GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Captivating aerial view of Caracas with urban skyline and misty mountains in the background.A breathtaking view of Caracas skyline at twilight with a vivid sunset backdrop.

Venezuela

South America

Low safetyAffordable cost of livingHigh development

It is less peaceful than most countries.

Safety

132nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.516lower is more peacefulLow safety
#132 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
12.6per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2022
Safety index
19.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferVery lowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$3,860national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
7.1New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
15.1years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person fell 48% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 64% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$13K$25K$21,283 PPP$3,495Inflation, % a year300%0200620102015202020252006, $6,739 a person, $18,441 at PPP2007, $8,332 a person, $20,292 at PPP2008, $11,262 a person, $21,448 at PPP2009, $11,597 a person, $20,634 at PPP, inflation 27.1%2010, $13,646 a person, $20,286 at PPP, inflation 28.2%2011, $10,844 a person, $21,283 at PPP, inflation 26.1%2012, $12,582 a person, inflation 21.1%2013, $8,642 a person, inflation 40.6%2014, $7,101 a person, inflation 62.2%2015, $4,097 a person, inflation 121.7%2016, $3,671 a person, inflation 254.9%2017, $3,792 a person2018, $3,422 a person2019, $2,523 a person2020, $1,506 a person2021, $2,005 a person2022, $3,155 a person2023, $3,617 a person2024, $4,244 a person2025, $3,495 a person$0$13K$25KInflation, % a year300%0200620102015202020252006, $6,739 a person, $18,441 at PPP2007, $8,332 a person, $20,292 at PPP2008, $11,262 a person, $21,448 at PPP2009, $11,597 a person, $20,634 at PPP, inflation 27.1%2010, $13,646 a person, $20,286 at PPP, inflation 28.2%2011, $10,844 a person, $21,283 at PPP, inflation 26.1%2012, $12,582 a person, inflation 21.1%2013, $8,642 a person, inflation 40.6%2014, $7,101 a person, inflation 62.2%2015, $4,097 a person, inflation 121.7%2016, $3,671 a person, inflation 254.9%2017, $3,792 a person2018, $3,422 a person2019, $2,523 a person2020, $1,506 a person2021, $2,005 a person2022, $3,155 a person2023, $3,617 a person2024, $4,244 a person2025, $3,495 a person

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
72.7years, at birthModerate
#109 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
75WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
17.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
5.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
98 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
520EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet98 MbpsFast
Mobile29 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A breathtaking view of Caracas skyline at twilight with a vivid sunset backdrop.
How it changed

Venezuela's Human Development Index

0.709High human development

121st of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 12th of 12 in South America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #117Philippines0.720
  2. #120Morocco0.710
  3. #121Venezuela0.709
  4. #122Samoa0.708
  5. #123Nicaragua0.706
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.658 in 1990 to 0.709 in 2023.

0.600.700.800.70919902000201020231990: 0.6581991: 0.6691992: 0.6761993: 0.6801994: 0.6811995: 0.6871996: 0.6901997: 0.6981998: 0.7001999: 0.6982000: 0.7032001: 0.7082002: 0.7162003: 0.7072004: 0.7182005: 0.7282006: 0.7362007: 0.7532008: 0.7592009: 0.7602010: 0.7642011: 0.7702012: 0.7722013: 0.7732014: 0.7702015: 0.7682016: 0.7612017: 0.7492018: 0.7412019: 0.7242020: 0.6992021: 0.6962022: 0.7062023: 0.7090.600.700.8019902000201020231990: 0.6581991: 0.6691992: 0.6761993: 0.6801994: 0.6811995: 0.6871996: 0.6901997: 0.6981998: 0.7001999: 0.6982000: 0.7032001: 0.7082002: 0.7162003: 0.7072004: 0.7182005: 0.7282006: 0.7362007: 0.7532008: 0.7592009: 0.7602010: 0.7642011: 0.7702012: 0.7722013: 0.7732014: 0.7702015: 0.7682016: 0.7612017: 0.7492018: 0.7412019: 0.7242020: 0.6992021: 0.6962022: 0.7062023: 0.709

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
72.7 years2024at birthDown 0.4 years from 73.1 years in 2005
Internet users
77%2024of people onlineUp 61 points from 15% in 2006
Urban population
89%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 1 point from 89% in 2006
Births per woman
2.082024births per womanDown 0.55 from 2.63 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
34%2021of energy usedUp 19 points from 15% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 99% in 2005
Infant mortality
212024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsUp 6 from 15 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
3.4 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 2.4 t from 5.8 t in 2005
Forest area
52%2023of land under forestDown 3 points from 55% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Oil-rich country in deep crisis: hyperinflation history, very high crime, mass emigration. The case against is a low peace ranking and low incomes.

About Venezuela

Venezuela is a South American country of spectacular natural beauty, home to Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall, the extraordinary tepui flat-topped mountains of the Gran Sabana, Caribbean beaches, and the wildlife-rich Llanos plains. The culture is warm and musical, with a strong Caribbean influence in the north and Andean traditions in the highland cities. Those who travel with local knowledge and flexibility will find the landscape and the warmth of Venezuelan people among the most memorable in the continent.

Practical facts

  • CapitalCaracas
  • LanguagesSpanish
  • CurrencyVenezuelan bolívar soberano (VES)
  • Area882,050 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Venezuela's Human Development Index?

Venezuela's Human Development Index is 0.709 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #121 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Venezuela safe?

Venezuela scores 2.52 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #132 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Venezuela?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Venezuela at 37.7 (New York = 100); that is #55 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Venezuela?

Life expectancy at birth in Venezuela is 72.7 yrs (World Bank), ranked #109 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Venezuela?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Venezuela at 75.2, ranked #84 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.