Demographics of Venezuela

Population pyramid of Venezuela in 2020

Population| 28,047,657 (2022 est.)
Growth rate| 2.43% (2022 est.)
Birth rate| 15.6 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate| 8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy| 73.29 years
• male| 70.12 years
• female| 76.62 years
Fertility rate| 2.0 children (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate| 17.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate| 13.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Age structure
0–14 years| 26.33%
15–64 years| 64.75%
65 and over| 8.92%
Sex ratio
Total| 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth| 1.05 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality| Venezuelan
Major ethnic|

*     * Multiracial (51.6%)[1]
* White (43.6%)[1]
* Spanish (N/D)
* Italian (N/D)
* Portuguese (N/D)
* Others (N/D)

Minor ethnic|

*     * African (3.6%)[1]
* Others (1.2%)

Language
Official| Spanish
Spoken| Languages of Venezuela

Venezuela is a country in South America. The Venezuelan people comprise a combination of heritages, primarily Native American and European. The historically present Native American, Spanish colonists, and African slaves have all contributed to varying degrees. Later, waves of European groups (Italians, Spanish, Portuguese and Germans) migrated to Venezuela in the 20th century, influencing many aspects of Venezuelan life, including its culture, language, food, and music though small in number.

About 51% of the population is mestizo (mixed white and indigenous); Europeans and Arabs (whites) make up 43% of the population, Africans 3.6%, Amerindian people 2%, and other races, mostly Asians, make up 1.2%.[1][2] About 85% of the population live in urban areas in the northern portion of the country and currently reside in the urban conglomerations (Caracas, Maracay, Maracaibo, Valencia, etc.) that are concentrated in Venezuela's northern coastal mountain strip. Nearly half of Venezuela's geographic area lies south of the Orinoco River; however, this region contains only 5% of the Venezuelan population.

The 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[3][4] estimate puts Venezuela's total population at 28,199,867 inhabitants.[3][4] Additionally, over the past five years, Venezuelan society's general age structure has been trending towards the homologous structure found in Cuba, Western Europe, Japan, and other healthy and rapidly ageing societies. Notably, there has been a significant increase in the proportion and gross numbers of elderly Venezuelans (aged 65 and up), as well as a corresponding drop in the total fertility. More than 7 million people, that is 20 per cent of the population, have left Venezuela in the last years, mostly as refugees due to the economic and political situation.[5]

## Population

[edit]

Census populationYear| Pop.| ±%

|
|

1873| 1,732,411| —
1881| 2,005,139| +15.7%
1891| 2,221,572| +10.8%
1920| 2,479,525| +11.6%
1926| 2,814,131| +13.5%
1936| 3,364,347| +19.6%
1941| 3,850,771| +14.5%
1950| 5,034,838| +30.7%
1961| 7,523,999| +49.4%
1971| 10,721,522| +42.5%
1981| 14,516,735| +35.4%
1990| 18,105,265| +24.7%
2001| 23,232,553| +28.3%
2011| 27,722,793| +19.3%

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[3][4] the total population was 28,199,867 in 2021, compared to only 5,482,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 29.5%, 64.9% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 5.6% was 65 years or older.[6]

| Total population  | Proportion
aged 0–14
(%)  | Proportion
aged 15–64
(%)  | Proportion
aged 65+
(%)

|
|
|
|

1950  | 5,482,000 | 43.5 | 54.6 | 1.9
1955  | 6,758,000 | 44.8 | 53.1 | 2.0
1960  | 8,147,000 | 45.6 | 51.9 | 2.4
1965  | 9,825,000 | 46.4 | 51.0 | 2.6
1970  | 11,588,000 | 45.7 | 51.5 | 2.8
1975  | 13,361,000 | 43.3 | 53.6 | 3.0
1980  | 15,344,000 | 40.7 | 56.2 | 3.2
1985  | 17,508,000 | 38.8 | 57.8 | 3.4
1990  | 19,862,000 | 37.9 | 58.4 | 3.7
1995  | 22,189,000 | 36.3 | 59.8 | 3.9
2000  | 24,192,000 | 34.0 | 61.5 | 4.5
2005  | 26,432,000 | 31.7 | 63.3 | 5.0
2010  | 28,440,000 | 29.9 | 64.5 | 5.6
2015  | 30,082,000 | 28.4 | 65.3 | 6.4
2020  | 28,436,000 | 27.3 | 64.8 | 8.0

millionyear510152025303519601970198019902000201020202030Population (million)Venezuela Population

See or edit source data.

