# Geognos Data Export: South America
Generated: 2026-02-14T06:35:33.925Z

## Argentina
**Slug:** argentina
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇦🇷
**Codes:** cek: ar, iso2: AR, iso3: ARG, iso_num: 032, genc: ARG, stanag: ARG, internet: .ar

### Introduction

**Background:**
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. European immigrants heavily shaped the country's population and culture, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political unrest and conflict between civilian and military factions.
After World War II, former President Juan Domingo PERÓN -- the founder of the Peronist political movement -- introduced an era of populism, serving three non-consecutive terms in office until his death in 1974. Direct and indirect military interference in government throughout the PERÓN years led to a military junta taking power in 1976. In 1982, the junta failed in its bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force from the United Kingdom. Democracy was reinstated in 1983 and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the successive resignations of several presidents. The years 2003-15 saw Peronist rule by Néstor KIRCHNER (2003-07) and his spouse Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER (2007-15), who oversaw several years of strong economic growth (2003-11) followed by a gradual deterioration in the government’s fiscal situation and eventual economic stagnation and isolation. Argentina underwent a brief period of economic reform and international reintegration under Mauricio MACRI (2015-19), but a recession in 2018-19 and frustration with MACRI’s economic policies ushered in a new Peronist government in 2019 led by President Alberto FERNÁNDEZ and Vice President Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER. Argentina's high public debts, its pandemic-related inflationary pressures, and systemic monetary woes served as the catalyst for the 2023 elections, culminating with President Javier MILEI's electoral success. Argentina has since eliminated half of its government agencies and is seeking shock therapy to amend taxation and monetary policies.

### Geography

**Location:**
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

**Geographic coordinates:**
34 00 S, 64 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 2,780,400 sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 43,710 sq km

**Area - comparative:**
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

**Land boundaries:**
total: 11,968 km
border countries (5): Bolivia 942 km; Brazil 1,263 km; Chile 6,691 km; Paraguay 2,531 km; Uruguay 541 km

**Coastline:**
4,989 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

**Climate:**
mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

**Terrain:**
rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

**Elevation:**
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza; highest point in South America) 6,962 m
lowest point: Laguna del Carbón (located between Puerto San Julián and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) -105 m
mean elevation: 595 m

**Natural resources:**
fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 14.8% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.3% (2023 est.)
forest: 17.2% (2023 est.)
other: 40.4% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
13,910 sq km (2018)

**Major lakes (area sq km):**
fresh water lake(s): Lago Buenos Aires (shared with Chile) - 2,240 sq km; Lago Argentino - 1,410 sq km; Lago Viedma - 1,090 sq km; Lago San Martín (shared with Chile) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Colhué Huapi - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Chile) - 590 sq km; Lago Nahuel Huapi - 550 sq km
salt water lake(s): Laguna Mar Chiquita - 1,850 sq km;

**Major rivers (by length in km):**
Río de la Plata/Paraná river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Paraguay, and Uruguay) - 4,880 km; Paraguay (shared with Brazil [s], and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Uruguay (shared with Brazil [s] and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)

**Major aquifers:**
Guaraní Aquifer System

**Population distribution:**
one third of the population lives in Buenos Aires; pockets of agglomeration occur throughout the northern and central parts of the country; Patagonia to the south remains sparsely populated

**Natural hazards:**
San Miguel de Tucumán and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding in some areas
volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains along the Chilean border; Copahue (2,997 m) last erupted in 2000; other historically active volcanoes include Llullaillaco, Maipo, Planchón-Peteroa, San José, Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma

**Geography - note:**
second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbón is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere; shares Iguazú Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Brazil

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 45,418,098 (2025 est.)
male: 22,535,980
female: 22,882,118

**Nationality:**
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine

**Ethnic groups:**
European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and Mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous ancestry) 97.2%, Indigenous 2.4%, African descent 0.4% (2010 est.)

**Languages:**
Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

**Religions:**
Roman Catholic 62.9%, Evangelical 15.3% (Pentecostal 13%, other Evangelical 2.3%), Jehovah's Witness and Church of Jesus Christ 1.4%, other 1.2% (includes Muslim, Jewish), none 18.9% (includes agnostic and atheist), unspecified 0.3% (2019 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 5,632,983/female 5,301,778)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 15,071,215/female 14,956,069)
65 years and over: 12.8% (2024 est.) (male 2,570,596/female 3,461,743)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 49.9 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 30.3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 19.6 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 34.6 years (2025 est.)
male: 32.1 years
female: 34.6 years

**Population growth rate:**
0.26% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
10.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
one third of the population lives in Buenos Aires; pockets of agglomeration occur throughout the northern and central parts of the country; Patagonia to the south remains sparsely populated

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 92.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
15.490 million BUENOS AIRES (capital), 1.612 million Córdoba, 1.594 million Rosario, 1.226 million Mendoza, 1.027 million San Miguel de Tucumán, 914,000 La Plata (2023)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
33 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 78.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.8 years
female: 82 years

**Total fertility rate:**
1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
0.69 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
total: (2020 est.) NA

**Health expenditure:**
9.7% of GDP (2021)
15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

**Hospital bed density:**
3.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
28.3% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 7.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 21.9% (2025 est.)
male: 26.9% (2025 est.)
female: 17.1% (2025 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
2% (2018 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
49.7% (2020 est.)

**Child marriage:**
women married by age 15: 2.4% (2020)
women married by age 18: 15.5% (2020)

**Education expenditure:**
5.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
14% national budget (2023 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 99.1% (2020 est.)
male: 99.1% (2020 est.)
female: 99.2% (2020 est.)

**School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):**
total: 19 years (2022 est.)
male: 17 years (2022 est.)
female: 21 years (2022 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
deforestation; soil degradation (erosion, salinization); desertification; air pollution; water pollution

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

**Climate:**
mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 14.8% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.3% (2023 est.)
forest: 17.2% (2023 est.)
other: 40.4% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 92.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
198.141 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.022 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 102.998 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 90.122 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
12 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 1,553.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 3,035.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 631 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 89.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 17.911 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.6% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 5.85 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 27.93 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Total renewable water resources:**
876.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: República Argentina
local short form: Argentina
etymology: the name is derived from one of the Spanish words for "silver," but the origin is unclear; it may have described the land next to the Rio de la Plata ("Silver River"), a major river that forms the boundary between Argentina and Uruguay; another possible source is the Spanish explorers in the 16th century mistakenly believing that the silver ornaments they bought from inhabitants came from a local source of silver

**Government type:**
presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Buenos Aires
geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 22 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name translates as "fair winds" in Spanish; the full original name, Nuestra Senora Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires, was given only to the port; the city was founded separately from the port in 1536 and was named Ciudad de la Santissima Trinidad (City of the Most Holy Trinity); the shortened version of the port name eventually became the city name

**Administrative divisions:**
23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 autonomous city*; Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires*, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlántico Sur (Tierra del Fuego - Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands), Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica

**Legal system:**
civil law system based on Western European legal systems
note: in 2015, Argentina adopted a new civil code, replacing the old one in force since 1871

**Constitution:**
history: several previous; latest effective 11 May 1853
amendment process: a declaration of proposed amendments requires two-thirds majority vote by both houses of the National Congress followed by approval by an ad hoc, multi-member constitutional convention

**International law organization participation:**
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years

**Suffrage:**
18-70 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-17 years of age: optional for national elections

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
head of government: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified majority vote (to win, a candidate must receive at least 45% of votes, or 40% of votes and a 10-point lead over the second-place candidate; if neither occurs, a second round is held); the president serves a 4-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term)
most recent election date: 22 October 2023, with a runoff held 19 November 2023
election results:
2023: Javier Gerardo MILEI elected president in second round; percent vote in first round - Sergio Tomás MASSA (FR) 36.7%, Javier Gerardo MILEI (PL) 30%, Patricia BULLRICH 23.8% (JxC/PRO), Juan SCHIARETTI (PJ) 6.8%, Myriam BREGMAN (PTS) 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Javier Gerardo MILEI 55.7%, Sergio Tomás MASSA 44.3%
2019: Alberto Ángel FERNÁNDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Alberto Angel FERNÁNDEZ (TODOS) 48.1%, Mauricio MACRI (PRO) 40.4%, Roberto LAVAGNA (independent) 6.2%, other 5.3%
expected date of next election: October 2027

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: National Congress (Congreso de la nación)
legislative structure: bicameral

**Legislative branch - lower chamber:**
chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
number of seats: 257 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/22/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Homeland (UP) (48); Freedom Advances (LLA) (28); Together for Change (JxC/Juntos) (27); Other (25)
percentage of women in chamber: 42.4%
expected date of next election: October 2025

**Legislative branch - upper chamber:**
chamber name: Senate (Senado)
number of seats: 72 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 6 years
most recent election date: 10/22/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Homeland (UP) (9); Freedom Advances (LLA) (6); Together for Change (JxC/Juntos) (2); Front for the Renewal of Social Concord – Federal Innovation (2); Federal Renewal (2); For Santa Cruz (2); Other (1)
percentage of women in chamber: 45.8%
expected date of next election: October 2025

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of the court president, vice president, 2 judges, 1 vacancy)
judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; ministers can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75; extensions beyond 75 require renomination by the president and approval by the Senate
subordinate courts: federal-level appellate, district, and territorial courts; provincial-level supreme, appellate, and first-instance courts

**Political parties:**
Avanza Libertad or AL
Civic Coalition ARI or CC-ARI
Consenso Federal (Federal Consensus) or CF
Frente Cívico por Santiago (Civic Front for Santiago)
Frente de Izquierda y de los Trabajadores – Unidad (Workers' Left Front) or FIT-U (coalition of leftist parties in lower house; includes PTS, PO, and MST)
Frente de la Concordia Misionero (Front for the Renewal of Social Concord) or FRCS
Frente Renovador (Renewal Front) or FR
Generación por un Encuentro Nacional (Generation for a National Encounter) or GEN
Hacemos por Córdoba (We do for Cordoba) or HC
Hacemos por Nuestro Pais (We Do For Our Country) or NHP
Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) or JxC (includes CC-ARI, PRO, and UCR); note - primary opposition coalition since 2019
Juntos Somos Río Negro (Together We Are Rio Negro) or JSRN
Partido Justicialista (Justicialist Party) or PJ
La Cámpora
La Libertad Avanza (The Liberty Advances) or LLA
Movimiento Popular Neuquino (Neuquén People's Movement) or MPN
Movimiento Socialista de los Trabajadores (Workers' Socialist Movement) or MST
Partido de los Trabajadores Socialistas (Socialist Workers' Party) or PTS
Partido Demócrata (Democratic Party) or PDN
Partido Libertario (Libertarian Party) or PL; note - party is also a founding member of the coalition La Libertad Avanza
Partido Obrero (Workers' Party) or PO
Partido Socialista or PS
Propuesta Republicana (Republican Proposal) or PRO
Unidad Federal (coalition of provencial parties in the lower house; includes FRCS and JSRN)
Unión Cívica Radical (Radical Civic Union) or UCR
Unión por la Patria (Union for the Homeland) or UP (formerly Frente de Todos (Everyone's Front) or FdT) (includes FR, La Cámpora, and PJ); note - ruling coalition since 2019; includes several national and provincial Peronist political parties
Vamos con Vos (Let's Go with You) or VcV

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Alejandro (Alec) Carlos Francisco OXENFORD (since 11 June 2025)
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
email address and website:
eeeuu@mrecic.gov.ar
https://eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar/en
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter LAMELAS (since 4 November 2025)
embassy:
Avenida Colombia 4300, (C1425GMN) Buenos Aires
mailing address: 3130 Buenos Aires Place, Washington DC 20521-3130
telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240
email address and website:
Buenosairespublicaffairs@state.gov
https://ar.usembassy.gov/

**International organization participation:**
AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, CABEI, CELAC, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

**Independence:**
9 July 1816 (from Spain)

**National holiday:**
Revolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810)

**Flag:**
description: three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), white, and sky blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face that is known as the Sun of May
meaning: the colors represent the clear skies and snow of the Andes Mountains; the sun commemorates the first mass demonstration in favor of independence on 25 May 1810, when the sun broke through the clouds; the sun is designed to look like Inti, the Incan god of the sun

**National symbol(s):**
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)

**National color(s):**
sky blue, white

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Himno Nacional Argentino" (Argentine National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Vicente LOPEZ y PLANES/Jose Blas PARERA
history: adopted 1813; Vicente LOPEZ was inspired to write the anthem after watching a play about the 1810 May Revolution against Spain; a 1900 presidential decree declared that only the first and last verses would be considered official, rather than the original nine verses

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 12 (7 cultural, 5 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Los Glaciares National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Iguazú National Park (n); Cueva de las Manos (c); Valdés Península (n); Ischigualasto/Talampaya National Parks (n); Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba (c); Quebrada de Humahuaca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
large diversified economy; financial risks from debt obligations, rapid inflation, and reduced investor appetites; resource-rich, export-led growth model; increasing trade relations with China; G20 and OAS leader; tendency to nationalize businesses and under-report inflation

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$1.213 trillion (2024 est.)
$1.234 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.255 trillion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
-1.7% (2024 est.)
-1.6% (2023 est.)
5.3% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$26,500 (2024 est.)
$27,100 (2023 est.)
$27,600 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$633.267 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
73.1% (2022 est.)
47.1% (2021 est.)
40.5% (2020 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 6% (2024 est.)
industry: 24% (2024 est.)
services: 53.4% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**GDP - composition, by end use:**
household consumption: 68.1% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 15% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 15.8% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 15.3% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -12.8% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

**Agricultural products:**
maize, soybeans, sugarcane, wheat, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, beef, potatoes, chicken (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

**Industrial production growth rate:**
-7.2% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
22.286 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
7.9% (2024 est.)
6.2% (2023 est.)
6.9% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 21.2% (2024 est.)
male: 19.8% (2024 est.)
female: 23% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
41.7% (2023 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
42.4 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 23.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 1.9% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 31% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $115.69 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $139.037 billion (2023 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

**Taxes and other revenues:**
10% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

**Current account balance:**
$6.285 billion (2024 est.)
-$20.956 billion (2023 est.)
-$4.055 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$96.899 billion (2024 est.)
$82.947 billion (2023 est.)
$102.928 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
Brazil 18%, USA 9%, Chile 8%, China 8%, India 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
soybean meal, corn, trucks, soybean oil, crude petroleum (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$79.999 billion (2024 est.)
$92.3 billion (2023 est.)
$97.399 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
Brazil 23%, China 20%, USA 12%, Paraguay 5%, Germany 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
soybeans, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, natural gas, cars (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$29.56 billion (2024 est.)
$23.081 billion (2023 est.)
$44.795 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Debt - external:**
$74.362 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

**Exchange rates:**
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
914.695 (2024 est.)
296.258 (2023 est.)
130.617 (2022 est.)
94.991 (2021 est.)
70.539 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 47.631 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 114.667 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 31 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 11.393 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 27.027 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 16.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Nuclear energy:**
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 3 (2025)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.64GW (2025 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 6.3% (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
production: 869,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 1.936 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 807,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 749,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 2.483 billion barrels (2021 est.)

**Natural gas:**
production: 43.69 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 46.028 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 2.344 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 5.225 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 396.464 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
78.496 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 6.42 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2024 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 64.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
one of South America's biggest media markets; dozens of TV networks, hundreds of radio stations, and more than 150 daily newspapers (2023)

**Internet country code:**
.ar

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 11.5 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2023 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
LV

**Airports:**
764 (2025)

**Heliports:**
148 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 17,866 km (2018)

**Merchant marine:**
total: 201 (2023)
by type: container ship 1, bulk carrier 1 general cargo 8, oil tanker 33, other 158

**Ports:**
total ports: 37 (2024)
large: 1
medium: 2
small: 10
very small: 24
ports with oil terminals: 19
key ports: Buenos Aires, Campana, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Puerto Belgrano, Puerto Ingeniero White, Puerto Madryn, Rosario, San Sebastian Bay, Santa Fe, Ushuaia, Zarate

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic (Fuerzas Armadas de la República Argentina): Argentine Army (Ejercito Argentino, EA), Navy of the Argentine Republic (Armada Republica, ARA; includes naval aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA)
Ministry of Security: Gendarmería Nacional Argentina (National Gendarmerie), Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval) (2025)
note: all federal police forces are under the Ministry of Security

**Military expenditures:**
0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 75,000 active-duty Armed Forces (45,000 Army; 15,000 Navy, including about 3,500 marines; 15,000 Air Force) (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the inventory of Argentina's armed forces is a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; in recent years, France and the US have been the leading suppliers of equipment; Argentina has an indigenous defense industry that produces air, land, and naval systems (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription suspended in 1995; citizens can still be drafted in times of crisis, national emergency, or war, or if the Defense Ministry is unable to fill all vacancies to keep the military functional (2025)
note 1: as of 2024, women comprised nearly 20% of the active-duty military
note 2: in 2025, the Argentine Government announced the creation of a Voluntary Military Service program for people aged 18–28 to be managed by the Ministries of Defense and Human Capital; the program's goals include to instill values like discipline and patriotism while offering training in trades such as cooking, mechanics, and security, alongside opportunities to complete compulsory education

**Military deployments:**
230 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (2025)

**Military - note:**
the Argentine military’s primary responsibilities are territorial defense and protecting the country’s sovereignty; duties also include border security, countering narcotics trafficking, and other internal missions, such as disaster response and infrastructure development; it conducts support operations and has bases in Antarctica to promote an active presence in areas of national territory that are sparsely populated; the military also participates in both bilateral and multinational training exercises and supports UN peacekeeping operations
Argentina participates in the Tripartite Command, an interagency security mechanism created by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to exchange information and combat transnational threats, such as crime and terrorism, in the Tri-Border Area; in addition, Argentina and Chile have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force, designed to be made available to the UN; Argentina has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation
the Army and Navy were both created in 1810 during the Argentine War of Independence, while the Air Force was established in 1945; the military conducted coups d'état in 1930, 1943, 1955, 1962, 1966, and 1976; the 1976 coup, aka the "National Reorganization Process," marked the beginning of the so-called "Dirty War," a period of state-sponsored terrorism that saw the deaths or disappearances of thousands of Argentinians; the defeat in the 1982 Falklands War led to the downfall of the military junta (2025)

### Space

**Space agency/agencies:**
Argentina National Space Activities Commission (Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE; formed in 1991) (2025)
note: CONAE’s predecessor was the National Commission for Space Research (Comisión Nacional de Investigaciones Espaciales, CNIE; formed in 1960)

**Space launch site(s):**
Manuel Belgrano Space Center (Buenos Aires province); Punta Indio Space Center (Buenos Aires province); Teofilo Tabanera Space Center (CETT; Cordoba Province; testing/mission control) (2025)

**Space program overview:**
has a national space program and a history in the development of space-related capabilities, including rockets and satellites; develops, builds, and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites, often in partnership with other countries; developing additional satellites with more advanced payloads; contracts with commercial and other government space agencies for launches, but has a domestic rocket program and is developing space launch vehicle (SLV) capabilities; cooperates with a broad range of space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, China, the European Space Agency and its member states (particularly France, Italy), and the US; also has a commercial space industry (2025)

**Key space-program milestones:**
1961-1967 - launched first rocket (Alfa Centauro) and was first country in Latin America to send an animal into space
1997 - first domestically built communications satellite (Nahuel-1A) launched on European satellite launch vehicle (SLV)
2007 - launch of first sub-orbital test rocket for domestic SLV (Tronador) project
2018 - first domestically built, synthetic-aperture-radar remote sensing satellite (SAOCOM 1A) launched by US
2020-2021 - worked with Mexico to create the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE)
2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration
2025 - continued development of two-stage Tronador SLV

### Terrorism

**Terrorist group(s):**
Terrorist group(s): Hizballah
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 9,175 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 74 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 34 (2024 est.)

---

## Bolivia
**Slug:** bolivia
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇧🇴
**Codes:** cek: bl, iso2: BO, iso3: BOL, iso_num: 068, genc: BOL, stanag: BOL, internet: .bo

### Introduction

**Background:**
Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simón BOLÍVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of coups and countercoups, with the last coup occurring in 1980. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production.
In 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES as president -- by the widest margin of any leader since 1982 -- after he ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the poor and indigenous majority. In 2009 and 2014, MORALES easily won reelection, and his party maintained control of the legislative branch. In 2016, MORALES narrowly lost a referendum to approve a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to compete in the 2019 presidential election. A subsequent Supreme Court ruling stating that term limits violate human rights provided the justification for MORALES to run despite the referendum, but rising violence, pressure from the military, and widespread allegations of electoral fraud ultimately forced him to flee the country. An interim government, led by President Jeanine AÑEZ Chávez, held new elections in 2020, and Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora was elected president.

