A sovereign country in northern South America with a coastline along the Caribbean Sea. It borders Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the east. Venezuela contains diverse landscapes including the Andes Mountains, the Orinoco River basin, tropical rainforests, savannas known as the Llanos, and coastal mountain ranges.
Population:
Approximately 28 to 29 million people in the mid-2020s, with large urban populations concentrated around Caracas and other major cities.
Brief History:
The region was inhabited by Indigenous peoples long before Spanish colonization began in the 16th century. Venezuela achieved independence from Spain in the early 19th century during wars led by figures such as Simón Bolívar. The country experienced cycles of military rule and democratic governance through the 19th and 20th centuries. Major oil discoveries in the early 1900s transformed its economy and global importance.
Current Day:
Today Venezuela is a federal presidential republic with an economy historically dependent on petroleum production. In recent years it has faced economic instability, high inflation, political tensions, and significant outward migration. Despite challenges, it remains an important country in regional energy, culture, and South American geopolitics.
Image Credit: By Addicted04 – File:VEN orthographic.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0. [Accessed 06/02/2026]