TFRyears23456719601970198019902000201020202030Total fertility rateTotal Fertility Rate

See or edit source data.

Source:[7]

### Structure of the population

[edit]

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 01.IX.2011):[8]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 13 549 752  | 13 678 178  | 27 227 930  | 100
0–4  | 1 254 208  | 1 183 423  | 2 437 631  | 8.95
5–9  | 1 236 217  | 1 166 147  | 2 402 364  | 8.82
10–14  | 1 298 191  | 1 218 588  | 2 516 779  | 9.24
15–19  | 1 336 159  | 1 305 161  | 2 641 320  | 9.70
20–24  | 1 280 125  | 1 280 524  | 2 560 649  | 9.40
25–29  | 1 159 400  | 1 184 932  | 2 344 332  | 8.61
30–34  | 1 105 617  | 1 114 124  | 2 219 741  | 8.15
35–39  | 942 311  | 962 942  | 1 905 253  | 7.00
40–44  | 873 509  | 881 981  | 1 755 490  | 6.45
45–49  | 747 704  | 781 077  | 1 528 781  | 5.61
50–54  | 651 255  | 686 679  | 1 337 934  | 4.91
55–59  | 530 935  | 577 864  | 1 108 799  | 4.07
60–64  | 407 656  | 440 702  | 848 358  | 3.12
65-69  | 267 691  | 300 997  | 568 688  | 2.09
70-74  | 189 285  | 221 170  | 410 455  | 1.51
75-79  | 130 126  | 162 866  | 292 992  | 1.08
80-84  | 78 996  | 109 899  | 188 895  | 0.69
85-89  | 40 560  | 63 581  | 104 141  | 0.38
90-94  | 14 875  | 25 495  | 40 370  | 0.15
95+  | 4 932  | 10 026  | 14 958  | 0.05
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Per cent
0–14  | 3 788 616  | 3 568 158  | 7 356 774  | 27.02
15–64  | 9 034 671  | 9 215 986  | 18 250 657  | 67.03
65+  | 726 465  | 894 034  | 1 620 499  | 5.95

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2019):[8]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 16 085 704  | 15 979 037  | 32 064 741  | 100
0–4  | 1 392 960  | 1 317 350  | 2 710 310  | 8.45
5–9  | 1 420 995  | 1 327 513  | 2 748 508  | 8.57
10–14  | 1 442 288  | 1 349 218  | 2 791 506  | 8.71
15–19  | 1 427 367  | 1 342 856  | 2 770 223  | 8.64
20–24  | 1 372 148  | 1 306 480  | 2 678 628  | 8.35
25–29  | 1 322 783  | 1 281 779  | 2 604 562  | 8.12
30–34  | 1 294 114  | 1 275 147  | 2 569 261  | 8.01
35–39  | 1 180 244  | 1 177 120  | 2 357 364  | 7.35
40–44  | 1 042 646  | 1 050 897  | 2 093 543  | 6.53
45–49  | 946 494  | 963 933  | 1 910 427  | 5.96
50–54  | 877 401  | 903 878  | 1 781 279  | 5.56
55–59  | 747 504  | 781 852  | 1 529 356  | 4.77
60–64  | 574 077  | 613 380  | 1 187 457  | 3.70
65-69  | 409 138  | 450 856  | 859 994  | 2.68
70-74  | 282 267  | 326 025  | 608 292  | 1.90
75-79  | 179 631  | 221 308  | 400 939  | 1.25
80-84  | 101 653  | 140 040  | 241 693  | 0.75
85-89  | 48 109  | 81 333  | 129 442  | 0.40
90-94  | 17 947  | 43 357  | 61 304  | 0.19
95-99  | 4 924  | 19 593  | 24 517  | 0.08
100+  | 1 014  | 5 122  | 6 136  | 0.02
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Per cent
0–14  | 4 256 243  | 3 994 081  | 8 250 324  | 25.73
15–64  | 10 784 778  | 10 697 322  | 21 482 100  | 67.00
65+  | 1 044 683  | 1 287 634  | 2 332 317  | 7.27

## Vital statistics

[edit]