### Geography

**Location:**
Central South America, southwest of Brazil

**Geographic coordinates:**
17 00 S, 65 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 1,098,581 sq km
land: 1,083,301 sq km
water: 15,280 sq km

**Area - comparative:**
slightly less than three times the size of Montana

**Land boundaries:**
total: 7,252 km
border countries (5): Argentina 942 km; Brazil 3,403 km; Chile 942 km; Paraguay 753 km; Peru 1,212 km

**Coastline:**
0 km (landlocked)

**Maritime claims:**
none (landlocked)

**Climate:**
varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

**Terrain:**
rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

**Elevation:**
highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
mean elevation: 1,192 m

**Natural resources:**
lithium, tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 35.8% (2023 est.)
arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 50.6% (2023 est.)
other: 13.5% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
2,972 sq km (2017)

**Major lakes (area sq km):**
fresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Peru) - 8,030 sq km
salt water lake(s): Lago Poopo - 1,340 sq km

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)

**Major aquifers:**
Amazon Basin

**Population distribution:**
a high-altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes, known as the Altiplano, is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz, located on the eastern side of the Andes

**Natural hazards:**
flooding in the northeast (March to April)
volcanism: volcanic activity in Andes Mountains on the border with Chile; historically active volcanoes in this region are Irruputuncu (5,163 m), which last erupted in 1995, and the Olca-Paruma volcanic complex (5,762 m to 5,167 m)

**Geography - note:**
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 12,436,103 (2025 est.)
male: 6,257,914
female: 6,178,189

**Nationality:**
noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian

**Ethnic groups:**
Mestizo (mixed White and Indigenous ancestry) 68%, Indigenous 20%, White 5%, Cholo/Chola 2%, African descent 1%, other 1%, unspecified 3%; 44% other Indigenous group, predominantly Quechua or Aymara (2009 est.)
note: results among surveys vary based on the wording of the ethnicity question and the available response choices; the 2001 national census did not provide "Mestizo" as a response choice, resulting in a much higher proportion of respondents identifying themselves as belonging to one of the available indigenous ethnicity choices; the use of "Mestizo" and "Cholo" varies among response choices in surveys, with surveys using the terms interchangeably, providing one or the other as a response choice, or providing the two as separate response choices

**Languages:**
Spanish (official) 68.1%, Quechua (official) 17.2%, Aymara (official) 10.5%, Guarani (official) 0.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.1%; note - Spanish and all Indigenous languages are official (2012 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

**Religions:**
Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 19.6% (Evangelical (non-specific) 11.9%, Evangelical Baptist 2.1%, Evangelical Pentecostal 1.8%, Evangelical Methodist 0.7%, Adventist 2.8%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), Believer (not belonging to the church) 0.9%, other 4.8%, atheist 1.7%, agnostic 0.6%, none 6.1%, unspecified 1.3% (2023 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 28.5% (male 1,792,803/female 1,718,081)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 4,002,587/female 3,937,953)
65 years and over: 7% (2024 est.) (male 397,384/female 463,166)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 54 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 42.9 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 11 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 9.1 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 27 years (2025 est.)
male: 26.2 years
female: 27 years

**Population growth rate:**
1.01% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
17.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
-0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
a high-altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes, known as the Altiplano, is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz, located on the eastern side of the Andes

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 71.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
1.936 million LA PAZ (capital), 1.820 million Santa Cruz, 1.400 million Cochabamba (2022); 278,000 Sucre (constitutional capital) (2018)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Mother's mean age at first birth:**
21.1 years (2008 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
146 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 22.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 24.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 72.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 71 years
female: 74 years

**Total fertility rate:**
2.13 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
1.04 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 81% of population (2022 est.)
total: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 19% of population (2022 est.)
total: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
8.2% of GDP (2021)
16.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

**Hospital bed density:**
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 51.4% of population (2022 est.)
total: 85.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 48.6% of population (2022 est.)
total: 14.2% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
20.2% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 2.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 11% (2025 est.)
male: 18.9% (2025 est.)
female: 3.2% (2025 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
3.4% (2016 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
50.2% (2022 est.)

**Child marriage:**
women married by age 15: 3.4% (2016)
women married by age 18: 19.7% (2016)
men married by age 18: 5.2% (2016)

**Education expenditure:**
8.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
10.8% national budget (2024 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 95.6% (2023 est.)
male: 97.8% (2023 est.)
female: 93.5% (2023 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
deforestation from agricultural clearing and international demand for timber; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

**Climate:**
varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 35.8% (2023 est.)
arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 50.6% (2023 est.)
other: 13.5% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 71.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
21.552 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 13.647 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 7.881 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
24.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 122.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 673.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 73.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 150.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.219 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.4% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 252.91 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 32 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 1.92 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Total renewable water resources:**
574 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Plurinational State of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia
former: Upper Peru
etymology: the country is named in honor of Simón BOLÍVAR, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence

**Government type:**
presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital)
geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: La Paz is a shortening of the original name of the city, Pueblo Nuevo de Nuestra Señora de La Paz (New Town of Our Lady of Peace); Sucre is named after Antonio José de SUCRE (1795-1830), the second president of Bolivia
note: at approximately 3,630 m above sea level, La Paz's elevation makes it the highest capital city in the world

**Administrative divisions:**
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija

**Legal system:**
civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and ethnic groups' pre-colonial law

**Constitution:**
history: many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 to 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009
amendment process: proposed through public petition by at least 20% of voters or by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the Assembly and approval in a referendum

**International law organization participation:**
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025)
head of government: President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot one of 3 ways: candidate wins at least 50% of the vote, or at least 40% of the vote and 10% more than the next highest candidate; otherwise, a second round is held and the winner determined by simple majority vote; president and vice president are elected by majority vote to serve a 5-year term; no term limits
most recent election date: 17 August 2025
election results:
2025: Rodrigo PAZ Pereira elected president in second round; percent vote in first round - Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (PDC) 32.1%, Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramírez (LIBRE) 26.7%, Samuel DORIA MEDINA Auza (UN) 19.7%, Andrónico RODRÌGUEZ Ledezma (AP) 8.5%, Manfred REYES Villa (APB Súmate) 6.8%, Eduardo DEL CASTILLO (MAS) 3.2%, other 3%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo PAZ Pereira 55%, Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramírez 45%
2020: Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora elected president; percent of vote - Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (MAS) 55.1%; Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (CC) 28.8%; Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca (Creemos) 14%; other 2.1%
2019: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (MAS) 61%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana (UN) 24.5%; Jorge QUIROGA Ramirez (POC) 9.1%; other 5.4%
expected date of next election: 2030
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: Plurinational Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional)
legislative structure: bicameral

**Legislative branch - lower chamber:**
chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
number of seats: 130 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 8/17/2025
parties elected and seats per party: Christian Democratic Party (PDC) (49); LIBRE (39); Unity (26); Popular Alliance (8); Other (8)
percentage of women in chamber: 50.8%
expected date of next election: August 2030

**Legislative branch - upper chamber:**
chamber name: Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores)
number of seats: 36 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 8/17/2025
parties elected and seats per party: Christian Democratic Party (PDC) (16); LIBRE (12); Unity (7); Other (1)
percentage of women in chamber: 58.3%
expected date of next election: August 2030

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (consists of 12 judges organized into civil, penal, social, and administrative chambers); Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 7 primary and 7 alternate magistrates); Plurinational Electoral Organ (consists of 7 members and 6 alternates); National Agro-Environment Court (consists of 5 primary and 5 alternate judges; Council of the Judiciary (consists of 3 primary and 3 alternate judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court, Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal, National Agro-Environmental Court, and Council of the Judiciary candidates pre-selected by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and elected by direct popular vote; judges elected for 6-year terms; Plurinational Electoral Organ judges appointed - 6 by the Legislative Assembly and 1 by the president of the republic; members serve single 6-year terms
subordinate courts: National Electoral Court; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments); agro-environmental lower courts

**Political parties:**
Autonomy for Bolivia – Súmate or APB Súmate
Christian Democratic Party or PDC
Community Citizen Alliance or ACC
Freedom and Democracy or LIBRE
Front for Victory or FPV
Movement Toward Socialism or MAS
National Unity or UN
Popular Alliance or AP
Revolutionary Left Front or FRI
Revolutionary Nationalist Movement or MNR
Social Democrat Movement or MDS
Third System Movement or MTS
We Believe or Creemos
note: We Believe or Creemos [Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca] is a coalition comprised of several opposition parties that participated in the 2020 election, which includes the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and Solidarity Civic Unity (UCS)

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Henry BALDELOMAR CHÁVEZ (since 11 October 2023)
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
email address and website:
embolivia.wdc@gmail.com
https://www.boliviawdc.org/en-us/
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Debra HEVIA (since September 2023)
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz
mailing address: 3220 La Paz Place, Washington DC 20512-3220
telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000
FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111
email address and website:
ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov
https://bo.usembassy.gov/
note: in September 2008, the Bolivian Government expelled the US Ambassador to Bolivia, Philip GOLDBERG, and both countries have yet to reinstate their ambassadors

**International organization participation:**
CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
6 August 1825 (from Spain)

**National holiday:**
Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

**Flag:**
description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band
meaning: red stands for bravery and the blood of national heroes, yellow for the nation's mineral resources, and green for the land's fertility
history: in 2009, a presidential decree made it mandatory for a wiphala -- a square, multi-colored flag representing the country's ethnic groups -- to be used alongside the national flag
note: similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large, five-pointed black star centered in the yellow band

**National symbol(s):**
llama, Andean condor; two national flowers, the cantuta and the patuju

**National color(s):**
red, yellow, green

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music: Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI
history: adopted 1852

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Potosi (c); El Fuerte de Samaipata (c); Historic Sucre (c); Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos (c); Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (n); Tiahuanacu (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
resource-rich economy benefits during commodity booms; has bestowed juridical rights to Mother Earth, impacting extraction industries; increasing Chinese lithium mining trade relations; hard hit by COVID-19; increased fiscal spending amid poverty increases; rampant banking and finance corruption

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$122.2 billion (2024 est.)
$120.531 billion (2023 est.)
$116.927 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
1.4% (2024 est.)
3.1% (2023 est.)
3.6% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$9,800 (2024 est.)
$9,800 (2023 est.)
$9,700 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$49.668 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
5.1% (2024 est.)
2.6% (2023 est.)
1.7% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 13.5% (2023 est.)
industry: 24.2% (2023 est.)
services: 51.1% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**GDP - composition, by end use:**
household consumption: 68.5% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 19.3% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 17.5% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.1% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 25.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -30.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

**Agricultural products:**
sugarcane, soybeans, maize, potatoes, sorghum, rice, milk, chicken, plantains, beef (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
mining, smelting, electricity, petroleum, food and beverages, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry

**Industrial production growth rate:**
1.1% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
6.859 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
3.1% (2024 est.)
3.1% (2023 est.)
3.6% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 5.2% (2024 est.)
male: 4.8% (2024 est.)
female: 5.8% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
37.7% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
42.1 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 29.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 1.8% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 31.3% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $11.796 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $14.75 billion (2019 est.)

**Public debt:**
49% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: data cover general government debt and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities

**Current account balance:**
-$1.15 billion (2023 est.)
$939.084 million (2022 est.)
$1.581 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$11.905 billion (2023 est.)
$14.465 billion (2022 est.)
$11.594 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
Brazil 15%, India 13%, China 11%, Argentina 11%, UAE 8% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
gold, natural gas, precious metal ore, zinc ore, soybean meal (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$12.988 billion (2023 est.)
$13.462 billion (2022 est.)
$10.187 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
China 22%, Brazil 18%, Chile 13%, USA 7%, Peru 5% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, cars, pesticides, trucks, plastics (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$1.977 billion (2024 est.)
$1.8 billion (2023 est.)
$3.752 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Debt - external:**
$11.174 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

**Exchange rates:**
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
6.91 (2024 est.)
6.91 (2023 est.)
6.91 (2022 est.)
6.91 (2021 est.)
6.91 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 99.9% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 100%
electrification - rural areas: 95.6%

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 4.375 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 10.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.079 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 65% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 24.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
consumption: 9,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1 million metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 240.9 million barrels (2021 est.)

**Natural gas:**
production: 12.302 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 4.025 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 7.816 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 302.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
29.34 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 369,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 12.2 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
large number of radio and TV stations broadcasting with private media outlets dominating; state-owned and private radio and TV stations generally operating freely, although both pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media outlets in response to their reporting (2019)

**Internet country code:**
.bo

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 70% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 1.33 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2022 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
CP

**Airports:**
201 (2025)

**Heliports:**
3 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 3,960 km (2019)
narrow gauge: 3,960 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

**Merchant marine:**
total: 50 (2023)
by type: general cargo 30, oil tanker 2, other 18

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Bolivian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Bolivia or FAB): Bolivian Army (Ejercito de Boliviano), Bolivian Navy (Armada Boliviana), Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana)
Ministry of Government: National Police (Policía Nacional de Bolivia, PNB) (2025)
note: the PNB is part of the reserves for the Armed Forces; the police and military share responsibility for border enforcement

**Military expenditures:**
1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 30-35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the military is equipped with a mix of mostly older Brazilian, Chinese, European, and US armaments (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
voluntary service for men and women 18-22 years of age; selective 12-month compulsory service for men, 18-22 (24 months of search and rescue service can be substituted for military service) (2025)
note: as of 2024, women comprised about 11% of the Bolivian military's personnel

**Military - note:**
the Bolivian Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for territorial defense but also have some internal security duties, particularly counternarcotics and border security; the FAB shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police (PNB), and it may be called out to assist the PNB with maintaining public order in critical situations
land-locked Bolivia has a naval force for patrolling some 5,000 miles of navigable rivers to combat narcotics trafficking and smuggling, provide disaster relief, and deliver supplies to remote rural areas, as well as for maintaining a presence on Lake Titicaca; the Navy also exists in part to cultivate a maritime tradition and as a reminder of Bolivia’s defeat at the hands of Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883), and its desire to regain access to the Pacific Ocean; every year on 23 March, the Navy participates in parades and government ceremonies commemorating the Día Del Mar (Day of the Sea) holiday that remembers the loss (2025)

### Space

**Space agency/agencies:**
Bolivian Space Agency (la Agencia Boliviana Espacial, ABE; established 2010 as a national public company under Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing) (2025)

**Space program overview:**
has a small space program focused on acquiring and operating satellites; operates a telecommunications satellite and ground stations; has cooperated with China and India and member states of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)

**Key space-program milestones:**
2013 - first communications satellite (Túpac Katari, TKSAT-1) built and launched by China
2016 - began independently operating the TKSAT-1 satellite
2021 - signed protocols for establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency

### Terrorism

**Terrorist group(s):**
Terrorist group(s): Tren de Aragua (TdA)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 1,163 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 12,070 (2024 est.)

**Trafficking in persons:**
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Bolivia did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/bolivia/

**Illicit drugs:**
USG identification:
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

---

## Brazil
**Slug:** brazil
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇧🇷
**Codes:** cek: br, iso2: BR, iso3: BRA, iso_num: 076, genc: BRA, stanag: BRA, internet: .br

### Introduction

**Background:**
After more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getúlio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. VARGAS governed through various versions of democratic and authoritarian regimes from 1930 to 1945. Democratic rule returned in 1945 -- including a democratically elected VARGAS administration from 1951 to 1954 -- and lasted until 1964, when the military overthrew President João GOULART. The military regime censored journalists and repressed and tortured dissidents in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The dictatorship lasted until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers, and the Brazilian Congress passed its current constitution in 1988.
By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Having successfully weathered a period of global financial difficulty in the late 20th century, Brazil was soon seen as one of the world's strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth under President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (2003-2010). The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games -- the first ever to be held in South America -- to Brazil was symbolic of the country's rise. However, from about 2013 to 2016, Brazil was plagued by a sagging economy, high unemployment, and high inflation, only emerging from recession in 2017. Congress removed then-President Dilma ROUSSEFF (2011-2016) from office in 2016 for having committed impeachable acts against Brazil's budgetary laws, and her vice president, Michel TEMER, served the remainder of her second term. A money-laundering investigation, Operation Lava Jato, uncovered a vast corruption scheme and prosecutors charged several high-profile Brazilian politicians with crimes. Former President LULA was convicted of accepting bribes and served jail time (2018-19), although his conviction was overturned in 2021. LULA's revival became complete in 2022 when he narrowly defeated incumbent Jair BOLSONARO (2019-2022) in the presidential election. Positioning Brazil as an independent global leader on climate change and promoting sustainable development, LULA took on the 2024 G20 presidency, balancing the fight against deforestation with sustainable energy and other projects designed to alleviate poverty and promote economic growth, such as expanding fossil fuel exploration.

### Geography

**Location:**
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

**Geographic coordinates:**
10 00 S, 55 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 8,515,770 sq km
land: 8,358,140 sq km
water: 157,630 sq km
note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo

**Area - comparative:**
slightly smaller than the US

**Land boundaries:**
total: 16,145 km
border countries (10): Argentina 1,263 km; Bolivia 3,403 km; Colombia 1,790 km; French Guiana 649 km; Guyana 1,308 km; Paraguay 1,371 km; Peru 2,659 km; Suriname 515 km; Uruguay 1,050 km; Venezuela 2,137 km

**Coastline:**
7,491 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

**Climate:**
mostly tropical, but temperate in south

**Terrain:**
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

**Elevation:**
highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 320 m

**Natural resources:**
alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 28.3% (2023 est.)
arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 20.7% (2023 est.)
forest: 58.9% (2023 est.)
other: 12.7% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
91,833 sq km (2022)

**Major lakes (area sq km):**
fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos - 10,140 sq km
salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) - 2,970 sq km

**Major rivers (by length in km):**
Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) - 6,400 km; Río de la Plata/Paraná river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Tocantins - 3,650 km; São Francisco - 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) - 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km), São Francisco (617,814 sq km), Tocantins (764,213 sq km)

**Major aquifers:**
Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin

**Population distribution:**
the vast majority of people live along or near the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of São Paolo, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro

**Natural hazards:**
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

**Geography - note:**
note 1: largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador; most of the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, extends through the west central part of the country; shares Iguaçu Falls (Iguazú Falls), the world's largest waterfalls system, with Argentina
note 2: Rocas Atoll, located off the northeast coast of Brazil, is the only atoll in the South Atlantic

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 221,359,387 (2025 est.)
male: 108,753,532
female: 112,605,855

**Nationality:**
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian

**Ethnic groups:**
mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)

**Languages:**
Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and many minor Amerindian languages
major-language sample(s):
O Livro de Fatos Mundiais, a fonte indispensável para informação básica. (Brazilian Portuguese)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

**Religions:**
Roman Catholic 56.8%, Evangelical 26.9%, none 9.3%, other 4%, Spirtism (Espírita) 1.8%, unspecified 1.4%, Umbanda and Candomblé 1.1%, Indigenous religions .06%, undeclared 0.2% (2022)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 22,025,593/female 21,088,398)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 75,889,089/female 77,118,722)
65 years and over: 10.9% (2024 est.) (male 10,251,809/female 13,677,901)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 44.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 28.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 35.4 years (2025 est.)
male: 34 years
female: 36.1 years

**Population growth rate:**
0.58% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
13.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
7.07 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
the vast majority of people live along or near the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of São Paolo, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
22.620 million São Paulo, 13.728 million Rio de Janeiro, 6.248 million Belo Horizonte, 4.873 million BRASÍLIA (capital), 4.264 million Recife, 4.212 million Porto Alegre (2023)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.6 years
female: 80.1 years

**Total fertility rate:**
1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
0.84 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 98% of population (2022 est.)
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
9.9% of GDP (2021)
9% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
2.36 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

**Hospital bed density:**
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 65% of population (2022 est.)
total: 91% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 35% of population (2022 est.)
total: 9% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
22.1% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 6.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 11.2% (2025 est.)
male: 14.4% (2025 est.)
female: 8.3% (2025 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
3.5% (2019 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
56.9% (2019 est.)

**Education expenditure:**
5.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
12.9% national budget (2022 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 94.8% (2024 est.)
male: 94.5% (2024 est.)
female: 95.1% (2024 est.)

