$27.1 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 11.9% (1992 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
21,130,000 kW capacity; 58,541 million kWh produced, 2,830 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing,
textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Agriculture:
accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; products - corn, sorghum,
sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish;
not self-sufficient in food other than meat
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf for the international drug trade
on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit the country
from Colombia; important money-laundering hub
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries
(1970-89), $10 million
Currency:
1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos

*Venezuela, Economy

Exchange rates:
bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 80.18 (January 1993), 68.38 (1992), 56.82 (1991),
46.90 (1990), 34.68 (1989), 14.50 (fixed rate 1987-88)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

*Venezuela, Communications

Railroads:
542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all single track, government
owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned
Highways:
77,785 km total; 22,780 km paved, 24,720 km gravel, 14,450 km earth roads,
and 15,835 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
Pipelines:
crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km
Ports:
Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Puerto Ordaz
Merchant marine:
56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 837,375 GRT/1,344,795 DWT; includes 1
short-sea passenger, 1 passenger cargo, 19 cargo, 2 container, 4
roll-on/roll-off, 18 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 6 bulk,
1 vehicle carrier, 1 combination bulk
Airports:
total:
360
usable:
331
with permanent-surface runways:
133
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
15
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
87
Telecommunications:
modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 181 AM, no
FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite ground
stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

*Venezuela, Defense Forces

Branches:
National A