### Registered births and deaths

[edit]

Year[9][10][11] | Population  | Live births  | Deaths  | Natural increase  | Crude birth rate  | Crude death rate  | Rate of natural increase  | TFR

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1948  |  | 183 590  | 59 934  | 123 656  |  |  |  |
1949  |  | 198 773  | 57 477  | 141 296  |  |  |  |
1950  | 5,034,838  | 212 096  | 54 397  | 157 699  | 42.1  | 10.8  | 31.3  |
1951  |  | 224 553  | 56 757  | 167 796  |  |  |  |
1952  |  | 230 703  | 57 115  | 173 588  |  |  |  |
1953  |  | 250 943  | 53 945  | 196 998  |  |  |  |
1954  |  | 262 134  | 56 846  | 205 288  |  |  |  |
1955  |  | 272 433  | 59 348  | 213 085  |  |  |  |
1956  |  | 278 072  | 59 339  | 218 733  |  |  |  |
1957  |  | 284 080  | 61 918  | 222 162  |  |  |  |
1958  |  | 291 747  | 59 037  | 232 710  |  |  |  |
1959  |  | 324 739  | 58 988  | 265 751  |  |  |  |
1960  |  | 338 199  | 55 354  | 282 845  |  |  |  |
1961  | 7,523,999  | 344 989  | 55 585  | 289 404  | 45.9  | 7.4  | 38.5  |
1962  |  | 341 324  | 54 960  | 286 364  |  |  |  |
1963  |  | 353 546  | 58 474  | 295 072  |  |  |  |
1964  |  | 365 340  | 60 912  | 304 428  |  |  |  |
1965  |  | 379 530  | 61 568  | 317 962  |  |  |  |
1966  |  | 376 367  | 61 691  | 314 676  |  |  |  |
1967  |  | 407 986  | 62 111  | 345 875  |  |  |  |
1968  |  | 384 678  | 64 592  | 320 086  |  |  |  |
1969  |  | 397 003  | 67 784  | 329 219  |  |  |  |
1970  |  | 392 583  | 68 493  | 324 090  |  |  |  |
1971  | 10,721,522  | 405 964  | 70 478  | 335 486  | 37.9  | 6.6  | 31.3  |
1972  |  | 406 120  | 73 379  | 332 741  |  |  |  |
1973  |  | 405 455  | 76 333  | 329 122  |  |  |  |
1974  |  | 433 397  | 73 555  | 359 842  |  |  |  |
1975  |  | 446 110  | 74 388  | 371 722  |  |  |  |
1976  |  | 462 233  | 75 088  | 387 145  |  |  |  |
1977  |  | 465 332  | 74 257  | 391 075  |  |  |  |
1978  |  | 475 824  | 72 584  | 403 240  |  |  |  |
1979  |  | 481 349  | 74 649  | 406 700  |  |  |  |
1980  |  | 493 009  | 77 018  | 415 991  |  |  |  |
1981  | 14,516,735  | 497 270  | 80 346  | 416 924  | 34.3  | 5.5  | 28.8  |
1982  |  | 510 532  | 77 021  | 433 511  |  |  |  |
1983  |  | 514 381  | 75 743  | 438 638  |  |  |  |
1984  |  | 503 973  | 78 091  | 425 882  |  |  |  |
1985  |  | 502 329  | 78 938  | 423 391  |  |  |  |
1986  |  | 504 278  | 77 647  | 426 631  |  |  |  |
1987  |  | 516 773  | 80 322  | 436 451  |  |  |  |