**School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):**
total: 16 years (2022 est.)
male: 15 years (2022 est.)
female: 17 years (2022 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
deforestation in Amazon Basin; illegal wildlife trade; illegal poaching; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and other large cities; land degradation and water pollution from mining; wetland degradation; oil spills

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol

**Climate:**
mostly tropical, but temperate in south

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 28.3% (2023 est.)
arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 20.7% (2023 est.)
forest: 58.9% (2023 est.)
other: 12.7% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
437.769 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 53.664 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 331.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 53.026 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
10.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 1,759.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 13,761.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 3,361.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 382.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 79.07 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2.8% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 16.397 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 10.2 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 41.336 billion cubic meters (2022)

**Total renewable water resources:**
8.647 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Geoparks:**
total global geoparks and regional networks: 6
global geoparks and regional networks: Araripe; Cacapava; Quarta Colonia; Serido; Southern Canyons Pathways; Uberaba (2024)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: República Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil
etymology: the country name derives from the brazil tree that used to grow plentifully along the coast of Brazil and that was used to produce a deep red dye

**Government type:**
federal presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Brasília
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
time zone note: Brazil has four time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands
etymology: the name is the Latinized form of the country name, bestowed on the new capital of Brazil in 1960; previous Brazilian capitals were Salvador (1549-1763) and Rio de Janeiro (1763 to 1960)

**Administrative divisions:**
26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins

**Legal system:**
civil law
note: a new civil-law code in 2002 replaced the 1916 code

**Constitution:**
history: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988
amendment process: proposed by at least one third of either house of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by simple majority vote by more than half of the state legislative assemblies; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote by both houses in each of two readings; constitutional provisions affecting the federal form of government, separation of powers, suffrage, or individual rights and guarantees cannot be amended

**International law organization participation:**
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years

**Suffrage:**
voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age
note: military conscripts by law cannot vote

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
head of government: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a single consecutive term and additional terms after at least one term has elapsed)
most recent election date: 2 October 2022, with runoff on 30 October 2022
election results:
2022: Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (PT) 48.4%, Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 43.2%, Simone Nassar TEBET (MDB) 4.2%, Ciro GOMES (PDT) 3%, other 1.2%; percent of vote in second round - Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (PT) 50.9%, Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 49.1%
2018: Jair BOLSONARO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 46%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 29.3%, Ciro GOMEZ (PDT) 12.5%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 4.8%, other 7.4%; percent of vote in second round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 55.1%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 44.9%
expected date of next election: 4 October 2026
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: National Congress (Congresso nacional)
legislative structure: bicameral

**Legislative branch - lower chamber:**
chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara dos Deputados)
number of seats: 513 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/2/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (99); Workers' Party (PT) (69); Brazil Union (União) (59); Progressive Party (PP) (47); Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) (42); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (42); Republicans (Republicanos) (40); Other (106)
percentage of women in chamber: 18.1%
expected date of next election: October 2026

**Legislative branch - upper chamber:**
chamber name: Federal Senate (Senado Federal)
number of seats: 81 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 8 years
most recent election date: 10/2/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (8); Brazil Union (União) (5); Workers' Party (PT) (4); Progressive Party (PP) (3); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2); Republicans (Republicanos) (2); Other (3)
percentage of women in chamber: 19.8%
expected date of next election: October 2026

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Federal Court or Supremo Tribunal Federal (consists of 11 justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president and approved by absolute majority by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 75
subordinate courts: Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system

**Political parties:**
Act (Agir) (formerly Christian Labor Party or PTC)
Avante (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB)
Brazil Union (União Brasil); note - founded from a merger between the Democrats (DEM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL)
Brazilian Communist Party or PCB
Brazilian Democratic Movement or MDB
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB
Christian Democracy or DC (formerly Christian Social Democratic Party)
Cidadania (formerly Popular Socialist Party or PPS)
Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB
Democratic Labor Party or PDT
Democratic Party or PSDC
Democrats or DEM (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); note - dissolved in February 2022
Green Party or PV
Liberal Party or PL [Valdemar Costa Neto] (formerly Party of the Republic or PR)
National Mobilization Party or PMN
New Party or NOVO
Patriota (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN)
Podemos (formerly National Labor Party or PTN)
Progressive Party (Progressistas) or PP
Republican Social Order Party or PROS
Republicans (Republicanos) (formerly Brazilian Republican Party or PRB)
Social Christian Party or PSC
Social Democratic Party or PSD
Social Liberal Party or PSL
Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL
Solidarity or SD
Sustainability Network or REDE
United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU
Workers' Cause Party or PCO
Workers' Party or PT

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro VIOTTI (since 30 June 2023)
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
email address and website:
contact.washington@itamaraty.gov.br
https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada-washington
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, San Francisco

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Gabriel ESCOBAR (since 21 January 2025)
embassy: SES - Avenida das Nações, Quadra 801, Lote 03, 70403-900 - Brasília, DF
mailing address: 7500 Brasilia Place, Washington DC 20521-7500
telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
email address and website:
BrasilliaACS@state.gov
https://br.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo
branch office(s): Belo Horizonte

**International organization participation:**
AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

**National holiday:**
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

**Flag:**
description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center, showing a blue celestial globe with 27 five-pointed white stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
meaning: green stands for the country's forests, and yellow for its mineral wealth, with the diamond representing the country's shape; the blue globe and stars depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889, the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has risen with the creation of new states, from 21 to 27 (one for each state and the Federal District)
history: the flag was inspired by the former Empire of Brazil's flag (1822-1889)
note: one of four national flags that reflect the shape of the country in the flag design; the others are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, and Vanuatu

**National symbol(s):**
Southern Cross constellation

**National color(s):**
green, yellow, blue

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA
history: music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 24 (15 cultural, 9 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Brasilia (c); Historic Salvador de Bahia (c); Historic Ouro Preto (c); Historic Center of the Town of Olinda (c); Iguaçu National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes (c); Central Amazon Conservation Complex (n); Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (n); Historic Center of Salvador de Bahia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas (c ); Brasilia (c ); Serra da Capivara National Park (c ); Historic Center of Sao Luis( c); Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves (n); Historic Center of the Town of Diamantina (c ); Pantanal Conservation Area (n); Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves (n); Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks (n); Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás (c); São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão (c ); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea (c ); Pampulha Modern Ensemble (c ); Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site (c ); Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity (m); Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (c ); Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (n);Peruaçu River Canyon (n)

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
upper-middle-income, largest Latin American economy; Mercosur, BRICS, G20 member and OECD accession candidate; growth driven by strong domestic consumption; monetary tightening helping curb inflation rate; high inequality in income and access to health and education

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$4.165 trillion (2024 est.)
$4.029 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.902 trillion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
3.4% (2024 est.)
3.2% (2023 est.)
3% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$19,600 (2024 est.)
$19,100 (2023 est.)
$18,600 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$2.179 trillion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
4.4% (2024 est.)
4.6% (2023 est.)
9.3% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 5.6% (2024 est.)
industry: 21.3% (2024 est.)
services: 59.3% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**GDP - composition, by end use:**
household consumption: 63.8% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 18.8% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 17% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 18% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -17.5% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

**Agricultural products:**
sugarcane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, chicken, beef, rice, wheat (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

**Industrial production growth rate:**
3.3% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
106.79 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
7.7% (2024 est.)
8% (2023 est.)
9.3% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 18% (2024 est.)
male: 15.7% (2024 est.)
female: 20.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
4.2% (2016 est.)
note: approximately 4% of the population are below the "extreme" poverty line

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
51.6 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 16.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 1.3% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 40.8% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $556.303 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $706.816 billion (2023 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

**Public debt:**
83% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP

**Taxes and other revenues:**
14% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

**Current account balance:**
-$61.194 billion (2024 est.)
-$27.933 billion (2023 est.)
-$42.157 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$388.333 billion (2024 est.)
$389.192 billion (2023 est.)
$380.492 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
China 30%, USA 10%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Chile 2% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, raw sugar, corn (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$377.05 billion (2024 est.)
$340.195 billion (2023 est.)
$369.861 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
China 23%, USA 16%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, Russia 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, gas turbines (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$329.732 billion (2024 est.)
$355.021 billion (2023 est.)
$324.673 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Debt - external:**
$198.582 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

**Exchange rates:**
reals (BRL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
5.389 (2024 est.)
4.994 (2023 est.)
5.164 (2022 est.)
5.394 (2021 est.)
5.155 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 100%
electrification - rural areas: 97.3%

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 240.251 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 608.451 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 7.186 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 22.294 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 106.916 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 13.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 60.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 8.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Nuclear energy:**
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.88GW (2025 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 2.2% (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
production: 15.556 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 32.223 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 5,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 18.257 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 6.596 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 4.221 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 3.163 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 12.715 billion barrels (2021 est.)

**Natural gas:**
production: 22.702 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 29.065 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 101.203 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 6.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 363.985 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
48.889 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 22.5 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 216 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a TV network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating, mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated (2022)

**Internet country code:**
.br

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 48.4 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
PP

**Airports:**
5,297 (2025)

**Heliports:**
1,871 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 29,849.9 km (2014)
standard gauge: 194 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 23,341.6 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (24 km electrified)
broad gauge: 5,822.3 km (2014) 1.600-m gauge (498.3 km electrified)
dual gauge: 492 km (2014) 1.600-1.000-m gauge

**Merchant marine:**
total: 888 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 13, container ship 20, general cargo 38, oil tanker 27, other 790

**Ports:**
total ports: 45 (2024)
large: 4
medium: 7
small: 19
very small: 15
ports with oil terminals: 31
key ports: Belem, DTSE/Gegua Oil Terminal, Itajai, Port de Salvador, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Santos, Tubarao, Vitoria

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Brazilian Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Brasileiras): Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil; includes Naval Aviation (Aviacao Naval Brasileira) and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira) (2025)
note: the three national police forces – the Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, and Federal Railway Police – have domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Ministry of Justice)

**Military expenditures:**
1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 360,000 active Armed Forces (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the Brazilian military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; Brazil's defense industry designs and manufactures equipment for all three military services and for export; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (only 5-10% of those inducted are required to serve); compulsory service obligation is generally 12 months; 17-45 (18 for women) years of age for voluntary service (2025)
note: in 2024, women were reported to comprise approximately 10% of the Brazilian military

**Military - note:**
the Brazilian Armed Forces (BAF) are the second largest military in the Western Hemisphere behind the US; they are responsible for external security and protecting the country's sovereignty but also have an internal security role; the BAF’s missions include patrolling and protecting the country’s long borders and coastline and extensive territorial waters and river network, assisting with internal security, providing domestic disaster response and humanitarian assistance, and participating in multinational peacekeeping missions; it also cooperates with neighboring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay to combat cross-border smuggling and trafficking
Brazil has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation
the origins of Brazil's military stretch back to the 1640s; Brazil provided a 25,000-man expeditionary force with air and ground units to fight with the Allies in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II; the Navy participated in the Battle of the Atlantic (2025)

### Space

**Space agency/agencies:**
Brazilian Space Agency (Agência Espacial Brasileira, AEB; established in 1994 when Brazil’s space program was transferred from the military to civilian control); National Institute for Space Research (INPE, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations); Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA, under the Aeronautics Command (COMAER) of the Ministry of Defense) (2025)

**Space launch site(s):**
Alcantara Launch Center (Maranhão state); Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (Rio Grande do Norte state) (2025)

**Space program overview:**
develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including communications, remote sensing (RS), multi-mission, navigational, and scientific/testing/research; satellites are launched by foreign partners, but Brazil has a long-standing sounding (research) rocket and satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program and rocket launch facilities; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Argentina, Canada, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France and Germany), India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US; has a state-controlled communications company that operates Brazil’s communications satellites and a growing commercial space sector (2025)

**Key space-program milestones:**
1960s - established a national space program under the Air Force
1984 - began satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program (Veículo Lançador de Satélites or VLS-1)
1985 - first communications satellite jointly produced with Canada and launched on European SLV
1993 - first domestically built experimental communications satellite (Satélite de Coleta de Dados, SCD-1) launched by US
2004 - launched a sounding rocket into sub-orbital space, but the subsequent catastrophic failure of a VLS-1 during a test launch led to scaling back the program
2006 - first Brazilian astronaut to the International Space Station on a Russian rocket
2008 - began work on a 3-stage microsatellite launch vehicle (Veículo Lançador de Microssatélite or VLM-1) in partnership with Germany
2021 - first independently produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Amazonia-1) launched by India; signed US-led Artemis Accords on space exploration cooperation and signed cooperation agreements with the space agencies of China, India, Russia, and South Africa for the joint development of an RS satellite constellation
2022 - successfully launched suborbital rocket more than 225 km (140 miles) in height

### Terrorism

**Terrorist group(s):**
Terrorist group(s): Hizballah; Tren de Aragua (TdA)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 331,097 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 19,043 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 27 (2024 est.)

**Trafficking in persons:**
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Brazil did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/brazil/

**Illicit drugs:**
USG identification:
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

---

## Chile
**Slug:** chile
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇨🇱
**Codes:** cek: ci, iso2: CL, iso3: CHL, iso_num: 152, genc: CHL, stanag: CHL, internet: .cl

### Introduction

**Background:**
Indigenous groups inhabited central and southern Chile for several thousand years, living in mixed pastoralist and settled communities. The Inca then ruled the north of the country for nearly a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. In 1541, the Spanish established the Captaincy General of Chile, which lasted until Chile declared its independence in 1810. The subsequent struggle with the Spanish became tied to other South American independence conflicts, with a decisive victory not being achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia to win its current northernmost regions. By the 1880s, the Chilean central government cemented its control over the central and southern regions inhabited by Mapuche Indigenous peoples. Between 1891 and 1973, a series of elected governments succeeded each other until the Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 in a military coup led by General Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a democratically elected president was inaugurated in 1990. Economic reforms that were maintained consistently since the 1980s contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

### Geography

**Location:**
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

**Geographic coordinates:**
30 00 S, 71 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 756,102 sq km
land: 743,812 sq km
water: 12,290 sq km
note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez

**Area - comparative:**
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

**Land boundaries:**
total: 7,801 km
border countries (3): Argentina 6,691 km; Bolivia 942 km; Peru 168 km

**Coastline:**
6,435 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200/350 nm

**Climate:**
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

**Terrain:**
low coastal mountains, fertile central valley, rugged Andes in east

**Elevation:**
highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,893 m (highest volcano in the world)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,871 m

**Natural resources:**
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 14.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
forest: 24.5% (2023 est.)
other: 61.1% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
9,094 sq km (2022)

**Major lakes (area sq km):**
fresh water lake(s): Lago General Carrera (shared with Argentina) - 2,240 sq km; Lago O'Higgins (shared with Argentina) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Llanquihue - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Argentina) - 590 sq km

**Population distribution:**
90% of the population is located in the middle third of the country around the capital of Santiago; the far north, including the Atacama Desert, and the extreme south are relatively underpopulated

**Natural hazards:**
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
volcanism: significant volcanic activity due to more than three-dozen active volcanoes along the Andes Mountains; Lascar (5,592 m), which last erupted in 2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes; Llaima (3,125 m) in central Chile, which last erupted in 2009, is another of the country's most active; Chaiten's 2008 eruption forced major evacuations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Cerro Hudson, Calbuco, Copahue, Guallatiri, Llullaillaco, Nevados de Chillan, Puyehue, San Pedro, and Villarrica; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

**Geography - note:**
note 1: Chile is the longest country north-to-south in the world, extending across 39 degrees of latitude
note 2: Chile is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes
note 3: the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile is the driest desert in the world; Ojos del Salado (6,893 m) in the Atacama Desert is the highest active volcano in the world, Chile's tallest mountain, and the second-highest in the Western Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere; the volcano's small crater lake is the world's highest lake at 6,390 m

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 19,091,343 (2025 est.)
male: 9,379,883
female: 9,711,460

**Nationality:**
noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean

**Ethnic groups:**
White and non-Indigenous 88.9%, Mapuche 9.1%, Aymara 0.7%, other Indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3% (2012 est.)

**Languages:**
Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, Indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2012 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

**Religions:**
Catholic 57%, none 25.7%, Evangelical or Protestant 16.2%, other Christians and traditions related to Christ 1.3%; less than 1%: Buddhist, Catholic Orthodox, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Islam, Judaism, other religions, no religion (2024)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 19.2% (male 1,822,908/female 1,751,528)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 6,274,620/female 6,278,467)
65 years and over: 13.6% (2024 est.) (male 1,072,208/female 1,464,921)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 45 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 24.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 20.9 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 38.9 years (2025 est.)
male: 35.8 years
female: 38.2 years

**Population growth rate:**
0.46% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
8.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
2.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
90% of the population is located in the middle third of the country around the capital of Santiago; the far north, including the Atacama Desert, and the extreme south are relatively underpopulated

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 88% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
6.903 million SANTIAGO (capital), 1.009 million Valparaiso, 912,000 Concepcion (2023)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
10 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 80.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 77.3 years
female: 83.3 years

**Total fertility rate:**
1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
0.61 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
9% of GDP (2022)
19% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
3.33 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

**Hospital bed density:**
2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
28% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 7.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 26.2% (2025 est.)
male: 28.4% (2025 est.)
female: 24.1% (2025 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
48.5% (2022 est.)

**Education expenditure:**
4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
18.4% national budget (2022 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 96.4% (2017 est.)
male: 96.5% (2017 est.)
female: 96.3% (2017 est.)

**School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):**
total: 17 years (2023 est.)
male: 17 years (2023 est.)
female: 17 years (2023 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; noise pollution; improper garbage disposal; soil degradation; widespread deforestation; pollution and ecosystem degradation from mining; wildlife conservation

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

**Climate:**
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 14.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
forest: 24.5% (2023 est.)
other: 61.1% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 88% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
83.058 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 14.773 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 55.504 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 12.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
18.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.517 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 1.29 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 1.66 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 29.42 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Total renewable water resources:**
923.06 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Geoparks:**
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
global geoparks and regional networks: Kutralkura (2023)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: República de Chile
local short form: Chile
etymology: derivation of the name is unclear; it may come from a local word meaning either "land's end" or "cold," or a local word that was confused with the Mexican Spanish word chili, meaning a chili pepper, in reference to the area's shape

**Government type:**
presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Santiago; note - Valparaiso is the seat of the national legislature
geographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in August; ends second Sunday in May; note - Punta Arenas observes DST throughout the year
time zone note: Chile has three time zones: the continental portion at UTC-3; the southern Aysén and Magallanes regions, which do not use daylight savings time and remain at UTC-3 year-round; and Easter Island at UTC-5
etymology: Santiago is named after Saint James, the patron saint of Spain (Santo Iago in Spanish); Valparaiso derives from the Spanish words valle (valley) and paraíso (paradise)

**Administrative divisions:**
16 regions (regiones, singular - region); Antofagasta, Araucanía, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Aysén, Biobío, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica), Maule, Ñuble, Región Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapacá, Valparaíso
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica

**Legal system:**
civil law system influenced by several Western European civil legal systems; Constitutional Tribunal reviews legislative acts

**Constitution:**
history: many previous; latest adopted 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; in September 2022 and again in December 2023, referendums presented for a new constitution were both defeated, and the September 1980 constitution remains in force
amendment process: proposed by members of either house of the National Congress or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least four-sevenths majority vote of the membership in both houses and approval by the president; passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, the Constitutional Tribunal, electoral justice, the Council of National Security, or the constitutional amendment process, requires at least four-sevenths majority vote by both houses of Congress and approval by the president; the president can opt to hold a referendum when Congress and the president disagree on an amendment

**International law organization participation:**
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022)
head of government: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term
most recent election date: 16 November 2025, with a runoff held on 14 December 2025
election results: 2025: José Antonio KAST elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jeannette Alejandra JARA Román (PCCh) 26.8%, José Antonio KAST (PLR) 23.9%, Franco Aldo PARISI Fernández (PDG) 19.7%, Johannes KAISER (PNL) 13.9%, Evelyn Rose MATTHEI Fornet (PL) 12.5%; other 3.2%; percent of vote in second round - José Antonio KAST 58.2%, Jeannette Alejandra JARA Román 41.8%; note - KAST will take office 11 March 2026
2021: Gabriel BORIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - José Antonio KAST (FSC) 27.9%; Gabriel BORIC (AD) 25.8%; Franco PARISI (PDG) 12.8%; Sebastian SICHEL (ChP+) 12.8%; Yasna PROVOSTE (New Social Pact) 11.6%; other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Gabriel BORIC 55.9%; Jose Antonio KAST 44.1%
2017: Sebastian PINERA Echenique elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique (independent) 36.6%; Alejandro GUILLIER (independent) 22.7%; Beatriz SANCHEZ (independent) 20.3%; Jose Antonio KAST (independent) 7.9%; Carolina GOIC (PDC) 5.9%; Marco ENRIQUEZ-OMINAMI (PRO) 5.7%; other 0.9%; percent of vote in second round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique 54.6%, Alejandro GUILLIER 45.4%
expected date of next election: 18 November 2029 (a runoff, if needed, will take place in December 2029)
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
legislative structure: bicameral

