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Compare Venezuela (2001) - France (2002)

Compare Venezuela (2001) z France (2002)

 Venezuela (2001)France (2002)
 VenezuelaFrance
Administrative divisions 23 states (estados, singular - estado),1 federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia

note:
the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes


note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Age structure 0-14 years:
32.11% (male 3,962,517; female 3,716,880)

15-64 years:
63.17% (male 7,581,589; female 7,526,467)

65 years and over:
4.72% (male 515,687; female 613,670) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 5,675,269; female 5,401,661)


15-64 years: 65.2% (male 19,503,556; female 19,479,646)


65 years and over: 16.3% (male 3,948,433; female 5,757,418) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
Airports 371 (2000 est.) 477 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
124

over 3,047 m:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
12

1,524 to 2,437 m:
32

914 to 1,523 m:
59

under 914 m:
17 (2000 est.)
total: 273


over 3,047 m: 13


2,438 to 3,047 m: 28


1,524 to 2,437 m: 95


914 to 1,523 m: 80


under 914 m: 57 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
247

1,524 to 2,437 m:
10

914 to 1,523 m:
97

under 914 m:
140 (2000 est.)
total: 204


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 74


under 914 m: 128 (2002)
Area total:
912,050 sq km

land:
882,050 sq km

water:
30,000 sq km
total: 547,030 sq km


land: 545,630 sq km


water: 1,400 sq km


note: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas administrative divisions
Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of California slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Background Venezuela was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: drug-related conflicts along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples. Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the advent of the euro in January 1999. Presently, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus.
Birth rate 20.65 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 11.94 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$26.4 billion

expenditures:
$27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues: $210 billion


expenditures: $240 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital Caracas Paris
Climate tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
Coastline 2,800 km 3,427 km
Constitution 30 December 1999 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992, Amsterdam Treaty in 1996, Treaty of Nice in 2000; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993
Country name conventional long form:
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

conventional short form:
Venezuela

local long form:
Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela

local short form:
Venezuela
conventional long form: French Republic


conventional short form: France


local long form: Republique Francaise


local short form: France
Currency bolivar (VEB) euro (EUR); French franc (FRF)


note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Death rate 4.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 9.04 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $34 billion (2000) $106 billion (1998)
Dependent areas - Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna


note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Donna J. HRINAK

embassy:
Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080

mailing address:
P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037

telephone:
[58] (2) 975-6411

FAX:
[58] (2) 975-6710
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. LEACH


embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris


mailing address: PSC 116, B210 APO AE 09777


telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22


FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83


consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Alfredo TORO Hardy

chancery:
1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:
[1] (202) 342-2214

FAX:
[1] (202) 342-6820

consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTE


chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007


telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000


FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
Disputes - international claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo (river); maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and French Guiana; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia, claimed by France and Vanuatu
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $6.3 billion (1997) (1997)
Economic aid - recipient $35 million with more assistance likely as a result of flooding (1999) -
Economy - overview The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. Venezuelan officials estimate that GDP grew by 3.2% in 2000. A strong rebound in international oil prices fueled the recovery from the steep recession in 1999. Nevertheless, a weak nonoil sector and capital flight undercut the recovery. The bolivar is widely believed to be overvalued by as much as 50%. The government is still rebuilding after massive flooding and landslides in December 1999 caused an estimated $15 billion to $20 billion in damage. France is in the midst of a gradual transition, from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers, but still retains large stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, and Renault, and remains dominant in some sectors, particularly the power, public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. The government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment but has done little to reform an overly expensive pension system, rigid labor market, and restrictive bureaucracy which discourage hiring and make the tax burden one of the highest in Europe. In addition to the tax burden, the reduction of the workweek to 35 hours has drawn criticism for lowering the competitiveness of French businesses. The current economic slowdown has thrown the government's goal of balancing the budget by 2004 off track.
Electricity - consumption 75.53 billion kWh (1999) 408.51 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 73.172 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 3.737 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 81.215 billion kWh (1999) 513.92 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
32.16%

hydro:
67.84%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 10%


hydro: 13%


nuclear: 77%


other: 1% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m


highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Environment - current issues sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Marine Dumping
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
Exchange rates bolivares per US dollar - 699.700 (January 2001), 679.960 (2000), 605.717 (1999), 547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996) euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Adina BASTIDAS Castillo; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Adina BASTIDAS Castillo; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)

election results:
Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of vote - 60%

note:
government coalition - Patriotic Pole or Polo Patriotico consists of MVR, MAS, and PPT
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)


head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN (since 7 May 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (changed from seven-year term in 2001); election last held 21 April and 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round NA April 2007, second round NA May 2007); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president


election results: Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN (FN) 18.04%
Exports $32.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $307.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners US and Puerto Rico 57%, Colombia, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Italy (1999) EU 61.3% (Germany 14.7%, UK 9.8%, Spain 9.6%, Italy 8.8%), US 8.7% (2001)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French dependent areas
GDP purchasing power parity - $146.2 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1.54 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
5%

industry:
24%

services:
71% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 3%


industry: 26%


services: 71% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $25,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.2% (2000 est.) 1.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 8 00 N, 66 00 W 46 00 N, 2 00 E
Geography - note on major sea and air routes linking North and South America largest West European nation
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) 3 (2002)
Highways total:
96,155 km

paved:
32,308 km

unpaved:
63,847 km (1997 est.)
total: 892,900 km


paved: 892,900 km (including 9,900 km of expressways)


unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
1.5%

highest 10%:
35.6% (1995)
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 25% (1995)
Illicit drugs illicit producer of opium for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; important money-laundering center; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
Imports $14.7 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $303.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
Imports - partners US 53%, Japan, Colombia, Italy, Germany, France, Brazil, Canada (1999) EU 58.6% (Germany 16.7%, Benelux 7.0%, Italy 9.1%, UK 7.5%), US 8.9% (2001)
Independence 5 July 1811 (from Spain) 486 (unified by Clovis)
Industrial production growth rate NA -0.3% (2002)
Industries petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Infant mortality rate 25.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 4.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 13% (2000) 1.8% (2002 est.)
International organization participation CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 16 (2000) 62 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,900 sq km (1993 est.) 20,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term) Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Labor force 9.9 million (1999) 26.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.) services 71%, industry 25%, agriculture 4% (1997)
Land boundaries total:
4,993 km

border countries:
Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
total: 2,889 km


border countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km
Land use arable land:
4%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
20%

forests and woodland:
34%

other:
41% (1993 est.)
arable land: 33.3%


permanent crops: 2.11%


other: 64.59% (1998 est.)
Languages Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Legal system based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional; 165 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela

elections:
last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)

election results:
Pro-government: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other parties 7; Opposition: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other parties 13
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 23 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2004); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 83, PS 68, UDC 37, DL 35, RDES 16, PCF 16, other 66; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 355, PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, The Greens 3, other 22
Life expectancy at birth total population:
73.31 years

male:
70.29 years

female:
76.56 years (2001 est.)
total population: 79.05 years


male: 75.17 years


female: 83.14 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
91.1%

male:
91.8%

female:
90.3% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99%


male: 99%


female: 99% (1980 est.)
Location Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Map references South America, Central America and the Caribbean Europe
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
15 NM

continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM (does not apply to the Mediterranean)


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total:
36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 490,160 GRT/897,694 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 7, cargo 10, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
total: 49 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,263,691 GRT/1,769,932 DWT


ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 4, chemical tanker 9, combination bulk 1, container 3, liquefied gas 3, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 4


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: French Polynesia 2, Greece 1, Japan 1, Norway 1, Sweden 9 (2002 est.)
Military branches National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional) Army (includes marines), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure $934 million (FY99) $46.5 billion (2000)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.9% (FY99) 2.57% (2002)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
6,524,809 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 14,534,480 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
4,701,062 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 12,092,938 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
246,185 (2001 est.)
males: 390,064 (2002 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 5 July (1811) Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality noun:
Venezuelan(s)

adjective:
Venezuelan
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)


adjective: French
Natural hazards subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, potash, timber, fish
Net migration rate -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; natural gas 24,746 km
Political parties and leaders Brave Peoples Alliance or ABP [leader NA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR [leader Luis MIQUILENA]; Homeland for All or PPT [Pablo MEDINA]; Justice First [leader NA]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Felipe MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Dr. Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELASQUEZ]; Social Christian Party or COPEI [Jose CURIEL]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Ronier] Citizen adn Republican Movement or MCR [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; Democratic and European Social Rally or RDES (mainly RAD and PRG) [leader NA]; Forum of Social Republicans or FRS (offshoot from UMP) [Christine BOUTIN]; French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET]; Generation Ecology [France GAMERRE]; Hunting, Fishing, Nature, and Tradition or CPNT [Jean SAINT-JOSSE]; Independent Ecological Movement or MEI [Antoine WAECHTER]; Left Radical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Liberal-Christian Right [Charles MILLON]; Liberal Democracy or DL (originally Republican Party or PR) [Alain MADELIN]; Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; National Republican Movement or MNR [Bruno MEGRET]; Radical Party or RP [Francois LOOS]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michelle ALLIOT-MARIE]; Revolutionary Communists' League or LCR [Alain KRIVINE]; Socialist Party or PS [Francois HOLLANDE]; The Greens [Gilles LEMAIRE, national secretary]; Union for French Democracy or UDF (coalition of DL, CDS, UDF, RP, and other parties) [Francois BAYROU]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, and a part of UDF) [Alain JUPPE]; Union of the Center or UDC [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action) historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed); left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, approximately 865,000 members (claimed, of which 810,000 are actively employed); independent labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000 members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members (claimed); employers' union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or MEDEF, 750,000 companies as members (claimed)
Population 23,916,810 (July 2001 est.) 59,765,983 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 67% (1997 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.56% (2001 est.) 0.35% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
Radio broadcast stations AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998) AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios 10.75 million (1997) 55.3 million (1997)
Railways total:
584 km (248 km privately owned)

standard gauge:
584 km 1.435-m gauge
total: 31,939 km (operated by French National Railways (SNCF); 14,176 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-track)


standard gauge: 31,840 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 99 km 1.000-m gauge (2000 est.)
Religions nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2% Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.84 male(s)/female

total population:
1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
modern and expanding

domestic:
domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services

international:
3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network
general assessment: highly developed


domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries
Telephones - main lines in use 2,600,000.00; however, 3,500,000 were installed (1998) 34.86 million (yearend 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2 million (1998) 11.078 million (yearend 1998)
Television broadcast stations 66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997) 584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Total fertility rate 2.46 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.74 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 14% (2000 est.) 9.1% (2002 est.)
Waterways 7,100 km

note:
Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
14,932 km (6,969 km heavily traveled)
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