1988  |  | 522 392  | 81 442  | 440 950  |  |  |  |
1989  |  | 529 015  | 84 761  | 444 254  |  |  |  |
1990  | 18,105,265  | 577 976  | 89 830  | 488 146  | 31.9  | 5.0  | 26.9  |
1991  |  | 602 024  | 88 634  | 513 390  |  |  |  |
1992  |  | 559 950  | 90 566  | 469 384  |  |  |  |
1993  |  | 524 387  | 89 105  | 435 282  |  |  |  |
1994  |  | 547 819  | 96 696  | 451 123  |  |  |  |
1995  |  | 520 584  | 92 273  | 428 311  |  |  |  |
1996  |  | 497 975  | 93 839  | 404 136  | 22.3  | 4.2  | 18.1  |
1997  |  | 516 616  | 94 334  | 422 282  | 22.7  | 4.1  | 18.6  |
1998  |  | 501 808  | 98 624  | 403 184  | 21.6  | 4.2  | 17.4  |
1999  |  | 527 888  | 101 907  | 425 981  | 22.1  | 4.3  | 17.8  |
2000  |  | 544 416  | 103 255  | 441 161  | 22.4  | 4.2  | 18.2  |
2001  | 23,232,553  | 529 552  | 107 867  | 421 685  | 21.4  | 4.4  | 17.0  |
2002  |  | 492 678  | 105 388  | 387 290  | 19.5  | 4.2  | 15.3  |
2003  |  | 555 614  | 118 562  | 437 052  | 21.6  | 4.6  | 17.0  |
2004  |  | 637 799  | 114 480  | 523 319  | 24.4  | 4.4  | 20.0  |
2005  |  | 665 997  | 110 301  | 555 696  | 25.1  | 4.2  | 20.9  |
2006  |  | 646 225  | 115 348  | 530 877  | 23.9  | 4.3  | 19.6  |
2007  |  | 615 371  | 118 594  | 496 777  | 22.4  | 4.3  | 18.1  |
2008  |  | 581 480  | 124 062  | 457 418  | 20.8  | 4.4  | 16.4  |
2009  |  | 593 845  | 123 530  | 470 315  | 20.9  | 4.4  | 16.6  |
2010  |  | 591 303  | 130 597  | 460 706  | 20.7  | 4.6  | 16.1  |
2011  | 27,722,793  | 615 132  | 136 803  | 478 329  | 21.3  | 4.7  | 16.5  | 2.466
2012  |  | 619 530  | 142 988  | 476 542  | 21.1  | 4.9  | 16.2  | 2.446
2013  |  | 597 902  | 147 901  | 450 001  | 20.1  | 5.0  | 15.1  | 2.427
2014  | 30,070,000  | 597 773  | 159 239  | 438 534  | 19.9  | 5.3  | 14.6  | 2.410
2015  | 30,489,000  | 600 860  | 163 367  | 437 493  | 19.6  | 5.3  | 14.3  |
2016  | 30,740,000  | 642 664  | 202,208  | 440,456  | 20.8  | 6.0  | 14.8  |
2017  | 30,560,000  | 558,064  | 207,885  | 350,179  | 18.5  | 6.7  | 11.8  |
2018  | 29,830,000  | 516,556  | 199,263  | 317,293  | 17.8  | 7.0  | 10.8  |
2019  | 28,970,000  | 471,676  | 196,851  | 290,692  | 16.9  | 7.0  | 9.9  |
2020  | 28,490,000  | 442,091  | 204,848  | 237,243  | 16.2  | 7.6  | 8.6  |
2021  | 28,200,000  | 429,761  | 222,007  | 207,754  | 15.9  | 8.1  | 7.8  |
2022  | 28,300,000  | 423,888  | 207,267  | 216,621  | 15.6  | 8.1  | 7.5  | 2.0
2023  |  | 426,984  | 213,959  | 213,025  |  |  |  |