**Legislative branch - lower chamber:**
chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
number of seats: 155 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/21/2021
parties elected and seats per party: Chile Podemos (Empowering Chile", CP +) (53); New Social Pact (NPS) (37); Approving Dignity (AD) (37); Christian Social Front (FSC) (15); Other (13)
percentage of women in chamber: 33.5%
expected date of next election: November 2025

**Legislative branch - upper chamber:**
chamber name: Senate (Senado)
number of seats: 50 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 8 years
most recent election date: 11/21/2021
parties elected and seats per party: Chile Podemos (Empowering Chile", CP +) (12); New Social Pact (NPS) (8); Approving Dignity (AD) (4); Independents (2); Other (1)
percentage of women in chamber: 32%
expected date of next election: November 2025

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of a court president and 20 members); Constitutional Court (consists of 10 members and is independent of the rest of the judiciary); Elections Qualifying Court (consists of 5 members)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges (ministers) appointed by the president of the republic and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 by the Supreme Court, 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the Chamber of Deputies, and 2 by the Senate; members serve 9-year terms with partial membership replacement every 3 years (the court reviews constitutionality of legislation); Elections Qualifying Court members appointed by lottery - 1 by the former president or vice president of the Senate and 1 by the former president or vice president of the Chamber of Deputies, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 1 by the Appellate Court of Valparaiso; members appointed for 4-year terms
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; oral criminal tribunals; military tribunals; local police courts; specialized tribunals and courts in matters such as family, labor, customs, taxes, and electoral affairs

**Political parties:**
Approve Dignity (Apruebo Dignidad) coalition or AD (included PC, FA, and FREVS); note - dissolved 2023
Broad Front Coalition (Frente Amplio) or FA (includes RD, CS, and Comunes)
Chile We Can Do More (Chile Podemos Más) or ChP+ (coalition includes EVOPOLI, PRI, RN, UDI)
Christian Democratic Party or PDC
Common Sense Party or SC
Commons (Comunes)
Communist Party of Chile or PCCh
Democratic Revolution or RD
Democrats or PD
Equality Party or PI
Green Ecological Party or PEV (dissolved 7 February 2022)
Green Popular Alliance or AVP
Humanist Action Party or PAH
Humanist Party or PH
Independent Democratic Union or UDI
Liberal Party (Partido Liberal de Chile) or PL
National Libertarian Party or PNL
National Renewal or RN
New Social Pact or NPS (includes PDC, PL, PPD, PRSD, PS)
Party for Democracy or PPD
Party of the People or PDG
Political Evolution or EVOPOLI
Popular Party or PP
Progressive Homeland Party or PRO
Radical Party or PR
Republican Party or PLR
Social Christian Party or PSC
Social Convergence or CS
Social Green Regionalist Federation or FREVS
Socialist Party or PS
Yellow Movement for Chile or AMAR

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Gabriel VALDES Soublette (since 7 June 2022)
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
email address and website:
echile.eeuu@minrel.gob.cl
https://chile.gob.cl/estados-unidos/en/
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Brandon JUDD (since November 2025)
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: 3460 Santiago Place, Washington DC 20521-3460
telephone: [56] (2) 2330-3000
FAX: [56] (2) 2330-3710
email address and website:
SantiagoUSA@state.gov
https://cl.usembassy.gov/

**International organization participation:**
APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
18 September 1810 (from Spain)

**National holiday:**
Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

**Flag:**
description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue square sits in the top left corner of the flag, the same height as the white band; the square has a five-pointed white star in the center
meaning: the star represents a guide to progress and honor; blue stands for the sky, white for the Andes Mountains, and red for the blood spilled to achieve independence
note: design influenced by the US flag

**National symbol(s):**
huemul (mountain deer), Andean condor

**National color(s):**
red, white, blue

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Himno Nacional de Chile" (National Anthem of Chile)
lyrics/music: Eusebio LILLO Robles and Bernardo DE VERA y Pintado/Ramon CARNICER y Battle
history: music adopted 1828, original lyrics adopted 1818, adapted lyrics adopted 1847; under Augusto PINOCHET's military rule, a verse glorifying the army was added; some citizens refused to sing this verse as a protest, and it was removed when democracy was restored in 1990

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 7 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Rapa Nui National Park; Churches of Chiloe; Historic Valparaiso; Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works; Sewell Mining Town; Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System; Chinchorro archeological sites

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
export-driven economy; leading copper producer; though hit by COVID-19, fairly quick rebound from increased liquidity and rapid vaccine rollouts; decreasing poverty but still lingering inequality; public debt rising but still manageable; recent political violence has had negative economic consequences

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$596.556 billion (2024 est.)
$581.187 billion (2023 est.)
$578.173 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
2.6% (2024 est.)
0.5% (2023 est.)
2.2% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$30,200 (2024 est.)
$29,600 (2023 est.)
$29,600 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$330.267 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
4.3% (2024 est.)
7.6% (2023 est.)
11.6% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 3.9% (2024 est.)
industry: 30.1% (2024 est.)
services: 56.1% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**GDP - composition, by end use:**
household consumption: 58.1% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 15.1% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 23.5% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.3% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 33.7% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -30.1% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

**Agricultural products:**
grapes, milk, apples, wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, chicken, maize, sugar beets, pork (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
copper, lithium, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

**Industrial production growth rate:**
3.5% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
10.088 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
9.1% (2024 est.)
9.1% (2023 est.)
8.3% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 22.3% (2024 est.)
male: 20.3% (2024 est.)
female: 24.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
6.5% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
43 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 19.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 2.3% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 34.5% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
0% of GDP (2024 est.)
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $77.003 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $85.024 billion (2023 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

**Taxes and other revenues:**
17.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

**Current account balance:**
-$4.853 billion (2024 est.)
-$10.497 billion (2023 est.)
-$26.656 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$111.123 billion (2024 est.)
$103.256 billion (2023 est.)
$107.039 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
China 39%, USA 16%, Japan 7%, S. Korea 6%, Brazil 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
copper ore, refined copper, fish, carbonates, pitted fruits (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$99.239 billion (2024 est.)
$100.082 billion (2023 est.)
$118.928 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
China 23%, USA 20%, Brazil 10%, Argentina 7%, Germany 5% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, garments, trucks (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$44.403 billion (2024 est.)
$46.377 billion (2023 est.)
$39.102 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Exchange rates:**
Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
943.572 (2024 est.)
840.067 (2023 est.)
873.314 (2022 est.)
758.955 (2021 est.)
792.727 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 39.238 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 83.295 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 4.384 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 35.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 20.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 10.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 26.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 5.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
production: 474,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 8.087 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 63,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 7.589 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1.181 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 404,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.)

**Natural gas:**
production: 1.362 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 6.5 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 39.009 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 5.196 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 97.976 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
71.42 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 1.74 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2024 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 26.2 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
national and local terrestrial TV channels, coupled with extensive cable TV networks; the state-owned Television Nacional de Chile (TVN) network is self-financed through commercial advertising and is not under direct government control; large number of privately owned TV stations; about 250 radio stations

**Internet country code:**
.cl

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 4.52 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
CC

**Airports:**
379 (2025)

**Heliports:**
115 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 7,281.5 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 3,853.5 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
broad gauge: 3,428 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge (1,691 km electrified)

**Merchant marine:**
total: 249 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 5, general cargo 66, oil tanker 14, other 161

**Ports:**
total ports: 39 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 10
very small: 27
ports with oil terminals: 25
key ports: Antofagasta, Bahia de Valdivia, Bahia de Valparaiso, Coronel, Iquique, Mejillones, Puerto Montt, Puerto San Antonio, Rada de Arica, Rada Punta Arenas, Talcahuano, Tocopilla

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Armed Forces of Chile (Fuerzas Armadas de Chile): Chilean Army (Ejército de Chile), Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes Marine Corps and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate or Directemar), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh) (2025)
note 1: the Directemar is the country's coast guard
note 2: the National Police Force (Carabineros de Chile) is responsible to both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security

**Military expenditures:**
1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
2% of GDP (2021 est.)
2% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 70,000 active Armed Forces (40,000 Army; 20,000 Navy; 10,000 Air Force); approximately 50,000 Carabineros (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the Chilean military's inventory is comprised of a mix of mostly older foreign supplied armaments and some domestically produced weapons systems; significant foreign suppliers have included Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the US; Chile's defense industry is active in the production of military aircraft, ships, and vehicles (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18-24 for voluntary military service for men and women (17 for men with parental permission); selective compulsory service for men 18-24 (there are usually enough volunteers to make compulsory service unnecessary); service obligation is a maximum of 24 months (2025)
note: as of 2024, women comprised approximately 21% of the armed forces

**Military - note:**
the Chilean military's responsibilities are territorial defense, ensuring the country’s sovereignty, assisting with disaster and humanitarian relief, and providing some internal security duties such as border security or maintaining public order if required; a key focus in recent years has been assisting with securing the border area with Bolivia and Peru; it trains regularly and participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises, as well as international peacekeeping operations
Chile and Argentina have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force (FPC), designed to be made available to the UN; the FPC is made up of air, ground, and naval components, as well as a combined logistics support unit
the Chilean Army was founded in 1810, but traces its origins back to the Army of the Kingdom of Chile, which was established by the Spanish Crown in the early 1600s; Chile's military aviation was inaugurated in 1913 with the creation of a military aviation school; the Navy traces its origins to 1817; it was first led by a British officer and the first ships were largely crewed by American, British, and Irish sailors; by the 1880s, the Chilean Navy was one of the most powerful in the Americas, and included the world’s first protected cruiser (a ship with an armored deck to protect vital machine spaces) (2025)

### Terrorism

**Terrorist group(s):**
Terrorist group(s): Tren de Aragua (TdA)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 15,788 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 8,323 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 1,688 (2024 est.)

---

## Colombia
**Slug:** colombia
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇨🇴
**Codes:** cek: co, iso2: CO, iso3: COL, iso_num: 170, genc: COL, stanag: COL, internet: .co

### Introduction

**Background:**
Colombia was one of three countries that emerged after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 -- the others are Ecuador and Venezuela. A decades-long conflict among government forces, paramilitaries, and antigovernment insurgent groups heavily funded by the drug trade -- principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) -- escalated during the 1990s. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization in the 2000s, new criminal groups arose that included some former paramilitaries. After four years of formal peace negotiations, the Colombian Government signed a final accord with the FARC in 2016 that called for its members to demobilize, disarm, and reincorporate into society and politics. The accord also committed the Colombian Government to create three new institutions to form a 'comprehensive system for truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition,' including a truth commission, a special unit to coordinate the search for those who disappeared during the conflict, and a 'Special Jurisdiction for Peace' to administer justice for conflict-related crimes. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug-trade-related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong and independent democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.

### Geography

**Location:**
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

**Geographic coordinates:**
4 00 N, 72 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
water: 100,210 sq km
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank

**Area - comparative:**
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

**Land boundaries:**
total: 6,672 km
border countries (5): Brazil 1,790 km; Ecuador 708 km; Panama 339 km; Peru 1,494 km; Venezuela 2,341 km

**Coastline:**
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

**Climate:**
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

**Terrain:**
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)

**Elevation:**
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 593 m

**Natural resources:**
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 32% (2023 est.)
forest: 53.8% (2023 est.)
other: 9.7% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
6,506 sq km (2013)

**Major rivers (by length in km):**
Rio Negro river source (shared with Venezuela and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco (shared with Venezuela [s]) - 2,101 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

**Major aquifers:**
Amazon Basin

**Population distribution:**
the majority of people live in the north and west, where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated

**Natural hazards:**
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts
volcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes; it has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985, producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace

**Geography - note:**
only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 49,842,298 (2025 est.)
male: 24,320,959
female: 25,521,339

**Nationality:**
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian

**Ethnic groups:**
Mestizo and White 87.6%, Afro-Colombian (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 6.8%, Indigenous 4.3%, unspecified 1.4% (2018 est.)

**Languages:**
Spanish (official) 98.9%, indigenous 1%, Portuguese 0.1%; 65 indigenous languages exist (2023 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

**Religions:**
Roman Catholic 63.6%, Protestant 17.2% (Evangelical 16.7%, Adventist 0.3%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.1%, other 0.3%, believer, 0.2%. agnostic 1%, atheist 1%, none 14.2%, unspecified 1.8% (2023 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 22.3% (male 5,643,995/female 5,394,147)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 16,127,377/female 16,859,161)
65 years and over: 11.2% (2024 est.) (male 2,434,999/female 3,128,678)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 50.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 33.2 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 17.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 5.7 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 33.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 31.5 years
female: 34 years

**Population growth rate:**
0.54% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
14.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
6.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
-2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
the majority of people live in the north and west, where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
11.508 million BOGOTA (capital), 4.102 million Medellin, 2.864 million Cali, 2.349 million Barranquilla, 1.381 million Bucaramanga, 1.088 million Cartagena (2023)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Mother's mean age at first birth:**
21.7 years (2015 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
59 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 74.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 71.3 years
female: 78.7 years

**Total fertility rate:**
1.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
0.94 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 86.7% of population (2022 est.)
total: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 13.3% of population (2022 est.)
total: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
9% of GDP (2021)
15.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
2.54 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

**Hospital bed density:**
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 88.2% of population (2022 est.)
total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 11.8% of population (2022 est.)
total: 3% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
22.3% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 7.6% (2025 est.)
male: 11.2% (2025 est.)
female: 4.1% (2025 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
3.7% (2016 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
50.9% (2018 est.)

**Child marriage:**
women married by age 15: 4.9% (2015)
women married by age 18: 23.4% (2015)
men married by age 18: 6.7% (2015)

**Education expenditure:**
5.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 95.3% (2024 est.)
male: 95% (2024 est.)
female: 95.7% (2024 est.)

**School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):**
total: 14 years (2022 est.)
male: 14 years (2022 est.)
female: 15 years (2022 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
deforestation from timber exploitation in the Amazon and the Chocó region; soil erosion; soil and water pollution from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

**Climate:**
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 32% (2023 est.)
forest: 53.8% (2023 est.)
other: 9.7% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
85.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 15.463 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 49.727 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 20.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 814.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 1,791.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 600.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 18.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.15 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.5% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 3.405 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 1.033 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 20.46 billion cubic meters (2022)

**Total renewable water resources:**
2.36 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: República de Colombia
local short form: Colombia
etymology: named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS

**Government type:**
presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Bogotá
geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: originally named Santa Fe de Bacatá in 1538, after the Chibcha people's nearby settlement of Bacatá; the name was later corrupted to Bogotá

**Administrative divisions:**
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Archipiélago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

**Legal system:**
civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes

**Constitution:**
history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991
amendment process: proposed by the government, by Congress, by a constituent assembly, or by public petition; passage requires a majority vote by Congress in each of two consecutive sessions; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on citizen rights, guarantees, and duties also require approval in a referendum by over one half of voters and participation of over one fourth of citizens registered to vote

**International law organization participation:**
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Colombia
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
head of government: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term
most recent election date: 29 May 2022, with a runoff held on 19 June 2022
election results:
2022: Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (PHxC) 40.3%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suárez (LIGA) 28.2%, Federico GUTIÉRREZ Zuluaga (Team for Colombia / CREEMOS) 23.9%, other 7.6%; percent of vote in second round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego 50.4%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suarez 47.3%, blank 2.3%
2018: Iván DUQUE Márquez elected president in second round; percent of vote - Iván DUQUE Márquez (CD) 54%, Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (Humane Colombia) 41.8%, other/blank/invalid 4.2%
expected date of next election: 31 May 2026
note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government
note 2: reforms in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: Congress (Congreso)
legislative structure: bicameral

**Legislative branch - lower chamber:**
chamber name: House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
number of seats: 187 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 3/13/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (32); Historic Pact (27); Conservative Party (CP) (25); Democratic Centre (CD) (16); Radical Change (CR) (16); Union Party for the People “Partido de la U” (15); Green Alliance - Hope Centre coalition (11); Other (14)
percentage of women in chamber: 29.4%
expected date of next election: March 2026

**Legislative branch - upper chamber:**
chamber name: Senate (Senado de la República)
number of seats: 108 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 3/13/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Historic Pact (20); Conservative Party (CP) (15); Liberal Party (PL) (14); Green Alliance - Hope Centre coalition (13); Democratic Centre (CD) (13); Radical Change (CR) (11); Union Party for the People “Partido de la U” (10); Other (4)
percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%
expected date of next election: March 2026

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of the Civil-Agrarian and Labor Chambers each with 7 judges, and the Penal Chamber with 9 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 magistrates); Council of State (consists of 27 judges); Superior Judiciary Council (consists of 13 magistrates)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Supreme Court members from candidates submitted by the Superior Judiciary Council; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Constitutional Court magistrates - nominated by the president, by the Supreme Court, and elected by the Senate; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Council of State members appointed by the State Council plenary from lists nominated by the Superior Judiciary Council
subordinate courts: Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts

**Political parties:**
Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA
Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN)
The Commons (formerly People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC)
Conservative Party or PC
Democratic Center Party or CD
Fair and Free Colombia (Colombia Justa Libres)
Green Alliance
Historic Pact for Colombia or PHxC (coalition composed of several left-leaning political parties and social movements)
Humane Colombia
Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation or MIRA
League of Anti-Corruption Rulers or LIGA
Liberal Party or PL
People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC
Radical Change or CR
Team for Colombia - also known as the Experience Coalition or Coalition of the Regions (coalition composed of center-right and right-wing parties)
Union Party for the People or U Party
We Believe Colombia or CREEMOS
note: Colombia has numerous smaller political parties and movements

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel GARCÍA-PEÑA JARAMILLO (since 18 September 2024)
chancery: 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
email address and website:
eestadosunidos@cancilleria.gov.co
https://www.colombiaemb.org/
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025)
embassy: Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota
mailing address: 3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC 20521-3030
telephone: [57] (601) 275-2000
FAX: [57] (601) 275-4600
email address and website:
ACSBogota@state.gov
https://co.usembassy.gov/

**International organization participation:**
ACS, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
20 July 1810 (from Spain)

**National holiday:**
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

**Flag:**
description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red
meaning: various interpretations of the colors exist; one has yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the sea, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; another describes them as representing sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); another has the colors standing for liberty, equality, and fraternity
note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is wider and has the Ecuadorian coat of arms in the center

**National symbol(s):**
Andean condor

**National color(s):**
yellow, blue, red

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)
lyrics/music: Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI
history: adopted 1920; the anthem comes from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ; the anthem always starts with the chorus

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Chiribiquete National Park (m); Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (c); Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox (c); Los Katíos National Park (n); Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (n); Tierradentro National Archeological Park (c); San Agustín Archaeological Park (c); Colonial Cartagena (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
prior to COVID-19, one of the most consistent growth economies; declining poverty; large stimulus package has mitigated economic fallout, but delayed key infrastructure investments; successful inflation management; sound flexible exchange rate regime; domestic economy suffers from lack of trade integration and infrastructure

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$978.592 billion (2024 est.)
$961.82 billion (2023 est.)
$955.016 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
1.7% (2024 est.)
0.7% (2023 est.)
7.3% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$18,500 (2024 est.)
$18,400 (2023 est.)
$18,500 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$418.542 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
6.6% (2024 est.)
11.7% (2023 est.)
10.2% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 9.3% (2024 est.)
industry: 23.1% (2024 est.)
services: 58.2% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**GDP - composition, by end use:**
household consumption: 73.1% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.6% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 16% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -20.9% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

**Agricultural products:**
sugarcane, oil palm fruit, milk, rice, plantains, potatoes, bananas, maize, chicken, avocados (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

**Industrial production growth rate:**
-1.3% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
26.822 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
9.7% (2024 est.)
9.6% (2023 est.)
10.6% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 19.8% (2024 est.)
male: 16.5% (2024 est.)
female: 24.3% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
33% (2023 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
53.9 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 20.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 1.1% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 42.7% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $116.49 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $123.966 billion (2023 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

**Public debt:**
71.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP

**Taxes and other revenues:**
17.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

**Current account balance:**
-$7.412 billion (2024 est.)
-$8.285 billion (2023 est.)
-$20.879 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$68.866 billion (2024 est.)
$68.674 billion (2023 est.)
$73.514 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
USA 27%, Panama 9%, India 5%, China 5%, Netherlands 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
crude petroleum, coal, gold, coffee, refined petroleum (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$78.633 billion (2024 est.)
$76.449 billion (2023 est.)
$89.608 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
USA 26%, China 22%, Brazil 6%, Mexico 5%, Germany 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$61.898 billion (2024 est.)
$59.041 billion (2023 est.)
$56.704 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Debt - external:**
$108.027 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

**Exchange rates:**
Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
4,074.434 (2024 est.)
4,325.955 (2023 est.)
4,256.194 (2022 est.)
3,744.244 (2021 est.)
3,693.276 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 21.053 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 82.309 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 1.293 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 407.788 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 7.232 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 34% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 62.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
production: 52.376 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 9.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 46.425 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 4.554 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 800,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 374,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 2.036 billion barrels (2021 est.)

