Venezuela at its true size
Venezuela covers 912,050 km², number 32 of 194 countries by area. Home to 28,516,896 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.
Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
| Area | 912,050 km² Wikidata |
|---|---|
| Population | 28,516,896 World Bank, 2025 |
| Density | 31 per km² |
| Capital | Caracas |
| Local time in Caracas | |
| Time zone | UTC−4 IANA |
| Currency | Sovereign bolivar (VES) Wikidata |
| Languages | Spanish, Venezuelan Sign Language |
| Traffic | On the right |
| Region | South America, South America |
| Status | Independent state |
| Member of | OPEC |
| Coast | Has a coastline |
| Calling code | +58 |
| Codes | VE · VEN · 862 |
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Where Venezuela ranks
Among the independent states, in 37 rankings. Each links to its table.
People
- Population#53 of 19429 million people#5 of 12 in South America
- Population density#148 of 19431 people per km²#3 of 12 in South America
- Urban population#20 of 19289% urban#3 of 12 in South America
- Fertility rate#94 of 1922.08 births per woman#5 of 12 in South America
- Population growth#138 of 192+0.39% a year#9 of 12 in South America
- Birth rate#100 of 19215.2 births per 1,000 people#6 of 12 in South America
- Death rate#79 of 1927.7 deaths per 1,000 people#2 of 12 in South America
- Children under 15#91 of 19224.9% under 15#5 of 12 in South America
- People over 65#78 of 19210.0% aged 65 and over#6 of 12 in South America
- Net migration#164 of 192−3.5 per 1,000 people#11 of 12 in South America
- Refugees abroad#14 of 19014.62 refugees abroad per 1,000 people#1 of 12 in South America
Health & education
Economy
- GNI per capita#127 of 185$3,860 a person#12 of 12 in South America
- Internet users#106 of 18477% online#12 of 12 in South America
- GDP growth#143 of 187+1.6% a year#11 of 12 in South America
- Unemployment#83 of 1785.3% of the labour force#8 of 12 in South America
- Jobs in agriculture#115 of 1788.9% of jobs#7 of 12 in South America
- Jobs in industry#118 of 17816.8% of jobs#10 of 12 in South America
- Jobs in services#31 of 17874.4% of jobs#1 of 12 in South America
- Foreign investment#171 of 184-0.5% of GDP#12 of 12 in South America
- Exports#150 of 16814.9% of GDP#10 of 10 in South America
- Mobile subscriptions#157 of 19171 subscriptions per 100 people#12 of 12 in South America
Energy & environment
- CO₂ per person#78 of 1853.39 tonnes a person#5 of 12 in South America
- Forest area#41 of 19253% forest#5 of 12 in South America
- Renewable energy#74 of 19033.7% renewable#4 of 12 in South America
- Access to electricity#1 of 192100.0% with electricity#1 of 12 in South America
- Air pollution (PM2.5)#90 of 19119.2 µg/m³#4 of 12 in South America
- Protected land#2 of 19156.8% of the land protected#1 of 12 in South America
- Arable land#150 of 1902.9% of the land arable#8 of 12 in South America
- Water stress#104 of 1767.5% of its available fresh water#4 of 12 in South America
- Precipitation#30 of 1802,044 mm a year#5 of 12 in South America
Governance & safety
Countries of a similar size
Every country within 25% of Venezuela’s area, lit up on the map →
- Nigeria0.99×Venezuela and Nigeria are almost exactly the same size.
- Pakistan1.03×Venezuela is 3% larger than Pakistan.
- Tanzania0.96×Venezuela is 4% smaller than Tanzania.
- Namibia1.1×Venezuela is 10% larger than Namibia.
- Egypt0.9×Venezuela is 10% smaller than Egypt.
- Mauritania0.88×Venezuela is 12% smaller than Mauritania.
How many times does Venezuela fit into…
- Russia: about 19 times
- Canada: about 11 times
- United States: about 11 times
The land itself
Rivers, summits and lakes Venezuela shares with the rest of the world. Turn on “Rivers & lakes” and “Physical names” in the atlas to see them on the map.
Rivers
- Orinoco2,140 km
- Meta1,000 km
Summits
- Pico Bolívar4,978 m
- Pico da Neblina2,994 m
- Cerro Marahuaca2,832 m
- Mount Roraima2,810 m
- Pico Naiguatá2,765 m
Rivers are listed by the published length of their whole course, not the part inside Venezuela. Figures from Wikidata, features from Natural Earth.
Neighbours
Questions about Venezuela
- How big is Venezuela?
- Venezuela covers 912,050 km², which makes it number 32 of 194 countries by area. About 28,516,896 people live there (2025), 31 per km².
- Is Venezuela bigger than Nigeria?
- Venezuela and Nigeria are almost exactly the same size. Venezuela: 912,050 km²; Nigeria: 923,768 km².
- How much does the Mercator map distort Venezuela?
- Venezuela lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
- Which countries border Venezuela?
- Venezuela shares a land border with Brazil, Colombia, Guyana.