### UN estimates

[edit]

Registration of vital events in Venezuela is not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.[12]

Period  | Live births
per year  | Deaths
per year  | Natural change
per year  | CBR*  | CDR*  | NC*  | TFR*  | IMR*  | Life expectancy

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

total  | males  | females
1950–1955 | 263,000 | 69,000 | 193,000 | 46.5 | 12.6 | 34.1 | 6.46 | 107 | 54.3 | 52.9 | 55.8
1955–1960 | 309,000 | 73,000 | 236,000 | 44.9 | 10.9 | 34.2 | 6.46 | 89 | 57.1 | 55.6 | 58.7
1960–1965 | 375,000 | 77,000 | 298,000 | 45.1 | 9.5 | 35.7 | 6.66 | 73 | 59.9 | 58.2 | 61.7
1965–1970 | 397,000 | 76,000 | 320,000 | 40.1 | 8.0 | 32.4 | 5.90 | 60 | 62.6 | 60.5 | 64.9
1970–1975 | 411,000 | 76,000 | 334,000 | 35.1 | 6.7 | 28.6 | 4.94 | 49 | 65.0 | 62.4 | 67.7
1975–1980 | 476,000 | 81,000 | 395,000 | 34.2 | 5.8 | 28.4 | 4.47 | 39 | 67.3 | 64.6 | 70.4
1980–1985 | 519,000 | 89,000 | 430,000 | 32.0 | 5.3 | 26.5 | 3.96 | 34 | 68.9 | 66.0 | 72.0
1985–1990 | 561,000 | 92,000 | 468,000 | 30.3 | 4.9 | 25.3 | 3.65 | 27 | 70.5 | 67.7 | 73.5
1990–1995 | 563,000 | 101,000 | 461,000 | 26.9 | 4.8 | 22.1 | 3.25 | 23 | 71.5 | 68.7 | 74.5
1995–2000 | 569,000 | 114,000 | 455,000 | 24.5 | 4.9 | 19.7 | 2.94 | 21 | 72.1 | 69.3 | 75.1
2000–2005 | 585,000 | 129,000 | 456,000 | 23.0 | 5.1 | 17.9 | 2.72 | 19 | 72.7 | 69.9 | 75.8
2005–2010 | 598,000 | 142,000 | 456,000 | 21.5 | 5.4 | 16.1 | 2.55 | 17 | 73.7 | 70.8 | 76.8
2010–2015 | 601,000 | 159,000 | 442,000 | 20.0 | 5.9 | 14.1 | 2.40 | 15 | 74.5 | 71.7 | 77.6
2015–2020 | 595,000 | 178,000 | 417,000 | 18.0 | 7.0 | 11.0 | 2.28 | 13 | 75.3 | 72.5 | 78.4
2020–2025 |  |  |  | 16.8 | 7.3 | 9.5 | 2.18 |  |  |  |
2025–2030 |  |  |  | 16.5 | 7.4 | 9.1 | 2.10 |  |  |  |
*  CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

### Life expectancy

[edit]

Life expectancy in Venezuela since 1900 Life expectancy in Venezuela since 1960 by gender

total population: 76.2 years
male: 73.2 years
female: 79.3 years (2018 est.)

## Ethnic groups

[edit]

Races in Venezuela (2011)[1]

1. Multiracial (51.6%)
2. White (43.6%)
3. Black (3.60%)
4. Others (1.20%)

According to an autosomal DNA genetic study conducted in 2008 by the University of Brasília (UNB), the composition of Venezuela's population is: 60.60% of European contribution, 23% of Amerindian contribution and 16.30% of African contribution. According to the Statistics National Institute of Venezuela, individuals of mixed race constitute the largest demographic group nationwide, comprising approximately half of the population (50%). Following closely are individuals of white ethnicity, accounting for around 43% of the population and predominantly distributed across various regions of the country. These regions include traditional destinations for European immigrants, such as the Coastal Mountain Range, Andean cordillera, the Caribbean islands, and significant urban centers.

While afro-descendants are dispersed throughout the country, comprising around 3.6% of the population, they tend to be concentrated in areas with historical ties to colonial-era slavery, such as the north-central coast (Barlovento region, Ocumare de la Costa) and the southern region of Lake Maracaibo Lowlands. Over time, some black communities have migrated to larger metropolitan areas during the post-colonial period.

Indigenous populations primarily inhabit the southern half of Venezuela, the region known as Guayana south-along the Orinoco River. Additionally, Indigenous communities can be found in the Guajira Peninsula and the eastern part of the country. Together, Indigenous peoples represent approximately 2% of the total population in Venezuela.[13]

### Mixed-Race/Moreno Venezuelans

[edit]

Main article: Mestizo Venezuelans

Approximately 50% of Venezuelans identify themselves as mixed-race, indicating mixed ancestry with intermediate features reflecting indigenous, European, and/or African phenotypes (to a lesser extent, this category can include individuals with Arab or Asian ancestry mixed with the aforementioned groups). The intermingling of races in Venezuela commenced in the 16th century when Spanish conquerors and settlers intermarried with indigenous women, owing to the absence of European women in the region. Subsequently, with the introduction of enslaved Africans, a process of racial fusion emerged among the indigenous, European, and African populations. This process persisted over the decades as additional waves of migration from Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America, and Asia contributed to Venezuela's diverse genetic landscape. Diverses genetic studies indicate that the mestizo Venezuelan population predominantly possesses a European genetic component (54 - 71.9%), followed by Amerindian (18.6 - 32%), and to a lesser extent, African (9.5 - 16.3%) ancestry, with notable regional variations.[14][15][16]