**Natural gas:**
production: 10.927 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 11.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 958.724 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 87.782 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
29.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 6.32 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 92.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 174 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media provide service; more than 500 radio stations and many national, regional, and local TV stations (2019)

**Internet country code:**
.co

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 77% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 8.91 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
HJ, HK

**Airports:**
661 (2025)

**Heliports:**
57 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 2,141 km (2019)
standard gauge: 150 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,991 km (2019) 0.914-m gauge

**Merchant marine:**
total: 153 (2023)
by type: general cargo 28, oil tanker 13, other 112

**Ports:**
total ports: 14 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 8
very small: 3
size unknown: 1
ports with oil terminals: 10
key ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, El Bosque, Mamonal, Pozos Colorados, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Prodeco, Santa Marta

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Military Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Militares de Colombia): National Army (Ejercito Nacional), Colombian Aerospace Force (Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana, FAC), Colombian Navy (Armada de Colombia; includes Coast Guard); National Police of Colombia (Policia Nacional de Colombia, PNC) (2025)
note: the PNC is a civilian force under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense

**Military expenditures:**
3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
3% of GDP (2023 est.)
3% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 260,000 active Military Forces; approximately 150,000 National Police (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from a variety of suppliers, including Brazil, Canada, Germany, Israel, South Korea, and the US; Colombia's defense industry is active in producing air, land, and naval platforms (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18-24 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military (and police) service; conscript service obligation is 18 months or 12 months for those with a college degree; conscripted soldiers reportedly include regular soldiers (conscripts without a high school degree), drafted high school graduates (bachilleres), and rural (campesino) soldiers who serve in their home regions (2025)
note: women comprised a little more than 3% of the active military in 2024

**Military deployments:**
275 Egypt (MFO) (2025)

**Military - note:**
the Colombian military is responsible for defending and maintaining the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity but also has a considerable internal security role, which includes protecting the civilian population, as well as private and state-owned assets, and ensuring a secure environment; the military’s primary focus is conducting operations against domestic illegal armed groups, including drug traffickers, several factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group, and the insurgent/terrorist group National Liberation Army (ELN)
border security is also a focus, particularly with Venezuela where economic and political instability has brought refugees and attracted narcotics trafficking and other cross-border crime; both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly in the border region; ELN and FARC insurgents have also used neighboring Ecuador to rest, resupply, and shelter
Colombia has close security ties with the US, including joint training, military assistance, and designation in 2022 as a Major Non-NATO Ally, which provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense, trade, and security cooperation; it also has close security ties with regional neighbors, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru; Colombian military and security forces have training programs with their counterparts from a variety of countries, mostly those from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (2025)

### Space

**Space agency/agencies:**
Colombian Space Commission (Comision Colombiana Del Espacio, CCE; established 2006) (2025)
note 1: the Colombian military has an Air and Space Operations Command
note 2: the Colombian Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Del Colombia, AEC) is a private, non-profit agency established in 2017

**Space program overview:**
has a small program focused on acquiring satellites, particularly remote sensing (RS) satellites; operates satellites and produces nanosatellites; researches other space technologies, including astronautics, satellite navigation, and telecommunications; works with a variety of foreign space agencies or commercial space industries, including those of Denmark, India, Russia, Sweden, the US, and some members of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)

**Key space-program milestones:**
2007 - first domestically produced technology-demonstration/remote-sensing (RS) nanosatellite (Libertad I) launched by Russia
2014 - second experimental RS nanosatellite (UAPSAT) launched by US
2018 - first RS satellite (FACSAT-1) for military use purchased from Denmark and launched by India
2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration
2023 - second RS satellite (FACSAT-2 or Chibiriquete) launched by US

### Terrorism

**Terrorist group(s):**
Terrorist group(s): National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP); Segunda Marquetalia (SM); Tren de Aragua (TdA)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 30,611 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 7,264,767 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

**Illicit drugs:**
USG identification:
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

---

## Ecuador
**Slug:** ecuador
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇪🇨
**Codes:** cek: ec, iso2: EC, iso3: ECU, iso_num: 218, genc: ECU, stanag: ECU, internet: .ec

### Introduction

**Background:**
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito -- the traditional name for the area -- became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty -- New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito -- gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew to become an independent republic in 1830, the traditional name was changed to the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador has had nearly 50 years of civilian governance, the period has been marked by political instability.

### Geography

**Location:**
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

**Geographic coordinates:**
2 00 S, 77 30 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 283,561 sq km
land: 276,841 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands

**Area - comparative:**
slightly smaller than Nevada

**Land boundaries:**
total: 2,237 km
border countries (2): Colombia 708 km; Peru 1529 km

**Coastline:**
2,237 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
note: Ecuador has declared its right to extend its continental shelf to 350 nm, measured from the baselines of the Galapagos Archipelago

**Climate:**
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

**Terrain:**
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

**Elevation:**
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,117 m
note: because the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet farthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea level

**Natural resources:**
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 21.5% (2023 est.)
arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
forest: 49.8% (2023 est.)
other: 28.6% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
12,520 sq km (2022)

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)

**Population distribution:**
nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated

**Natural hazards:**
frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts
volcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m) is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (1,476 m), a shield volcano, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago

**Geography - note:**
Cotopaxi in the Andes is highest active volcano in world

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 18,479,841 (2025 est.)
male: 9,097,614
female: 9,382,227

**Nationality:**
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian

**Ethnic groups:**
Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 77.5%, Montubio 7.7%, Indigenous 7.7%, White 2.2%, Afroecuadorian 2%, Mulatto 1.4%, Black 1.3%, other 0.1% (2022 est.)

**Languages:**
Spanish (Castilian; official) 98.6%, indigenous 3.9% (Quechua 3.2%, other indigenous 0.7%), foreign 2.8%, other 0.6% (includes Ecuadorian sign language) (2022 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
note 1: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census
note 2: Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit

**Religions:**
Roman Catholic 68.2%, Protestant 19% (Evangelical 18.3%, Adventist 0.6%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other 2.3%, none 8.2% don't know/no response 1% (2023 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 26.8% (male 2,505,729/female 2,395,198)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 5,771,234/female 5,972,938)
65 years and over: 9.1% (2024 est.) (male 746,207/female 918,678)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 55.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 41 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 7 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 28.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 27 years
female: 28.9 years

**Population growth rate:**
0.91% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
17.42 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 64.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
3.142 million Guayaquil, 1.957 million QUITO (capital) (2023)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
55 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 74.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 69.7 years
female: 80.4 years

**Total fertility rate:**
2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
1.06 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)
total: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)
total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
8.3% of GDP (2021)
11.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

**Hospital bed density:**
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
19.9% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 3.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 9.7% (2025 est.)
male: 17.2% (2025 est.)
female: 2.4% (2025 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
4.9% (2024 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
45.3% (2022 est.)

**Child marriage:**
women married by age 15: 3.8% (2018)
women married by age 18: 22.2% (2018)

**Education expenditure:**
3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
15.5% national budget (2025 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 96.3% (2022 est.)
male: 96.8% (2022 est.)
female: 95.7% (2022 est.)

**School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):**
total: 15 years (2022 est.)
male: 14 years (2022 est.)
female: 15 years (2022 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

**Climate:**
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 21.5% (2023 est.)
arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
forest: 49.8% (2023 est.)
other: 28.6% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 64.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
38.286 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 37.711 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 536,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
17.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 454.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 346.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 210.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 2.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.297 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 1.293 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 549 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 8.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Total renewable water resources:**
442.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Geoparks:**
total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2025)
global geoparks and regional networks: Imbabura: Napo Sumaco; Tungurahua (2025)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: República del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
former: Quito
etymology: the name is the Spanish word for "equator," referring to its geographic position

**Government type:**
presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
time zone note: Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)
etymology: named after the Quitu, a Pre-Columbian people who lived in the area; the meaning of their name is unknown

**Administrative divisions:**
24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Cañar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabí, Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora Chinchipe

**Legal system:**
civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in ethnic communities

**Constitution:**
history: many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008
amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic through a referendum, by public petition of at least 1% of registered voters, or by agreement of at least one-third membership of the National Assembly; passage requires two separate readings a year apart and approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, and approval by absolute majority in a referendum; amendments such as changes to the structure of the state, constraints on personal rights and guarantees, or constitutional amendment procedures are not allowed

**International law organization participation:**
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

**Suffrage:**
18-65 years of age; universal and compulsory; voluntary for 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
head of government: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
most recent election date: 9 February 2025, with a runoff on 13 April 2025
election results:
2025: Daniel NOBOA Azin reelected president; percent of vote in the first round - Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 44.2%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar (MRC) 44%, Leonidas IZA (MUPP) 5.3%, other 6.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 55.6%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar 44.4%
2023: Daniel NOBOA Azin elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar (MRC) 33.6%, Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 23.5%, Christian Gustavo ZURITA Ron (Construye) 16.4%, Jan Tomislav TOPIĆ Feraud (Por Un País Sin Miedo) 14.7%, Otto Ramón SONNENHOLZNER Sper (Avanza) 7.1%, other 4.7%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 51.8%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar 48.2%
2021: Guillermo LASSO Mendoza elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 32.7%, Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 19.7%, Yaku PEREZ Guartambel (MUPP) 19.4%, Xavier HERVAS Mora (ID) 15.7%, other 12.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 52.5%, Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 47.5%
expected date of next election: 28 February 2029
note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government
note 2: though eligible for a second term, former president Guillermo LASSO announced that he would not run in the 2023 election; President Daniel NOBOA Azin is serving out the remainder of the presidential term (2021–2025)

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 151 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 2/9/2025
parties elected and seats per party: Citizen Revolution Movement (RC) - Renewal Movement (RETO) (67); National Democratic Action (ADN) (66); Pachakutik (9); Other (9)
percentage of women in chamber: 45%
expected date of next election: February 2029
note 1: all Assembly members have alternates from the same party who cast votes when a primary member is absent, resigns, or is removed from office
note 2: on 18 May 2023, Ecuador’s National Electoral Council announced that the legislative and presidential elections - originally scheduled for February 2025 - would be held on 20 August 2023 after President Guillermo LASSO dissolved the National Assembly by decree on 17 May 2023; a return to a regular election cycle will occur in February 2025

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (consists of 21 judges, including the chief justice and organized into 5 specialized chambers); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitucional (consists of the court president and 8 judges)
judge selection and term of office: candidates for the National Court of Justice evaluated and appointed justices by the Judicial Council, a 9-member independent body of law professionals; justices elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years; candidates for the Constitutional Court evaluated and appointed judges by a 6-member independent body of law professionals; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: provincial courts (one for each province except Galapagos); fiscal, criminal, and administrative tribunals; Election Dispute Settlement Courts; cantonal courts

**Political parties:**
Actuemos Ecuador or Actuemos
AMIGO movement, Independent Mobilizing Action Generating Opportunities (Movimiento AMIGO (Acción Movilizadora Independiente Generando Oportunidades)) or AM16O
Avanza Party or AVANZA
Central Democratic Movement or CD
Citizen Revolution Movement or MRC or RC5
Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO
Democratic Left or ID
Democracy Yes Movement (Movimiento Democracia Si)
For A Country Without Fear (Por Un País Sin Miedo) (an alliance including PSC, CD, and PSP)
Green Movement (Movimiento Verde)
Movimiento Construye or Construye
National Democratic Action (Acción Democrática Nacional) or ADN
Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP
Patriotic Society Party or PSP
People, Equality, and Democracy Party (Partido Pueblo, Igualdad y Democracia) or PID
Popular Unity Party (Partido Unidad Popular) or UP
Revolutionary and Democratic Ethical Green Movement (Movimiento Verde Ético Revolucionario y Democrático) or MOVER
Social Christian Party or PSC
Socialist Party
Society United for More Action or SUMA
Total Renovation Movement (Movimiento Renovacion Total) or RETO

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Pablo Agustín ZAMBRANO Albuja (since 24 July 2025)
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX: [1] (202) 333-2893
email address and website:
eecuusanotifications@mmrree.gob.ec
Contact – Washington (cancilleria.gob.ec)
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis (MN), New Haven (CT), New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Juan (PR)

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Lawrence PETRONI (since 17 April 2025)
embassy: E12-170 Avenida Avigiras y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
mailing address: 3420 Quito Place, Washington DC 20521-3420
telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000
email address and website:
ACSQuito@state.gov
https://ec.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

**International organization participation:**
CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
24 May 1822 (from Spain)

**National holiday:**
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

**Flag:**
description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red, with the coat of arms at the center of the flag
meaning: yellow stands for sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth; blue for the sky, sea, and rivers; red for patriots' blood spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice
note: similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not have a coat of arms

**National symbol(s):**
Andean condor

**National color(s):**
yellow, blue, red

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Salve, O Patria!" (We Salute You, Our Homeland)
lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
history: adopted 1948; MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Quito (c); Galápagos Islands (n); Historic Cuenca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c); Sangay National Park (n)

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
highly informal South American economy; USD currency user; major banana exporter; hard hit by COVID-19; macroeconomic fragility from oil dependency; successful debt restructuring; China funding budget deficits; social unrest hampering economic activity

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$252.728 billion (2024 est.)
$257.889 billion (2023 est.)
$252.861 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
-2% (2024 est.)
2% (2023 est.)
5.9% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$13,900 (2024 est.)
$14,300 (2023 est.)
$14,200 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$124.676 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
1.5% (2024 est.)
2.2% (2023 est.)
3.5% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 9.5% (2024 est.)
industry: 26.5% (2024 est.)
services: 57.2% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**GDP - composition, by end use:**
household consumption: 64.9% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 13.3% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.1% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 30.3% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -26.9% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

**Agricultural products:**
bananas, sugarcane, milk, oil palm fruit, maize, rice, plantains, chicken, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

**Industrial production growth rate:**
-3.7% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
8.821 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
4.8% (2024 est.)
3.6% (2023 est.)
3.8% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 10.1% (2024 est.)
male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
female: 13% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
26% (2023 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
44.6 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 25.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 1.6% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 33.2% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
5.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $35.962 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $35.969 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

**Taxes and other revenues:**
13.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

**Current account balance:**
$7.082 billion (2024 est.)
$2.217 billion (2023 est.)
$2.136 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$38.468 billion (2024 est.)
$35.687 billion (2023 est.)
$36.588 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
USA 22%, China 21%, Panama 12%, Japan 3%, Peru 3% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
crude petroleum, shellfish, bananas, fish, gold (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$33.97 billion (2024 est.)
$35.421 billion (2023 est.)
$36.644 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
USA 27%, China 20%, Colombia 7%, Brazil 4%, Peru 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$6.908 billion (2024 est.)
$4.442 billion (2023 est.)
$8.459 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Debt - external:**
$39.658 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

**Exchange rates:**
the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 8.438 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 29.305 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 192 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 466 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 5.119 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 23.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 75.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
consumption: 14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 200 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 24 million metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 480,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 8.273 billion barrels (2021 est.)

**Natural gas:**
production: 271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 10.902 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
35.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 1.22 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2024 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 18.4 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
956 media outlets, of which 89% are private, 5% are public, and 6% belong to small communities; government controls most of the 44 public media stations, including national media and multiple local radio stations; most media outlets are concentrated in Guayas and Pichincha (2022)

**Internet country code:**
.ec

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 77% (2024 est.)
according to 2021 statistics from Ecuador's Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society, 50% of homes do not have access to fixed internet

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 2.89 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
HC

**Airports:**
317 (2025)

**Heliports:**
28 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 965 km (2022)
narrow gauge: 965 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
note: passenger service limited to certain sections of track, mostly for tourist trains

**Merchant marine:**
total: 154 (2023)
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 28, other 117

**Ports:**
total ports: 6 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 2
very small: 4
ports with oil terminals: 5
key ports: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Maritimo de Guayaquil

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Ecuadorian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador): Ground Force (Fuerza Terrestre), Naval Force (Fuerza Naval; includes naval infantry, naval aviation, coast guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana) (2025)
note: the National Police of Ecuador (Policía Nacional del Ecuador) is under the Ministry of Government/Interior

**Military expenditures:**
2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 40,000 active Ecuadorian Armed Forces (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the military's inventory includes a mix of mostly older and limited quantities of more modern equipment from a variety of sources such as Brazil, Chile, China, France, Italy, Germany, Russia/Soviet-Union, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month service obligation; conscription abolished in 2008 (2025)
note: in 2024, women made up about 5% of the active military

**Military - note:**
the military is responsible for preserving Ecuador’s national sovereignty and defending the integrity of the state; it also has some domestic security responsibilities and may complement police operations in maintaining public order if required; the military shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police; it participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises and has sent troops on UN peacekeeping missions; the military has defense ties to regional countries, such as Chile, Colombia, and Peru
border conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s and border security remains a priority, but in more recent years, security challenges have included counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations, particularly in the northern border area where violence and other criminal activity related to terrorism, insurgency, and narco-trafficking, as well as refugees, have spilled over the borders with Colombia and Venezuela; the military has established a joint service task force for counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations and boosted troop deployments along those borders; other missions include countering illegal mining, smuggling, and maritime piracy; since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has expanded the military’s role in general public security and domestic crime operations, in part due to rising violence, police corruption, and police ineffectiveness; in 2024, Ecuador passed a constitutional amendment formally authorizing the military to participate in complementary security roles such as supporting law enforcement in high-risk areas, conducting joint operations against organized crime, and providing logistical assistance in maintaining public order
the military ruled the country from 1963-1966 and 1972-1979, and supported a dictatorship in 1970-1972; during the 1980s, the military remained loyal to the civilian government, but civilian-military relations were at times tenuous, and the military had considerable autonomy from civilian oversight; it was involved in coup attempts in 2000 and 2010 (2025)

### Space

**Space agency/agencies:**
Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency (EXA; a civilian independent research and development institution in charge of the administration and execution of Ecuador’s space program, established 2007) (2025)

**Space program overview:**
has a small program focused on acquiring and manufacturing satellites; builds scientific satellites; conducts research and develops some space-related technologies; has relationships with China and Russia's space agencies and industries, as well as the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency and its member states (2025)

**Key space-program milestones:**
2007 - an Ecuadorian completed a suborbital astronaut training program provided by Russia
2013 - first two domestically designed and built scientific/technology demonstrator satellites (NEE-01/Pegasus, NEE-02/Krysaor) launched by China and Russia
2021 - signed accords for the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency
2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration

### Terrorism

**Terrorist group(s):**
Terrorist group(s): Los Choneros; Los Lobos

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 30,241 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 57,402 (2024 est.)

**Illicit drugs:**
USG identification:
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

---

## Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
**Slug:** falkland-islands-islas-malvinas
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇫🇰
**Codes:** cek: fk, iso2: FK, iso3: FLK, iso_num: 238, genc: FLK, stanag: FLK, internet: .fk

### Introduction

**Background:**
Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later, and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands in 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force and after fierce fighting forced an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982. With hostilities ended and Argentine forces withdrawn, UK administration resumed. In response to renewed calls from Argentina for Britain to relinquish control of the islands, a referendum was held in 2013 that resulted in 99.8% of the population voting to remain a part of the UK.

