census, almost 90% of the population lives in urban areas. Metropolitan Caracas, the country's largest city, has an estimated 3.2 million inhabitants. Venezuela is proud of its tradition as a melting pot, and the majority of its citizens have a mixed racial heritage of Caucasian, African, and American Indian elements.
At the time of the Spanish discovery,
the indigenous people were mainly agriculturists and hunters living
in groups along the coast, the Andean mountain range, and along
the Orinoco River. The first permanent Spanish settlement in South
America--Nuevo Toledo--was established in Venezuela in 1522. Venezuela
was a relatively neglected colony in the 1500s and 1600s as the
Spaniards focused on extracting gold from other areas of their
empire in the Americas.
The Venezuelans began to grow restive
under colonial control toward the end of the 18th century. After
several unsuccessful uprisings, the country achieved independence
from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of its most famous son,
Simon Bolivar. Venezuela, along with what are now Colombia, Panama,
and Ecuador, was part of the Republic of Gran Colombia until 1830,
when Venezuela separated and became a sovereign country.
Much of Venezuela's 19th century
history was characterized by periods of political instability,
dictatorial rule, and revolutionary turbulence. The first half
of the 20th century was marked by periods of authoritarianism--including
dictatorships from 1908-35 and from 1950-58. The Venezuelan economy
shifted after the first World War from a primarily agricultural
orientation to an economy centered on petroleum production and
export.
Since the overthrow of Gen. Marcos
Perez Jimenez in 1958 and the military's withdrawal from direct
involvement in national politics, Venezuela has enjoyed an unbroken
tradition of civilian democratic rule. Until the 1998 elections,
the Democratic Action (AD) and the Christian Democratic (COPEI)
parties dominated the political environment at both the state
and federal level.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Venezuelan(s).
Population (Dec. 2008 est.): 28,091,383.
Annual population growth: 1.6%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%.
Language: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy--95%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--22.02 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy--73.38 years.
Ethnic groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Amerindian.