Mestizos are distributed throughout most of the country, with significant concentrations primarily along the northern strip of the Orinoco River (the northern half of the country). Noteworthy towns in the Los Llanos region, such as El Pao (Cojedes), San Antonio (Barinas), Trinidad de La Capilla - Guanarito (Portuguesa), La Union (Barinas), Florida (Portuguesa), and Libertad de Orituco (Guárico), boast a majority of residents belonging to this ethnic group, with over 75% mestizo population. States with the highest proportion of mestizos include Apure, Cojedes, Guárico, and Portuguesa, all part of the Los Llanos region in the central-western interior, with slightly over 60% of their population identifying as mestizo. Conversely, areas with minimal mestizo presence are observed in jungle regions of the Upper Orinoco in Amazonas, as well as portions of the Orinoco Delta and Alta Guajira (Zulia), where they represent less than 1% of the total population. States with the lowest percentage of mestizo population include Amazonas (less than 10%) and Delta Amacuro (less than 35%), both situated in the Guayana region of southern Venezuela, characterized by low population density historically dominated by Native American Indians.[13]

### White Venezuelans

[edit]

Main article: Venezuelans of European descent

Around 42-43% of the population are identified as White Venezuelan. The highest concentrations, ranging from 65 to 80%, are found in the Venezuelan Andes (Mérida, San Cristóbal, Tovar, Valera, and numerous others towns), the Coastal Range (Eastern Caracas, San Antonio de Los Altos, El Junko, Colonia Tovar, among others) and areas of the north-eastern Caribbean coast (Lechería, Porlamar, Pampatar, Araya Peninsula).[13]

Census data reveals that in major urban areas like Maracaibo, Valencia, Maracay, Barquisimeto, Ciudad Guayana, Puerto La Cruz, among others, several districts or parishes boast white majorities exceeding 50%. These areas typically align with medium to higher socioeconomic levels, resembling Latin American cities of European descent such as Montevideo and Buenos Aires.[17] Conversely, regions like Amazonas state, Orinoco Delta, and Alta Guajira exhibit minimal white presence, often less than 1% of the local population.[13]

The majority of White Venezuelans trace their ancestry to European Mediterranean origins, primarily Spanish, followed by Italian and Portuguese contributions. European colonization of Venezuela commenced with the arrival of the Spanish in the late 15th century, with settlers predominantly hailing from regions such as Andalusia, Galicia, the Basque Country, and the Canary Islands. The influence of the Canary Islands on Venezuelan culture and customs has been particularly significant, earning Venezuela the occasional nickname "the eighth island of the Canary archipelago".[18]

While Spanish authorities discouraged non-Spanish migration to safeguard colonial territories from rival European claims, although exceptions existed. The influx of Germans began in the early 16th century, with King Carlos I granting colonization privileges to German families to offset certain debts.[19] This led to the renaming of the Province of Venezuela as Klein-Venedig, with its capital established as Neu-Augsburg (now Coro), and the founding of Neu-Nürnberg (now Maracaibo), the country's second-largest city. In 1542, the Dutch seized control of the Araya peninsula for its lucrative salt flats,[20] subsequently expanding their presence to other coastal areas such as Falcón, Carabobo, and Zulia due to economic ties with the nearby Netherlands Antilles. Until deep into the 19th century, the now Venezuelan islands of Aves, the Aves archipelago, Los Roques and La Orchila were also considered by the Dutch government to be part of the Dutch West Indies.

During the emergence of the independence movements in the Americas, Venezuela experienced a notable influx of White Dominicans.[21] As Venezuela pursued independence, it witnessed a significant arrival of Italian immigrants seeking better opportunities, with migration beginning in 1814 and intensifying around 1870 during Italy's unification. These Italian immigrants primarily concentrated in agricultural regions, particularly focusing on coffee and cocoa cultivation in the Andean and the Coastal Range area of the country.[22] Concurrently, volunteers from England, Scotland, and Ireland formed the "British Legion", actively engaging in the War of Independence, leaving a lasting impact and contributing to the enduring presence of British descendants in Venezuela.[23]