### Geography

**Location:**
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km east of southern Argentina

**Geographic coordinates:**
51 45 S, 59 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 12,173 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

**Area - comparative:**
slightly smaller than Connecticut

**Land boundaries:**
total: 0 km

**Coastline:**
1,288 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

**Climate:**
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate

**Terrain:**
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

**Elevation:**
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

**Natural resources:**
fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 93.2% (2023 est.)
arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 93.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 0% (2022 est.)
other: 6.8% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
NA

**Population distribution:**
a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley

**Natural hazards:**
strong winds persist throughout the year

**Geography - note:**
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 3,142 (2021)
male: 1,645
female: 1,497
note: data include all persons usually resident in the islands at the time of the 2021 census

**Nationality:**
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island

**Ethnic groups:**
Falkland Islander 48.3%, British 23.1%, St. Helenian 7.5%, Chilean 4.6%, mixed 6%, other 8.5%, unspecified 2% (2016 est.)
note: data represent population by national identity

**Languages:**
English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3% (2006 est.)

**Religions:**
Christian 57.1%, other 1.6%, none 35.4%, unspecified 6% (2016 est.)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 38.4 (2021)
youth dependency ratio: 21.8 (2021)
elderly dependency ratio: 16.6 (2021)
potential support ratio: 6 (2021)

**Population growth rate:**
0.01% (2014 est.)

**Birth rate:**
10.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

**Death rate:**
4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2012 est.)

**Population distribution:**
a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 79.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
2,000 STANLEY (capital) (2018)

**Sex ratio:**
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: (2017 est.) 77.9
male: 75.6
female: 79.6

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 21.8% of population

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
47.7% (2016 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
overfishing by unlicensed vessels; grazing threatens important habitats; soil erosion from fires

**Climate:**
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 93.2% (2023 est.)
arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 93.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 0% (2022 est.)
other: 6.8% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 79.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
36,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 36,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
etymology: the archipelago takes its name from the Falkland Sound, the strait separating the two main islands; the channel was named after the Fifth Viscount of FALKLAND, who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French "Iles Malouines," meaning Islands of Malo, the name French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE gave the islands in 1764 in honor of the French port of Saint-Malo

**Government type:**
parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

**Dependency status:**
overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

**Capital:**
name: Stanley
geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named in 1844 after Edward SMITH-STANLEY, the 14th Earl of Derby

**Legal system:**
English common law and local statutes

**Constitution:**
history: previous 1985; latest entered into force 1 January 2009 (The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008)

**Citizenship:**
see United Kingdom

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Colin MARTIN-REYNOLDS (since 29 July 2025)
head of government: Chief Executive Andrea Patricia CLAUSEN (since 1 April 2025)
cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Legislative Council
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; monarch appoints the governor, who appoints the chief executive

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: Legislative Assembly
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 10 (8 directly elected, 2 appointed)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 12/11/2025
percentage of women in chamber: 25% note: does not include the speaker
expected date of next election: November 2025

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, the chief justice as an ex officio non-resident member, and 2 justices of appeal); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice, court of appeal president, and justices appointed by the governor; tenure specified in each justice's instrument of appointment
subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction
note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

**Political parties:**
none; all independents

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
none (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
embassy: none (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)

**International organization participation:**
UPU

**Independence:**
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

**National holiday:**
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

**Flag:**
description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms has a white ram above the ship "Desire" (whose crew discovered the islands), with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

**National symbol(s):**
ram

**National color(s):**
red, white, blue

**National coat of arms:**
the Falkland Islands adopted its coat of arms in 1948; the shield highlights the national symbol, the ram, which represents the country’s agricultural industry and stands on native tussock grass; English navigator John Davis’s sailing vessel, the Desire, is shown, referencing his sighting of the islands in 1592; below the shield is the national motto, “Desire the Right”

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Song of the Falklands"
lyrics/music: Christopher LANHAM
history: adopted unknown
_____
title: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: official anthem, as a UK territory

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
British South American territorial economy; longstanding fishing industry; surging tourism prior to COVID-19 and Brexit; recent offshore hydrocarbon discoveries threaten ecotourism industries; no central bank and must have British approval on currency shifts

**Real GDP per capita:**
$70,800 (2015 est.)
$63,000 (2014 est.)

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$206.4 million (2015 est.)

**Agricultural products:**
fodder and vegetable crops; venison, sheep, dairy products; fish, squid

**Industries:**
fish and wool processing; tourism

**Exports - partners:**
Spain 68%, Morocco 10%, USA 8%, Namibia 3%, Germany 2% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
shellfish, fish, wool, sheep and goat meat (2023)
note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

**Imports - partners:**
UK 68%, Greece 19%, Spain 11%, Netherlands 1%, NZ 0% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, aircraft parts, prefabricated buildings, plastic products, surveying equipment (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Exchange rates:**
Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.78 (2024 est.)
0.805 (2023 est.)
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021 est.)
0.78 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 10,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 18.257 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 900,000 kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 73.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 26.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
refined petroleum consumption: 200 bbl/day (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 1,980 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57 (2022 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 6,420 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 184 (2022 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
TV service provided by a multi-channel service provider; radio provided by public broadcaster Falkland Islands Radio Service and the British Forces Broadcasting Service (2007)

**Internet country code:**
.fk

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 99% (2021 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 1,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
VP-F

**Airports:**
34 (2025)

**Merchant marine:**
total: 2 (2023)
by type: general cargo 1, other 1

**Ports:**
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 0
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Stanley

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
no regular military forces

**Military - note:**
defense is the responsibility of the UK, which maintains a military presence on the islands

---

## Guyana
**Slug:** guyana
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇬🇾
**Codes:** cek: gy, iso2: GY, iso3: GUY, iso_num: 328, genc: GUY, stanag: GUY, internet: .gy

### Introduction

**Background:**
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to former slaves settling urban areas and indentured servants being imported from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then primarily socialist-oriented governments have ruled the country.
In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was elected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR won in 2011, but early elections held in 2015 resulted in the first change in governing party, and David GRANGER took office. After a 2018 no-confidence vote against the GRANGER government, the administration ignored a constitutional requirement to hold elections and remained in place until the 2020 elections, when Irfaan ALI became president.
The discovery of massive offshore oil reserves in 2015 has been Guyana's primary economic and political focus, with many hoping the reserves will transform one of the poorest countries in the region. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and shares cultural and historical bonds with the Anglophone Caribbean.

### Geography

**Location:**
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

**Geographic coordinates:**
5 00 N, 59 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 214,969 sq km
land: 196,849 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km

**Area - comparative:**
slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee

**Land boundaries:**
total: 2,933 km
border countries (3): Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 km

**Coastline:**
459 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

**Climate:**
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)

**Terrain:**
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

**Elevation:**
highest point: Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 207 m

**Natural resources:**
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
forest: 87.1% (2023 est.)
other: 9.5% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
1,430 sq km (2012)

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

**Population distribution:**
population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

**Natural hazards:**
flash flood threat during rainy seasons

**Geography - note:**
the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; contains some of the largest unspoiled rainforests on the continent

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 796,742 (2025 est.)
male: 406,599
female: 390,143

**Nationality:**
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese

**Ethnic groups:**
East Indian 39.8%, African descent 29.3%, mixed 19.9%, Indigenous 10.5%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, White) (2012 est.)

**Languages:**
English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)

**Religions:**
Protestant 34.8% (Pentecostal 22.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 5.2%, Methodist 1.4%), Hindu 24.8%, other Christian 20.8%, Roman Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 0.5%, other 0.9%, none 3.1% (2012 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 95,223/female 91,272)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 281,669/female 261,261)
65 years and over: 8.1% (2024 est.) (male 28,352/female 36,322)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 46.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 34.3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 12.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 8.1 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 28.7 years (2025 est.)
male: 28.2 years
female: 28.4 years

**Population growth rate:**
0.35% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
16.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
7.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
-6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 27.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Mother's mean age at first birth:**
20.8 years (2009 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 72.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 70.6 years
female: 74.3 years

**Total fertility rate:**
2.04 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
1 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 96% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
total: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 4% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
total: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
4.9% of GDP (2021)
10.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
1.39 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

**Hospital bed density:**
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
20.2% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 9.2% (2025 est.)
male: 16.9% (2025 est.)
female: 1.9% (2025 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
9.4% (2019 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
59% (2020 est.)

**Child marriage:**
women married by age 15: 6.3% (2020)
women married by age 18: 32.3% (2020)
men married by age 18: 11.9% (2020)

**Education expenditure:**
4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
7.2% national budget (2025 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 85.6% (2020 est.)
male: 84.2% (2020 est.)
female: 86.9% (2020 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
water pollution from sewage and agricultural/industrial chemicals; deforestation

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

**Climate:**
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
forest: 87.1% (2023 est.)
other: 9.5% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 27.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
2.639 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 2.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
11.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 103 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 51.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 7.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 179,300 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 61.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 20.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 1.363 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Total renewable water resources:**
271 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana
etymology: the name is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that included British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, and French Guiana; the name Guiana may be derived from a local term meaning "Land of Water" (referring to the area's multitude of rivers and streams)

**Government type:**
parliamentary republic

**Capital:**
name: Georgetown
geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the British founded the town in 1781 and named it in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

**Administrative divisions:**
10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

**Legal system:**
common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence

**Constitution:**
history: several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980
amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, such as national sovereignty, government structure and powers, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum, and assent of the president; other amendments only require Assembly approval

**International law organization participation:**
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: na

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
head of government: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
election/appointment process: the predesignated candidate of the winning party in the last National Assembly election becomes president for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
most recent election date: 1 September 2025
election results: 2025: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) reelected president by the majority party in the National Assembly
2020: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly
2015: David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly
expected date of next election: August 2030
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
legislative structure: unicameral
chamber name: National Assembly
number of seats: 72 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 9/1/2025
parties elected and seats per party: People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) (36); We Invest in Nationhood (W.I.N.) (16); A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) (12); Other (1)
percentage of women in chamber: 36.1%
expected date of next election: August 2030

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with a chief justice and 3 justices, and the High Court with a chief justice and 10 justices organized into 3- or 5-judge panels); Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president; other judges of both courts appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a body appointed by the president; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 65
subordinate courts: Land Court; magistrates' courts

**Political parties:**
A New and United Guyana or ANUG
A Partnership for National Unity or APNU
Alliance for Change or AFC
Justice for All Party
Liberty and Justice Party or LJP
National Independent Party or NIP
People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C
The New Movement or TNM
The United Force or TUF
United Republican Party or URP

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)
chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297
email address and website:
guyanaembassydc@verizon.net
http://www.guyanaembassydc.org/
consulate(s) general: New York

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)
embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: 3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909
FAX: [592] 225-8497
email address and website:
acsgeorge@state.gov
https://gy.usembassy.gov/

**International organization participation:**
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
26 May 1966 (from the UK)

**National holiday:**
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

**Flag:**
description: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the left side) on top of a long yellow arrowhead shape that extends to the opposite side of the flag; a narrow black border sits between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and green
meaning: green stands for forest and foliage, yellow for mineral resources and a bright future, white for the rivers, red for zeal and the people's sacrifice, and black for perseverance

**National symbol(s):**
Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily

**National color(s):**
red, yellow, green, black, white

**National coat of arms:**
Guyana’s coat of arms was adopted in 1966, the year of the country’s independence from the United Kingdom; the jaguars signify strength and resilience, with one holding a pickaxe that stands for labor and the other holding stalks of rice and sugarcane for agriculture; two national symbols, the Canje pheasant and the Victorian lily, are on the shield, with the national motto underneath; three wavy blue lines stand for the Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice rivers, the headdress for the country’s ethnic groups, and the diamonds for the mining industry; the helmet is a symbol of past UK rule in Guyana

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER
history: adopted 1966

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
small, hydrocarbon-driven South American export economy; major forest coverage being leveraged in carbon credit offsets to encourage preservation; strengthening financial sector; large bauxite and gold resources

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$58.423 billion (2024 est.)
$40.749 billion (2023 est.)
$30.457 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
43.4% (2024 est.)
33.8% (2023 est.)
63.3% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$70,300 (2024 est.)
$49,300 (2023 est.)
$37,100 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$24.836 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
2.9% (2024 est.)
2.8% (2023 est.)
6.1% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 8% (2024 est.)
industry: 74.3% (2024 est.)
services: 15.3% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**Agricultural products:**
rice, sugarcane, plantains, cassava, papayas, pumpkins/squash, chicken, milk, ginger, eggplants (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining

**Industrial production growth rate:**
53.3% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
292,200 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
10.2% (2024 est.)
12.1% (2023 est.)
12.1% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 22.3% (2024 est.)
male: 17.4% (2024 est.)
female: 28.1% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Remittances:**
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
6.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $1.333 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $1.467 billion (2019 est.)

**Current account balance:**
$2.352 billion (2023 est.)
$4.242 billion (2022 est.)
-$1.36 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$13.739 billion (2023 est.)
$11.517 billion (2022 est.)
$4.594 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
USA 20%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Netherlands 10%, Singapore 10%, Germany 7% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
crude petroleum, railway cargo containers, gold, ships, rice (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$10.956 billion (2023 est.)
$7.033 billion (2022 est.)
$6.588 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
USA 28%, China 13%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Brazil 5%, Bahamas, The 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, ships, construction vehicles, excavation machinery, cars (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$1.01 billion (2024 est.)
$895.275 million (2023 est.)
$917.877 million (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Debt - external:**
$1.805 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

**Exchange rates:**
Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
208.5 (2024 est.)
208.5 (2023 est.)
208.5 (2022 est.)
208.5 (2021 est.)
208.5 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 93% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 98%
electrification - rural areas: 91.6%

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 259,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 1.07 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 268.803 million kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 92.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 391,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

**Natural gas:**
consumption: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
46.045 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 124,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2022 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 925,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2022 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
government-dominated broadcast media; the National Communications Network (NCN) TV is state-owned; a few private TV stations relay satellite services; the state owns and operates 2 radio stations broadcasting on multiple frequencies; government limits on licensing of new private radio stations has constrained competition

**Internet country code:**
.gy

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 106,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2022 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
8R

**Airports:**
55 (2025)

**Merchant marine:**
total: 80 (2023)
by type: general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25

**Ports:**
total ports: 3 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 0
very small: 2
ports with oil terminals: 3
key ports: Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) is a unified force with ground, air, and coast guard components, as well as the Guyana National Reserve (2026)
note: the Guyana Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for internal security

**Military expenditures:**
0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 3,500 active-duty Guyana Defense Forces (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the military has a limited inventory comprised mostly of older or secondhand platforms imported from a variety of foreign suppliers, including Brazil, China, India, the former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)

**Military - note:**
the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) was established in 1965; its primary missions are territorial defense, maritime security, search and rescue, medical evacuation, aviation and engineering support, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, peace support operations, and community engagement; key areas of concern include illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, piracy, porous borders, and threats from Venezuela over disputed territory; the GDF participates in both bilateral and multinational exercises and has relationships with Brazil, China, France, the UK, and the US
Guyana joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 2022; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 79 (2024 est.)

---

## Paraguay
**Slug:** paraguay
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇵🇾
**Codes:** cek: pa, iso2: PY, iso3: PRY, iso_num: 600, genc: PRY, stanag: PRY, internet: .py

### Introduction

**Background:**
Several Indigenous groups, principally belonging to the Guarani language family, inhabited the area of modern Paraguay before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century, when the territory was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811 with the help of neighboring states. In the aftermath of independence, a series of military dictators ruled the country until 1870. During the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1864-70) -- fought against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay -- Paraguay lost two thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half-century and experienced a tumultuous series of political regimes. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.

### Geography

**Location:**
Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil

**Geographic coordinates:**
23 00 S, 58 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 406,752 sq km
land: 397,302 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km

**Area - comparative:**
about three times the size of New York State; slightly smaller than California

**Land boundaries:**
total: 4,655 km
border countries (3): Argentina 2,531 km; Bolivia 753 km; Brazil 1,371 km

**Coastline:**
0 km (landlocked)

**Maritime claims:**
none (landlocked)

**Climate:**
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

**Terrain:**
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

**Elevation:**
highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m
lowest point: junction of Río Paraguay and Río Paraná 46 m
mean elevation: 178 m

**Natural resources:**
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 54.1% (2023 est.)
arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)
forest: 36.9% (2023 est.)
other: 7% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
1,362 sq km (2012)

**Major rivers (by length in km):**
Río de la Plata/Paraná (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Paraguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 2,549 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)

**Major aquifers:**
Guarani Aquifer System

**Population distribution:**
most of the population resides in the eastern half of the country; to the west lies the Gran Chaco (a semi-arid lowland plain), which accounts for 60% of the land territory, but only 2% of the overall population

**Natural hazards:**
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

**Geography - note:**
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of country

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 7,604,044 (2025 est.)
male: 3,809,407
female: 3,794,637

**Nationality:**
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan

**Ethnic groups:**
Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indigenous ancestry) 95%, other 5%

**Languages:**
Spanish (official) and Guarani (official) 46.3%, only Guarani 34%, only Spanish 15.2%, other (includes Portuguese, German, other Indigenous languages) 4.1%, no response 0.4% (2012 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
note: data represent predominant household language

**Religions:**
Roman Catholic 80.4%, Protestant 7% (Evangelical (non-specific) 6.7%, Evangelical Pentecostal <0.1%, Adventist <0.1%, Protestant (non-specific) <0.1%), Believer (not belonging to the church) 5.7%, other 0.6%, agnostic <0.1%, none 0.2%, unspecified 6.2% (2023 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 22.2% (male 850,191/female 821,237)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 2,582,021/female 2,561,962)
65 years and over: 9.4% (2024 est.) (male 337,164/female 369,974)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 46.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 32.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 7 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 32.3 years (2025 est.)
male: 31.6 years
female: 32 years

**Population growth rate:**
1.06% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
15.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
most of the population resides in the eastern half of the country; to the west lies the Gran Chaco (a semi-arid lowland plain), which accounts for 60% of the land territory, but only 2% of the overall population

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 63.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Mother's mean age at first birth:**
22.9 years (2008 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
58 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 26.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 78.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 76.2 years
female: 81.6 years

**Total fertility rate:**
1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
0.92 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
8% of GDP (2021)
17.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
3.89 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

**Hospital bed density:**
1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)
total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)
total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
20.3% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 5.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 9.3% (2025 est.)
male: 15.5% (2025 est.)
female: 3.3% (2025 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
1.3% (2016 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
54.8% (2022 est.)

