Venezuela
South America · South America
Oil-rich country in deep crisis: hyperinflation history, very high crime, mass emigration.
At a Glance
📈Venezuela's Human Development Index
0.699
Medium human development#117 of 191 countries worldwide, #10 of 12 in South America.
Higher than 39% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Has the world's largest proven oil reserves — more than Saudi Arabia.
- GDP contracted by over 70% between 2014 and 2020 — one of the worst economic collapses in peacetime history.
- Over 7 million people — roughly 25% of the population — have emigrated.
Quick Facts
Capital
Caracas
Language
Spanish
Currency
Bs.S. VES
Area
882,050 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
98Mbps
Mobile
29Mbps
GDP / Capita
$3K
Unemployment
5.3%
Innovation (GII)
13.7
GNI / Capita
$4K
FDI Inflows
1.4%
Cost of Living
37.7
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.657 → 0.699 (+0.042)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Venezuela's Human Development Index?
Venezuela's Human Development Index is 0.699 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #117 of 191 countries.
Is Venezuela safe?
Venezuela scores 2.52 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #132 of 160 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.