Following independence, Venezuela faced challenges attracting immigrants due to economic stagnation and internal conflicts. Despite this, small groups of French settlers,[23] particularly Corsicans, established themselves along the coast of the Paria Peninsula, contributing significantly to the cocoa industry.[24] Additionally, Italians were notably present in the Andean region,[25][26] while German immigrants formed communities such as Colonia Tovar in the center-north, they also played vital roles in commerce, particularly in Maracaibo's retail sector and informal banking systems.[27] Towards the late 19th century, White Americans and White Canadians relocated to Venezuela,[28] primarily as evangelical missionaries representing various Protestant denominations,[29] along with engineers drawn by the burgeoning oil industry.[30]

After 1935, Venezuela underwent a period of economic and social advancement with the discovery of oil, positioning itself as an attractive destination for immigrants. From 1948 to 1961, an estimated 900,000 European immigrants arrived in Venezuela, driven by the prospect of new opportunities.[31] Among them, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese migrants constituted the majority,[17][32] while smaller numbers included Germans, French, Swiss, Poles, Greeks, Czechs, Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Nordics, Romanians, Slovenes, Croats, Belgians, Austrians and Hungarians.[33][34]

During the 1970s and 1980s, Southern Cone nations like Argentina and Uruguay with a predominantly Spanish and Italian-descents population, were plagued by oppressive dictatorships. Consequently, many individuals from these countries sought refuge in Venezuela, attracted by the promise of safety and stability.[35] Additionally, Venezuela became a destination for other European Latin Americans communities, including Colombians, Chileans, Dominicans, Brazilians, Cubans, and others, fleeing economic struggles, political unrest, and autocratic regimes in their homelands.[23]

## Religion

[edit]

Religion in Venezuela (2022)[36]

1. Catholicism (64.2%)
2. Evangelicalism (22.0%)
3. Other Christians (3.90%)
4. No religion (8.30%)
5. Others (1.60%)

Main article: Religion in Venezuela

The overwhelming majority of Venezuelans denote themselves as adherents of Catholicism; this is true nominally, if not in practice. According to the 2011 census, 88.3 per cent of the population is Christian, primarily Roman Catholic (71%), 17 per cent Protestant, and the remaining 0.03 per cent Mormons (LDS Church).[37] The Venezuelans without religion are 9% (atheist 2%, agnostic or indifferent 6% and doesn't know/doesn't respond 1% ), almost 3% of the population follow other religions (1% of them are of Santería).[38][39]

Religious affiliation in Venezuela. (2011)[38][39] Affiliation  | % of Venezuela population