**Child marriage:**
women married by age 15: 3.6% (2016)
women married by age 18: 21.6% (2016)

**Education expenditure:**
3.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
11.7% national budget (2025 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 94.9% (2024 est.)
male: 95.4% (2024 est.)
female: 94.3% (2024 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
deforestation; water pollution; toxic dumping in rivers and streams; loss of wetlands; inadequate means for waste disposal in urban areas

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 2006

**Climate:**
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 54.1% (2023 est.)
arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)
forest: 36.9% (2023 est.)
other: 7% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 63.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
7.509 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 7.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 37.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 813 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 10 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.819 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 18.1% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 362 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 154 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 1.897 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Total renewable water resources:**
387.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: República del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
etymology: derives from the river of the same name; the river's name may come from the Guarani words para (water or river) and guay (born)

**Government type:**
presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Asunción
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name means "assumption" in Spanish; the Spanish founded the city on August 15, 1537, the Catholic feast day for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

**Administrative divisions:**
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boquerón, Caaguazú, Caazapá, Canindeyú, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guairá, Itapúa, Misiones, Ñeembucú, Paraguarí, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

**Legal system:**
civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts

**Constitution:**
history: several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992
amendment process: proposed at the initiative of at least one quarter of either chamber of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum

**International law organization participation:**
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Paraguay
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)
head of government: President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a single 5-year term
most recent election date: 30 April 2023
election results:
2023: Santiago PEÑA Palacios elected president; percent of vote - Santiago PEÑA Palacios (ANR) 43.9%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 28.3%, Paraguayo "Payo" CUBAS Colomés (PCN) 23.6%, other 4.2%
2018: Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ elected president; percent of vote - Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ (ANR) 49%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 45.1%, other 5.9%
expected date of next election: April 2028
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: Congress (Congreso)
legislative structure: bicameral

**Legislative branch - lower chamber:**
chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
number of seats: 80 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 4/30/2023
parties elected and seats per party: National Republican Association/Colorado Party (ANR) (48); Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) - Alliances (23); National Crusade Party (CN) (4); Other (5)
percentage of women in chamber: 23.8%
expected date of next election: April 2028

**Legislative branch - upper chamber:**
chamber name: Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
number of seats: 45 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 4/30/2023
parties elected and seats per party: National Republican Association/Colorado Party (ANR) (23); Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) - Alliances (12); National Crusade Party (CN) (5); Other (5)
percentage of women in chamber: 22.2%
expected date of next election: April 2028

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 justices divided 3 each into the Constitutional Court, Civil and Commercial Chamber, and Criminal Division)
judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, a 6-member independent body, and appointed by the Chamber of Senators with presidential concurrence; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75
subordinate courts: appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace

**Political parties:**
Asociacion Nacional Republicana (National Republican Association) - Colorado Party or ANR
Avanza Pais coalition or AP
Frente Guasu (Broad Front coalition) or FG
GANAR Alliance (Great Renewed National Alliance) (alliance between PLRA and Guasú Front)
Movimiento Hagamos or MH
Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos (National Union of Ethical Citizens) or UNACE
Partido Cruzada Nacional (National Crusade Party) or PCN; note - formerly Movimiento Cruzada Nacional
Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS
Partido Democratica Progresista (Progressive Democratic Party) or PDP
Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN
Partido Liberal Radical Autentico (Authentic Radical Liberal Party) or PLRA
Partido Pais Solidario or PPS
Partido Popular Tekojoja or PPT
Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Gustavo Alfredo LEITE Gusinky (since 5 September 2025)
chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
email address and website:
gabineteembaparusa@mre.gov.py
Embajada de la República del Paraguay ante los Estados Unidos de América :: The Embassy (mre.gov.py)
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Robert ALTER (since July 2025)
embassy: 1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion
mailing address: 3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC 20521-3020
telephone: [595] (21) 248-3000
FAX: [595] (21) 213-728
email address and website:
ParaguayACS@state.gov
https://py.usembassy.gov/

**International organization participation:**
CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
14-15 May 1811 (from Spain)
note: the uprising against Spanish authorities took place during the night of 14-15 May 1811, so both days are celebrated in Paraguay

**National holiday:**
Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day

**Flag:**
description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue, with an emblem centered on the white band; the emblem on one side of the flag is the national coat of arms, which has a five-pointed yellow star in a green wreath with the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY around it, all inside two circles; the other side of the flag has a circular treasury seal (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA)
meaning: red stands for bravery and patriotism, white for integrity and peace, and blue for liberty and generosity
note 1: resembles the flag of the Netherlands, which does not have a central emblem
note 2: one of three national flags that differ on each side -- the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia

**National symbol(s):**
lion

**National color(s):**
red, white, blue

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, the Republic or Death!)
lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Remberto GIMENEZ
history: adopted 1846 (lyrics) and 1934 (music)

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
upper middle-income South American economy; COVID-19 hit while still recovering from 2019 Argentina-driven recession; global hydroelectricity leader; major corruption and money-laundering locale; highly agrarian economy; significant income inequality

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$112.919 billion (2024 est.)
$108.316 billion (2023 est.)
$103.159 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
4.2% (2024 est.)
5% (2023 est.)
0.2% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$16,300 (2024 est.)
$15,800 (2023 est.)
$15,300 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$44.458 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
3.8% (2024 est.)
4.6% (2023 est.)
9.8% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 10.7% (2024 est.)
industry: 32.5% (2024 est.)
services: 48.7% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**GDP - composition, by end use:**
household consumption: 67% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 12.6% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.8% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 37.2% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -39.6% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

**Agricultural products:**
soybeans, sugarcane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, milk, beef, oranges, bananas (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
sugar processing, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power

**Industrial production growth rate:**
2.2% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
3.502 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
6.1% (2024 est.)
5.8% (2023 est.)
6.8% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 14.1% (2024 est.)
male: 11% (2024 est.)
female: 18.8% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
24.7% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
44.4 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 29.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 4.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 1.8% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 34.4% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $7.751 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $9.397 billion (2023 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

**Taxes and other revenues:**
10.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

**Current account balance:**
-$1.666 billion (2024 est.)
-$176.597 million (2023 est.)
-$2.948 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$17.395 billion (2024 est.)
$18.581 billion (2023 est.)
$14.971 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
Argentina 33%, Brazil 25%, Chile 10%, USA 2%, Uruguay 2% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
soybeans, beef, electricity, corn, soybean meal (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$18.377 billion (2024 est.)
$17.848 billion (2023 est.)
$17.088 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
China 33%, Brazil 24%, USA 8%, Argentina 7%, Germany 2% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, fertilizers, cars, pesticides (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$9.886 billion (2023 est.)
$9.519 billion (2022 est.)
$9.661 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Debt - external:**
$13.783 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

**Exchange rates:**
guarani (PYG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
7,560.248 (2024 est.)
7,288.872 (2023 est.)
6,982.752 (2022 est.)
6,774.163 (2021 est.)
6,771.097 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 8.928 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 14.835 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 24.202 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 5.209 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
hydroelectricity: 99.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
consumption: 700 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 10 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 100 metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 52,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
25.733 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 206,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 8.67 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2023 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2019)

**Internet country code:**
.py

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 878,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
ZP

**Airports:**
83 (2025)

**Heliports:**
29 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 30 km (2014)
standard gauge: 30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

**Merchant marine:**
total: 108 (2023)
by type: container ship 2, general cargo 22, oil tanker 5, other 79

**Ports:**
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Puerto de Asuncion

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Armed Forces of Paraguay (Fuerzas Armadas de Paraguay; aka Armed Forces of the Nation or Fuerzas Armadas de la Nación): Paraguayan Army (Ejército Paraguayo), Paraguayan Navy (Armada Paraguaya; includes marines), Paraguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Paraguaya)
Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police of Paraguay (Policía Nacional del Paraguay, PNP) (2025)

**Military expenditures:**
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 15,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the military's inventory is comprised of mostly older or obsolescent equipment from a variety of foreign suppliers, particularly Brazil and the US; in recent years, the military has received small quantities of more modern equipment, such as light attack aircraft from Brazil and secondhand helicopters from Taiwan (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18-25 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; all men 18-25 are required to perform military service for at least 12 months (2025)

**Military - note:**
the Paraguayan military is responsible for external defense and has a role in domestic security duties; it provides support for natural disasters and cooperates with the National Police and other internal security organizations in combating the Paraguayan People’s Army (Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo or EPP) and transnational criminal organizations, largely narcotics traffickers; the EPP is a small, domestic criminal/guerrilla group operating in the rural northern part of the country along the border with Brazil; the activities of the EPP and its offshoots—Marsical López’s Army (EML) and the Armed Peasant Association (ACA)—have consisted largely of isolated attacks on remote police and army posts, or against ranchers and peasants accused of aiding Paraguayan security forces
the Paraguayan military has deployed small numbers of troops on UN peacekeeping missions and cooperates with neighboring countries, such as Argentina and Brazil, on security issues, particularly organized crime and narco-trafficking in what is known as the Tri-Border Area; Paraguay has not fought a war against a neighboring country since the Chaco War with Bolivia in the 1930s (2025)

### Space

**Space agency/agencies:**
Space Agency of Paraguay (Agencia Especial del Paraguay, AEP; established 2014) (2025)

**Space program overview:**
has a small, recently established space program focused on the acquisition of satellites, satellite data, and the technologies and capabilities to manufacture satellites, as well as promoting domestic expertise and industry; a priority is acquiring remote sensing capabilities to support socio-economic development, including resource mapping, weather, and crop monitoring; has built a cube satellite with foreign assistance; operates satellites; cooperates with foreign space agencies and industries, including those of India, Japan, Taiwan, the US, and member states of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)

**Key space-program milestones:**
2017 - organized country’s first international conference on space issues
2021 - first research/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (Guaranisat-1) built jointly with Japan, launched by US, and deployed from International Space Station; signed protocols for the establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency
2025 - developing Guarani-Sat-2, which will be Paraguay's second satellite and the first designed and built domestically

### Terrorism

**Terrorist group(s):**
Terrorist group(s): Hizballah
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 7,649 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 141 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

---

## Peru
**Slug:** peru
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇵🇪
**Codes:** cek: pe, iso2: PE, iso3: PER, iso_num: 604, genc: PER, stanag: PER, internet: .pe

### Introduction

**Background:**
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peru declared its independence in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces were defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980 but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, an economic slump and the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his resignation in 2000.
A caretaker government oversaw a new election in 2001 that installed Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of indigenous ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA Perez who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, presided over a robust economic rebound. Former army officer Ollanta HUMALA Tasso was elected president in 2011 and carried on the market-oriented economic policies of the three preceding administrations. Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard won a very narrow runoff in the 2016 presidential election. Facing impeachment after evidence surfaced of his involvement in a vote-buying scandal, KUCZYNSKI offered his resignation in 2018, and First Vice President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo was sworn in as president. In 2019, VIZCARRA invoked his constitutional authority to dissolve Peru's Congress after months of battling with the body over anticorruption reforms. New congressional elections in 2020 resulted in an opposition-led legislature. The Congress impeached VIZCARRA for a second time and removed him from office after accusations of corruption and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of vacancies in the vice-presidential positions, the President of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel MERINO, became the next president. His ascension to office was not well received, and large protests forced his resignation later in 2020. Francisco SAGASTI assumed the position of President of Peru after being appointed President of the Congress the previous day. Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones won presidential election in 2021 but was impeached and ousted the following year; his vice president, Dina BOLUARTE, assumed the presidency by constitutional succession in 2022.

### Geography

**Location:**
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

**Geographic coordinates:**
10 00 S, 76 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 1,285,216 sq km
land: 1,279,996 sq km
water: 5,220 sq km

**Area - comparative:**
almost twice the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska

**Land boundaries:**
total: 7,062 km
border countries (5): Bolivia 1,212 km; Brazil 2,659 km; Chile 168 km; Colombia 1,494 km; Ecuador 1,529 km

**Coastline:**
2,414 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

**Climate:**
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes

**Terrain:**
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

**Elevation:**
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,746 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,555 m

**Natural resources:**
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 19.1% (2023 est.)
arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 14.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 52.9% (2023 est.)
other: 28% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
25,800 sq km (2012)

**Major lakes (area sq km):**
fresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Bolivia) - 8,030 sq km

**Major rivers (by length in km):**
Amazon river source (shared with Brazil [m]) - 6,400 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)

**Major aquifers:**
Amazon Basin

**Population distribution:**
approximately one third of the population resides along the desert coastal belt in the west, with a strong focus on the capital city of Lima; the Andean highlands, or sierra, contain roughly half of the population; the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjoining rainforest are sparsely populated

**Natural hazards:**
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (5,672 m) is the country's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes include El Misti, Huaynaputina, Sabancaya, and Yucamane; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

**Geography - note:**
note 1: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316-m (17,441-ft) peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River
note 2: Peru is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes
note 3: on 19 February 1600, Mount Huaynaputina in the southern Peruvian Andes erupted in the largest volcanic explosion in South America in historical times; intermittent eruptions lasted until 5 March 1600 and pumped an estimated 16 to 32 million metric tons of particulates into the atmosphere, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the earth's surface and affecting weather worldwide; over the next two-and-a-half years, millions died around the globe in famines from bitterly cold winters, cool summers, and the loss of crops and animals

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 32,768,614 (2025 est.)
male: 16,016,448
female: 16,752,166

**Nationality:**
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian

**Ethnic groups:**
Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 60.2%, Indigenous 25.8%, White 5.9%, African descent 3.6%, other (includes Chinese and Japanese descent) 1.2%, unspecified 3.3% (2017 est.)

**Languages:**
Spanish (official) 82.9%, Quechua (official) 13.6%, Aymara (official) 1.6%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages (includes many minor Amazonian languages) 0.8%, other 0.2%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.7% (2017 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

**Religions:**
Catholic 76%, Evangelical Christian 15.7%, no religion 5.1%, other religions 3.2% (2017 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 4,293,229/female 4,119,269)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 10,546,502/female 11,041,106)
65 years and over: 8% (2024 est.) (male 1,112,825/female 1,487,318)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 50.4 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 38.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 12 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 8.3 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 30.4 years (2025 est.)
male: 29.1 years
female: 31.3 years

**Population growth rate:**
0.55% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
16.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
9.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
approximately one third of the population resides along the desert coastal belt in the west, with a strong focus on the capital city of Lima; the Andean highlands, or sierra, contain roughly half of the population; the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjoining rainforest are sparsely populated

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
11.204 million LIMA (capital), 959,000 Arequipa, 904,000 Trujillo (2023)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Mother's mean age at first birth:**
21.9 years (2013 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
51 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 68.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 65.4 years
female: 72.7 years

**Total fertility rate:**
2.12 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
1.04 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 84.9% of population (2022 est.)
total: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 15.1% of population (2022 est.)
total: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
6.2% of GDP (2021)
16.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
1.69 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

**Hospital bed density:**
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 65.9% of population (2022 est.)
total: 88.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 34.1% of population (2022 est.)
total: 11.9% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
19.7% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 5.7% (2025 est.)
male: 9.5% (2025 est.)
female: 2.1% (2025 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
2.7% (2023 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
52.7% (2022 est.)

**Child marriage:**
women married by age 15: 2% (2020)
women married by age 18: 14.1% (2020)

**Education expenditure:**
4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
19.2% national budget (2024 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 93.7% (2024 est.)
male: 97% (2024 est.)
female: 90.7% (2024 est.)

**School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):**
total: 15 years (2017 est.)
male: 15 years (2017 est.)
female: 15 years (2017 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes; overfishing

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

**Climate:**
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 19.1% (2023 est.)
arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 14.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 52.9% (2023 est.)
other: 28% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
58.903 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.177 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 34.863 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 21.863 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
31.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 233.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 623.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 317 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 51.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 8.357 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.2% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 3.141 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 1.666 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 21.112 billion cubic meters (2022)

**Total renewable water resources:**
1.88 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Geoparks:**
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
global geoparks and regional networks: Colca y Volcanes de Andagua (2023)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: República del Perú
local short form: Perú
etymology: the name may derive from the Guarani word biru, meaning "river"

**Government type:**
presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name is an early Spanish mispronunciation of the Quechua name Rimak, referring to a god and deriving from the word rima (to speak); Quechua priests used to speak to worshippers from inside statues of their gods

**Administrative divisions:**
24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 1 province* (provincia), and 1 constitutional province** (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao**, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huánuco, Ica, Junín, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali

**Legal system:**
civil law system

**Constitution:**
history: several previous; latest promulgated 29 December 1993, enacted 31 December 1993
amendment process: proposed by Congress, by the president of the republic with the approval of the Council of Ministers or by petition of at least 0.3% of voters; passage requires absolute majority approval by the Congress membership, followed by approval in a referendum; a referendum is not required if Congress approves the amendment by greater than two-thirds majority vote in each of two successive sessions

**International law organization participation:**
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President José Enrique JERÍ Oré (since 10 October 2025)
head of government: President José Enrique JERÍ Oré (since 10 October 2025)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms)
most recent election date: 11 April 2021, with a runoff on 6 June 2021
election results:
2021: Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (PL) 18.9%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi (FP) 13.4%, Rafael LOPEZ ALIAGA Cazorla (RP) 11.8%, Hernando DE SOTO Polar (Social Integration Party) 11.6%, Yonhy LESCANO Ancieta (AP) 9.1%, Veronika MENDOZA Frisch (JP) 7.9%, Cesar ACUNA Peralta (APP) 6%, George FORSYTH Sommer (VN) 5.7%, Daniel Belizario URRESTI Elera (PP) 5.6%, other 10%; percent of vote second round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones 50.1%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9%
2016: Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi (FP) 39.9%, Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (PPK) 21.1%, Veronika MENDOZA (FA) 18.7%, Alfredo BARNECHEA (AP) 7%, Alan GARCIA (APRA) 5.8%, other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard 50.1%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9%
expected date of next election: 12 April 2026
note 1: First Vice President Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra assumed the office of the president on 7 December 2022 after President Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones was impeached and arrested; on 10 October 2025, the president of the Congress, José Enrique JERÍ Oré, was sworn in as the new president after Congress overwhelmingly voted to remove BOLUARTE from office
note 2: Prime Minister Ernesto ÁLVAREZ (since 14 October 2025) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president
note 3: the president is both chief of state and head of government

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 130 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 4/11/2021
parties elected and seats per party: Free Peru (PL) (37); Popular Force (FP) (24); Popular Action (AP) (16); Alliance for Progress (APP) (15); Go on Country - Social Integration Party (AvP) (10); Popular Renewal (RP) (9); We Are Peru" (SP) - Purple Party (PM) (9); Other (10)
percentage of women in chamber: 41.5%
expected date of next election: April 2026

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 16 judges and divided into civil, criminal, and constitutional-social sectors)
judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the National Board of Justice (a 7-member independent body), nominated by the president, and confirmed by the Congress; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Constitutional Guarantees; Superior Courts or Cortes Superiores; specialized civil, criminal, and mixed courts; 2 types of peace courts in which professional judges and selected members of the local communities preside

**Political parties:**
Advance the Nation (Avanza País) or AvP
Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso) or APP
Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or FA
Free Peru (Perú Libre) or PL
Front for Hope (Frente Esperanza)
Magisterial Block of National Concentration (Bloque Magisterial de Concertación Nacional) or BMCN
National Victory (Victoria Nacional) or VN
Peru Bicentennial (Perú Bicentenario) or PB
Popular Action (Acción Popular) or AP
Popular Force (Fuerza Popular) or FP
Popular Renewal (Renovación Popular) or RP
Purple Party (Partido Morado)
Social Integration Party (Avanza País - Partido de Integración Social)
Together For Perú (Juntos por el Peru) or JP
We Are Peru (Somos Perú) of SP
We Can Peru (Podemos Perú) or PP

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Santiago Carlos FERRERO DIEZ CANSECO (since 27 February 2024)
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
email address and website:
Webadmin@embassyofperu.us
Embassy of Peru in the United States - E-United States - Platform of the Peruvian State (www.gob.pe)
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (NJ), San Francisco

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Bernardo NAVARRO; Chargé d’Affaires Joan PERKINS (since 18 April 2025)
embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17 s/n, Surco, Lima 33
mailing address: 3230 Lima Place, Washington DC 20521-3230
telephone: [51] (1) 618-2000
FAX: [51] (1) 618-2724
email address and website:
lima_webmaster@state.gov
https://pe.usembassy.gov/

**International organization participation:**
AIIB, APEC, BIS, CAN, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
28 July 1821 (from Spain)

**National holiday:**
Independence Day, 28-29 July (1821)

**Flag:**
description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), white, and red, with the coat of arms centered on the white band; the coat of arms has a shield with a vicuna, a cinchona tree, and a yellow cornucopia spilling out coins
meaning: the vicuna represents fauna, the cinchona tree is the source of quinine, and the cornucopia symbolizes mineral wealth; red stands for blood shed for independence, and white for peace

**National symbol(s):**
vicuna (a camelid related to the llama)

**National color(s):**
red, white

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Himno Nacional del Peru" (National Anthem of Peru)
lyrics/music: Jose DE LA TORRE Ugarte/Jose Bernardo ALZEDO
history: adopted 1821

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 2 natural, 2 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Cuzco (c); Machu Picchu (m); Chavin (c); Historic Lima (c); Huascarán National Park (n); Chan Chan (c); Manú National Park (n); Lines and Geoglyphs of Nazca (c); Rio Abiseo National Park (m); Historic Arequipa (c); Sacred City of Caral-Supe (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
upper-middle-income South American economy; strong post-COVID rebound tempered by political uncertainty and climate risks; exports driven by mineral extraction and agriculture; large informal sector and uneven access to public services; stable fiscal position and financial sector

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$535.911 billion (2024 est.)
$518.771 billion (2023 est.)
$520.872 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
3.3% (2024 est.)
-0.4% (2023 est.)
2.8% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$15,700 (2024 est.)
$15,300 (2023 est.)
$15,600 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$289.222 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
2% (2024 est.)
6.5% (2023 est.)
8.3% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 6.1% (2024 est.)
industry: 32.2% (2024 est.)
services: 52.7% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**GDP - composition, by end use:**
household consumption: 61.6% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 20.8% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: -1.4% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 28.5% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -22.9% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

**Agricultural products:**
sugarcane, potatoes, rice, bananas, milk, maize, chicken, oil palm fruit, cassava, grapes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas and natural gas liquefaction; fishing and fish processing, cement, glass, textiles, clothing, food processing, beer, soft drinks, rubber, machinery, electrical machinery, chemicals, furniture

**Industrial production growth rate:**
3.1% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
18.918 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
4.9% (2024 est.)
4.9% (2023 est.)
3.9% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 8.8% (2024 est.)
male: 7.9% (2024 est.)
female: 9.8% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
27.5% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
40.7 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 26.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 2% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 30.6% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $48.003 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures: $55.34 billion (2021 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

**Public debt:**
35.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP

**Taxes and other revenues:**
15.9% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

**Current account balance:**
$6.39 billion (2024 est.)
$881.934 million (2023 est.)
-$9.972 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$83.325 billion (2024 est.)
$72.97 billion (2023 est.)
$71.39 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
China 34%, USA 14%, Canada 5%, India 4%, Switzerland 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
copper ore, gold, refined copper, refined petroleum, grapes (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$67.16 billion (2024 est.)
$63.776 billion (2023 est.)
$69.936 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
China 26%, USA 21%, Brazil 7%, Argentina 5%, Mexico 3% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, trucks, broadcasting equipment (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$79.246 billion (2024 est.)
$71.394 billion (2023 est.)
$72.328 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Debt - external:**
$38.102 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

**Exchange rates:**
nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
3.744 (2023 est.)
3.835 (2022 est.)
3.881 (2021 est.)
3.495 (2020 est.)
3.337 (2019 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 96.2% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 99%
electrification - rural areas: 85.1%

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 16.164 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 53.3 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 47.696 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 6.638 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 44.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 49.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
production: 1.382 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 973,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 1.261 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 446,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1.567 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 118,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 255,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 858.89 million barrels (2021 est.)

