Venezuela

Venezuela is located in the northern part of South America and its territory comprises 72 islands in the Caribbean Sea. Venezuela borders Guyana to the east of the Essequibo River, Brazil to the south, and Colombia to the west. Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St. Lucia, Barbados, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Leeward Antilles lie just north, off the Venezuelan coast. Its surface comprises 5.1% of South America.
The climate of most of the territory is tropical. Caracas is 1042 meters above sea level and has an average temperature of 24 degrees C º. From May to October the weather is humid with torrential rains and November to May is the dry season.
The Venezuelan territory is characterized by a significant natural diversity, derived from various forms of relief, which produces contrasting climate and vegetation. The country has tropical lowlands, uplands and includes part of the Andes. The region of greatest extension is the plain of Guyana, where there are abundant mineral resources like gold, diamond, iron, bauxite and oil. The altitudes range from sea level, coastal areas and plains of the Orinoco River, to the highest point, Pico Bolívar, located in the Andes Mountains, reaching 5007 meters high. More than 40% of the territory in a position of Protected Areas, Refuges and Wildlife Reserves, Natural Monuments and Reserves. There are 43 National Parks and 20 Natural Monuments occupying approximately 16% of the total area.
Despite the diversity of geographical areas in Venezuela is a country mainly Caribbean and this is marked deeply the character of its inhabitants.
The Venezuelan population has quadrupled in the last 50 years, from 5 million to approximately 26 million inhabitants in 2009. This population growth rate was 3.7% in the period 1950 to 1980 and 2.7% in the 90's. Despite the growth, the population density is very low, approximately 30 inhabitants per km ².

ECONOMY

Overall GDP - 2008 - 335 billion US$

GDP per capita - 2008 -12.800 US$

Economically-active population 15 years of age or over - 2007 = 71,80%

Economically-active women 15 years of age or over - 2007 = 60,10%

Total imports - 2008 = 44,3 billionUS$

Total exports - 2008 = 65,9 billion US$