|

Christian  |

88.3%

Catholic |

71%

Protestant |

17%

Mormon |

0.3%

Non-Christian faiths  |

2.7%

Jewish  |

0.05%

Muslim |

0.4%

Santería |

Other Non-Christian faiths  |

1.25%

Unaffiliated |

Agnostic/indifferent  |

Atheist |

Don't know/refused answer  |

Total  |

100%

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Censo 2011" (PDF). ine.gov.ve. p. 29\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
2. ^ "Censos de población y vivienda". Ine.gob.ve. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
3. ^ a b c "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
4. ^ a b c "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950–2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
5. ^ Venezuela Situation at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
6. ^ "World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations". population.un.org. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011.
7. ^ "World Bank Open Data". World Bank Open Data.
8. ^ a b "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
9. ^ "United Nations Statistics Division – Demographic and Social Statistics". United Nations.
10. ^ "3. Live births, deaths, and infant deaths, latest available year (2002–2016)" (PDF). United Nations. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
11. ^ "Demographic and Social Statistics". UN Statistics Division. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
12. ^ "World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations". population.un.org.
13. ^ a b c d "Resultado Básico del XIV Censo Nacional de Población y Vivienda 2011 (Mayo 2014)" (PDF). Ine.gov.ve. p. 29. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
14. ^ Salazar-Flores (February 2015). "Admixture and genetic relationships of Mexican Mestizos regarding Latin American and Caribbean populations based on 13 CODIS-STRs". Homo. 66 (1): 44–59\. doi:10.1016/j.jchb.2014.08.005. hdl:11336/15953. ISSN 0018-442X. PMID 25435058. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
15. ^ Castro de Guerra (June 2011). "Gender Differences in Ancestral Contribution and Admixture in Venezuelan Populations". Human Biology. 3 (83): 345–361\. doi:10.3378/027.083.0302. PMID 21740152. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
16. ^ Godinho, Neide (2008). "O impacto das migrações na constituição genética de populações latino-americanas". UnB. Universidade de Brasília. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
17. ^ a b Martinez, Helios; Rodriguez-Larralde, Alvaro; Castro de Guerra, Dinora; Izaguirre, Mary (May 2007). "Admixture Estimates for Caracas, Venezuela, Based on Autosomal, Y-Chromosome, and mtDNA Markers". Human Biology. 2 (79): 201–213\. doi:10.1353/hub.2007.0032. PMID 18027815. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
18. ^ Veloz, Alberto. "La octava isla de las Canarias se llama Venezuela". El Estimulo. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
19. ^ Cervera, Cesar (November 2016). "La historia olvidada de cómo Venezuela fue vendida por Carlos V a los banqueros alemanes". ABC. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
20. ^ Mirza, Rocky (2007). The Rise and Fall of the American Empire: A Re-Interpretation of History, Economics and Philosophy: 1492-2006. Trafford Publishing. p. 514\. ISBN 9781425113834.
21. ^ Soriano, Cristina (1 December 2018). Tides of Revolution: Information, Insurgencies, and the Crisis of Colonial Rule in Venezuela. University of New Mexico Press. p. 336\. ISBN 9780826359872. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
22. ^ D'Elia, Pierina (2005). "La inmigración italiana en Venezuela" (PDF). Cuadernos Americanos. 6 (114): 103–110.
23. ^ a b c Rey Gonzalez, Juan Carlos (15 March 2024). Huellas de la inmigración en Venezuela. Fundación Empresas Polar. p. 296\. ISBN 978-980-379-296-1. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
24. ^ Grisanti, Luis Xavier. "Venezuela y la imigración corsa". Analítica. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
25. ^ Colina de Dávila, Nancy (1999). Mérida : entre tiempos de cambios. Laboratorios Valmorca. p. 124.
26. ^ Farias, Isabel. "Inmigrantes italianos en los Andes". Italiani.it. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
27. ^ Espinola, Ebelio (2002). "Actividades del Banco Aleman antioqueno en Venezuela en el contexto de la Segunda Guerra Mundial". Montalbán: 131–145.
28. ^ Venezuela. Embajada (U.S.) (1954). Venezuela Up-to-date. Embassy of Venezuela. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
29. ^ Niki (2 May 2019). "Presbyterian Mission to Venezuela: A Brief History". Presbyterian Historical Society. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
30. ^ Berglund, Susan (1980). The "Musiues" in Venezuela : immigration goals and reality, 1936-1961 (Thesis). University of Massachusetts Amherst. doi:10.7275/jxx1-h426.
31. ^ La Comunidad Europea en Venezuela. Servicio de Prensa e Información, Delegación para América Latina de la Comisión de las Comunidades Europeas. 1985. p. 117.
32. ^ Wright, Winthrop R. (28 August 2013). Café con leche: Race, Class, and National Image in Venezuela. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292758407.
33. ^ Banko, Catalina (2016). "Un refugio en Venezuela: los inmigrantes de Hungría, Croacia, Eslovenia, Rumania y Bulgaria". Tiempo y Espacio. 26 (65): 66–75\. ISSN 1315-9496. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
34. ^ Lameda Luna, Hernán (2014). Foundational Cycles of cities in Venezuela. Urban settlements from the colony to the twentieth century (in Spanish). Maracaibo: Revista Arbitrada de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Diseño de la Universidad del Zulia. p. 24. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
35. ^ Markous, Paula (9 November 2018). "La Venezuela saudita: cómo era vivir en el país del "dame dos"". La Nación. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
36. ^ Statistica.com website
37. ^ "Venezuela - Statistics and Church Facts - Total Church Membership". Mormon Newsroom. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
38. ^ a b Aguire, Jesus Maria (June 2012). "Informe Sociográfico sobre la religión en Venezuela" (PDF) (in Spanish). El Centro Gumilla. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
39. ^ a b "Venezuela". State.gov. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

## References

[edit]

* This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.
* Acosta, Maruja. "Urbanizacion y clases sociales en Venezuela." Revista Interamericana de Planificacion Bogota, 7, No. 26, June 1973, 22–44.
* The article contains a statistical reference from the Wikipedia public domain Mestizos (2006).

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