**Natural gas:**
production: 14.647 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 9.675 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 4.883 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 300.159 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
30.923 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 1.4 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2024 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 42.6 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
10 major TV networks of which only one, Television Nacional de Peru, is state owned; multi-channel cable TV services are available; in excess of 5,000 radio stations including a substantial number of local-language stations (2021)

**Internet country code:**
.pe

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 3.53 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2023 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
OB

**Airports:**
174 (2025)

**Heliports:**
7 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 1,854.4 km (2017)
standard gauge: 1,730.4 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (34 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 124 km (2014) 0.914-m gauge

**Merchant marine:**
total: 111 (2023)
by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 9, other 101

**Ports:**
total ports: 20 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 3
very small: 16
ports with oil terminals: 16
key ports: Bahia de Matarani, Iquitos, Puerto del Callao, Talara

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Armed Forces of Peru (Fuerzas Armadas del Perú or FAP): Peruvian Army (Ejercito del Peru), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru, MGP, includes naval infantry and General Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guards, DICAPI), Air Force of Peru (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP)
Ministry of the Interior: Peruvian National Police (Policía Nacional del Perú, PNP) (2025)

**Military expenditures:**
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
information varies; approximately 85,000 active-duty Armed Forces (50,000 Army; 25,000 Navy; 10,000 Air Force); approximately 75,000 National Police (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the military's inventory consists of mostly older or secondhand armaments originating from a range of countries, including Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, Spain, and the US; Peru has a small defense industry, including a shipyard that builds and upgrades naval vessels; it also has defense industrial cooperation agreements with several countries, including Russia, South Korea, Spain, and the US (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service (12-24 months) (2025)
note: as of 2024, women made up about 11% of the active-duty military

**Military deployments:**
225 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

**Military - note:**
the Peruvian Armed Forces (FAP) are responsible for external defense in addition to some domestic security responsibilities in designated emergency areas and in exceptional circumstances; key areas of focus include counterinsurgency, counternarcotics, cyber defense, disaster relief, and maritime security operations; the FAP supported the police during anti-government protests in early 2023; it has contributed to UN missions since 1958 and has ties to regional militaries, particularly Colombia, as well as those of numerous other countries such as China, Russia, Spain, and the US; the FAP’s last external conflict was a brief border war with Ecuador in 1995
the Special Command of the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers (CE-VRAEM) is responsible for combating the remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group (aka Sendero Luminoso) and includes several thousand air, ground, naval, police, and special forces personnel; the FAP also provides aircraft, vehicles, and logistical support to the command (2025)

### Space

**Space agency/agencies:**
National Aerospace Research and Development Commission (Comisión Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Aeroespacia, CONIDA; established 1974) (2025)

**Space launch site(s):**
in 2024, Peru announced an initiative to develop a future spaceport in Talara (Piura department)

**Space program overview:**
focuses on acquiring satellites, applying space applications such as data satellite imagery, and building small rockets; has built a small science/technology satellite; operates satellites and processes satellite imagery data; builds and launches sounding rockets with goal of developing a satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV); researching, developing, and acquiring technologies for manufacturing satellites and satellite payloads, including remote sensing (RS) capabilities; member of Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) since its formation in 2021; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, China, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France and Germany), India, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, and the US, as well as other ALCE signatories (2025)

**Key space-program milestones:**
2006 - launched first sounding rocket/space probe (Paulet-1)
2013 - first domestically built scientific/research satellite (PUCP-SAT-1) launched by Russia; launched first domestically built rocket (Paulet 1-B) capable of reaching the stratosphere
2016 - first remote sensing satellite (PeruSat-1) acquired from France and launched on European rocket
2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords on space and lunar exploration

### Terrorism

**Terrorist group(s):**
Terrorist group(s): Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso); Tren de Aragua (TdA)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 546,699 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 83,441 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 32 (2024 est.)

**Illicit drugs:**
USG identification:
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

---

## South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
**Slug:** south-georgia-and-south-sandwich-islands
**Region:** South America
**Codes:** cek: sx

### Introduction

**Background:**
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands lie approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland Islands and have been under British administration since 1908 -- except for a brief period in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, on South Georgia, was a 19th- and early 20th-century whaling station. Famed explorer Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months later with a few companions in a small boat and arranged a successful rescue for the rest of his crew, which was stranded off the Antarctic Peninsula. He died in 1922 on a subsequent expedition and is buried in Grytviken. Today, the station houses scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. Recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK extended the exclusive fishing zone in 1993, from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.

### Geography

**Location:**
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

**Geographic coordinates:**
54 30 S, 37 00 W

**Map references:**
Antarctic Region

**Area:**
total : 3,903 sq km
land: 3,903 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist of 11 islands

**Area - comparative:**
slightly larger than Rhode Island

**Land boundaries:**
total: 0 km

**Coastline:**
NA

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

**Climate:**
variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow

**Terrain:**
most of the islands are rugged and mountainous rising steeply from the sea; South Georgia is largely barren with steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes

**Elevation:**
highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

**Natural resources:**
fish

**Land use:**
other: 100% (2018 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
0 sq km (2022)

**Natural hazards:**
the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism

**Geography - note:**
the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: no permanent inhabitants

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
damage to native wildlife from imported animals

**Climate:**
variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow

**Land use:**
other: 100% (2018 est.)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
abbreviation: SGSSI
etymology: Captain James COOK originally named it "the Isle of Georgia" in 1775 in honor of British King GEORGE III; the word "South" was later added to distinguish these islands from the other Sandwich Islands, now known as the Hawaiian Islands

**Dependency status:**
overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing the British monarch

**Legal system:**
the laws of the UK apply

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
none (administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina)

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
none (administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina)

**International organization participation:**
UPU

**Flag:**
description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the islands' coat of arms is centered on the right half of the flag and has a green shield with a golden lion holding a torch; a fur seal is to the left of the shield and a Macaroni penguin to the right; a reindeer appears above the crest, and below the shield on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land)
meaning: the lion represents the UK and discovery; the seal, penguin, and reindeer are native to the islands

### Transportation

**Heliports:**
1 (2025)

**Ports:**
total ports: 3 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 3
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Grytviken, Prince Olav Harbor, Stromness Harbor

### Military and Security

**Military - note:**
defense is the responsibility of the UK

---

## Suriname
**Slug:** suriname
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇸🇷
**Codes:** cek: ns, iso2: SR, iso3: SUR, iso_num: 740, genc: SUR, stanag: SUR, internet: .sr

### Introduction

**Background:**
The Spaniards first explored Suriname in the 16th century, and the English then settled it in the mid-17th century. Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of African slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. The Netherlands granted the colony independence in 1975. Five years later, the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared Suriname a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government -- a four-party coalition -- returned to power in 1991. The coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and ruled until 2010, when voters returned former military leader Desire BOUTERSE and his opposition coalition to power. President BOUTERSE ran unopposed in 2015 and was reelected. Opposition parties campaigned hard against BOUTERSE in the run-up to the 2020 elections, and a multi-party coalition led by Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI’s VHP and Ronnie Brunswijk’s ABOP was installed.

### Geography

**Location:**
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

**Geographic coordinates:**
4 00 N, 56 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 163,820 sq km
land: 156,000 sq km
water: 7,820 sq km

**Area - comparative:**
slightly larger than Georgia

**Land boundaries:**
total: 1,907 km
border countries (3): Brazil 515 km; French Guiana 556 km; Guyana 836 km

**Coastline:**
386 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

**Climate:**
tropical; moderated by trade winds

**Terrain:**
mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

**Elevation:**
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
mean elevation: 246 m

**Natural resources:**
timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.1% (2023 est.)
forest: 91.7% (2023 est.)
other: 7.9% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
600 sq km (2020)

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)

**Population distribution:**
population is concentrated along the northern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

**Natural hazards:**
flooding

**Geography - note:**
smallest independent country on the South American continent; mostly tropical rainforest; great diversity of flora and fauna; relatively small population, mostly along the coast

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 653,605 (2025 est.)
male: 323,747
female: 329,858

**Nationality:**
noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese

**Ethnic groups:**
Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 27.4%, Maroon (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 21.7%, Creole (mixed White and Black) 15.7%, Javanese 13.7%, mixed 13.4%, other 7.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2012 est.)

**Languages:**
Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
major-language sample(s):
Het Wereld Feitenboek, een omnisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

**Religions:**
Protestant 23.6% (includes Evangelical 11.2%, Moravian 11.2%, Reformed 0.7%, Lutheran 0.5%), Hindu 22.3%, Roman Catholic 21.6%, Muslim 13.8%, other Christian 3.2%, Winti 1.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 1.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 3.2% (2012 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 22.5% (male 73,864/female 71,573)
15-64 years: 70% (male 226,417/female 226,235)
65 years and over: 7.5% (2024 est.) (male 20,071/female 28,598)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 43 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 31.8 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 11.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 8.9 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 32.3 years (2025 est.)
male: 31 years
female: 32.9 years

**Population growth rate:**
1.04% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
14.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
population is concentrated along the northern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 66.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
239,000 PARAMARIBO (capital) (2018)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
84 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 37.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 72.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 69 years
female: 76.7 years

**Total fertility rate:**
1.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
0.9 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 96.6% of population (2022 est.)
total: 98% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)
total: 2% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
5.7% of GDP (2021)
13.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
1.36 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

**Hospital bed density:**
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 91.2% of population (2022 est.)
total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)
total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
26.4% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 6.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
6.7% (2018 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
52.2% (2018 est.)

**Child marriage:**
women married by age 15: 8.8% (2018)
women married by age 18: 36% (2018)
men married by age 18: 19.6% (2018)

**Education expenditure:**
2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
8.6% national budget (2024 est.)

**School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):**
total: 11 years (2021 est.)
male: 10 years (2021 est.)
female: 11 years (2021 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
deforestation; pollution of inland waterways from small-scale mining activities

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

**Climate:**
tropical; moderated by trade winds

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.1% (2023 est.)
forest: 91.7% (2023 est.)
other: 7.9% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 66.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
2.521 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 2.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 14,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
12.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 78,600 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.9% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 49.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 135.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 431.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Total renewable water resources:**
99 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form: Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
etymology: name may derive from the Surinen people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact

**Government type:**
presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name comes from the Guaraní words para (water or river) and maribo (inhabitants)

**Administrative divisions:**
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

**Legal system:**
civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law

**Constitution:**
history: previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987
amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership

**International law organization participation:**
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)
head of government: President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term (no term limits)
most recent election date: 6 July 2025
election results:
2025: Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA
2020: Chandrikapersad "Chan" SANTOKHI elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA
2015: Desire Delano BOUTERSE reelected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA
expected date of next election: 2030
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: National Assembly (Nationale Assemblee)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 51 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 5/25/2025
parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Party (NDP) (18); Progressive Reform Party (VHP) (17); National Party of Suriname (NPS) (6); General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) (6); Other (4)
percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%
expected date of next election: May 2030

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): High Court of Justice of Suriname (consists of the court president, vice president, and 4 judges)
judge selection and term of office: court judges appointed by the national president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the Order of Private Attorneys; judges serve for life
subordinate courts: cantonal courts
note: appeals beyond the High Court are referred to the Caribbean Court of Justice; human rights violations can be appealed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with judgments issued by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights

**Political parties:**
Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP
Democratic Alternative '91 or DA91
General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP
National Democratic Party or NDP
National Party of Suriname or NPS
Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE
Party for National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI
People's Alliance (Pertjajah Luhur) or PL
Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union or PALU
Progressive Reform Party or VHP
Reform and Renewal Movement or HVB
Surinamese Labor Party or SPA

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Jan Marten Willem SCHALKWIJK (since 19 April 2022)
chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 629-4302
FAX: [1] (202) 629-4769
email address and website:
amb.vs@gov.sr
https://surinameembassy.org/index.html
consulate(s) general: Miami

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. FAUCHER (since 31 January 2023)
embassy: 165 Kristalstraat, Paramaribo
mailing address: 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington DC 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 556-700
FAX: [597] 551-524
email address and website:
caparamar@state.gov
https://sr.usembassy.gov/

**International organization participation:**
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

**National holiday:**
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

**Flag:**
description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double-width), white, red (quadruple-width), white, and green (double-width); a five-pointed yellow star is centered on the red band
meaning: red stands for progress and love, green for hope and fertility, and white for peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of ethnic groups

**National symbol(s):**
royal palm, faya lobi (flower)

**National color(s):**
green, white, red, yellow

**National anthem(s):**
title: "God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)
lyrics/music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY
history: adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday-school song written in 1893; contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Central Suriname Nature Reserve (n); Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (c); Jodensavanne Archaeological Site: Jodensavanne Settlement and Cassipora Creek Cemetery (c)

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
upper middle-income South American economy; new floating currency regime; key aluminum goods, gold, and hydrocarbon exporter; new IMF plan for economic recovery and fiscal sustainability; controversial hardwood industry

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$12.316 billion (2024 est.)
$11.976 billion (2023 est.)
$11.68 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
2.8% (2024 est.)
2.5% (2023 est.)
2.4% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$19,400 (2024 est.)
$19,000 (2023 est.)
$18,700 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$4.714 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
16.2% (2024 est.)
51.6% (2023 est.)
52.4% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 7.5% (2023 est.)
industry: 39.9% (2023 est.)
services: 48.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**Agricultural products:**
rice, sugarcane, oranges, vegetables, chicken, cassava, plantains, pineapples, eggs, citrus fruits (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
gold mining, oil, lumber, food processing, fishing

**Industrial production growth rate:**
2.1% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
255,500 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
7.4% (2024 est.)
7.7% (2023 est.)
8.2% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 24.2% (2024 est.)
male: 16.9% (2024 est.)
female: 35.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
39.2 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 2.2% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 30.1% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $863 million (2019 est.)
expenditures: $1.648 billion (2019 est.)

**Current account balance:**
$9.306 million (2024 est.)
$148.118 million (2023 est.)
$76.321 million (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$2.793 billion (2024 est.)
$2.533 billion (2023 est.)
$2.6 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
Switzerland 49%, UAE 28%, Guyana 5%, USA 4%, France 3% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
gold, fish, refined petroleum, wood, tobacco (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$2.571 billion (2024 est.)
$2.203 billion (2023 est.)
$2.342 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
USA 22%, China 12%, Netherlands 11%, Trinidad & Tobago 9%, Guyana 8% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, ships, excavation machinery, trucks, tobacco (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$1.632 billion (2024 est.)
$1.346 billion (2023 est.)
$1.195 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Debt - external:**
$2.645 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

**Exchange rates:**
Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
33.181 (2024 est.)
36.776 (2023 est.)
24.709 (2022 est.)
18.239 (2021 est.)
9.31 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 99% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 100%
electrification - rural areas: 98%

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 537,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 1.896 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 245.206 million kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 57.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
imports: 2 metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 89 million barrels (2021 est.)

**Natural gas:**
production: 7.173 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 6.967 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
60.896 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 129,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 902,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple private radio and TV stations (2019)

**Internet country code:**
.sr

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 125,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2022 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
PZ

**Airports:**
55 (2025)

**Heliports:**
1 (2025)

**Merchant marine:**
total: 13 (2023)
by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 3, other 5

**Ports:**
total ports: 4 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 1
very small: 3
ports with oil terminals: 3
key ports: Moengo, Nieuw Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Suriname National Army (Nationaal Leger or NL); Army (Landmacht), Navy (Marine); Air Force (Luchtmacht), Military Police (Korps Militaire Politie)
Ministry of Justice and Police: Suriname Police Force (Korps Politie Suriname or KPS) (2026)

**Military expenditures:**
1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 2,000 National Army (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the Suriname Army has a limited inventory of older or secondhand armaments originating from such suppliers as Brazil, France, the Netherlands, and India (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18-28 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

**Military - note:**
the National Leger is responsible for defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Suriname against foreign aggression; other special tasks include border control and supporting domestic security as required; the military police, for example, have direct responsibility for immigration control at the country’s ports of entry, and the military assists the police in combating crime, particularly narco-trafficking, including joint military and police patrols, as well as joint special security teams; in addition, the military provides aid and assistance during times of natural emergencies and participates in socio-economic development projects (2025)

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 3,241 (2024 est.)

---

## Uruguay
**Slug:** uruguay
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇺🇾
**Codes:** cek: uy, iso2: UY, iso3: URY, iso_num: 858, genc: URY, stanag: URY, internet: .uy

### Introduction

**Background:**
The Spanish founded the city of Montevideo in modern-day Uruguay in 1726 as a military stronghold, and it soon became an important commercial center due to its natural harbor. Argentina initially claimed Uruguay, but Brazil annexed the country in 1821. Uruguay declared its independence in 1825 and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros (or Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros) launched in the late 1960s and pushed Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By year-end, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was restored in 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio (FA) Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control by the Colorado and National (Blanco) parties. The left-of-center coalition retained the presidency and control of both chambers of congress until 2019. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the South American continent.

### Geography

**Location:**
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

**Geographic coordinates:**
33 00 S, 56 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 176,215 sq km
land: 175,015 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km

**Area - comparative:**
about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington

**Land boundaries:**
total: 1,591 km
border countries (2): Argentina 541 km; Brazil 1,050 km

**Coastline:**
660 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin

**Climate:**
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

**Terrain:**
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

**Elevation:**
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 109 m

**Natural resources:**
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 81.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 11.4% (2023 est.)
other: 7.3% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
2,230 sq km (2018)

**Major lakes (area sq km):**
salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Brazil) - 2,970 sq km

**Major rivers (by length in km):**
Rio de la Plata/Parana river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, Paraguay) - 4,880 km; Uruguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 1,610 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

**Major aquifers:**
Guarani Aquifer System

**Population distribution:**
most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo

**Natural hazards:**
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts

**Geography - note:**
second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 3,449,444 (2025 est.)
male: 1,678,419
female: 1,771,025

**Nationality:**
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan

**Ethnic groups:**
White 87.7%, Black 4.6%, Indigenous 2.4%, other 0.3%, none or unspecified 5% (2011 est.)
note: data represent primary ethnic identity

**Languages:**
Spanish (official, Rioplatense is the most widely spoken dialect)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

**Religions:**
Roman Catholic 36.5%, Protestant 5% (Evangelical (non-specific) 4.6%, Adventist 0.2%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), African American Cults/Umbanda 2.8%, Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.2%, other 1%, Believer (not belonging to the church) 1.8%, agnostic 0.3%, atheist 1.3%, none 47.3%, unspecified 3.4%
Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 15%, other 6%, agnostic 3%, atheist 10%, unspecified 24% (2023 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 329,268/female 317,925)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 1,112,622/female 1,128,418)
65 years and over: 15.7% (2024 est.) (male 218,242/female 318,855)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 48.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 26.2 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 22.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.4 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 37.4 years (2025 est.)
male: 34.9 years
female: 38.2 years

**Population growth rate:**
-0.06% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
9.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
9.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 95.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
1.774 million MONTEVIDEO (capital) (2023)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.8 years
female: 82.1 years

**Total fertility rate:**
1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
0.62 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
9.4% of GDP (2021)
20.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

**Hospital bed density:**
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
27.9% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 5.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Tobacco use:**
total: 18% (2025 est.)
male: 21.3% (2025 est.)
female: 14.9% (2025 est.)

**Children under the age of 5 years underweight:**
1.8% (2018 est.)

**Currently married women (ages 15-49):**
55.4% (2023 est.)

**Education expenditure:**
4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
15.6% national budget (2023 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 98.9% (2024 est.)
male: 98.6% (2024 est.)
female: 99.2% (2024 est.)

**School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):**
total: 18 years (2022 est.)
male: 16 years (2022 est.)
female: 19 years (2022 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental issues:**
water pollution from meat-packing, tannery industries; heavy metal pollution; inadequate solid and hazardous waste disposal; deforestation

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation

**Climate:**
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 81.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 11.4% (2023 est.)
other: 7.3% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 95.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
6.896 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 6.681 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 18.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 730.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 115.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 2.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.26 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.8% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 424.428 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 603.701 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 3.479 billion cubic meters (2022)

**Total renewable water resources:**
172.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Geoparks:**
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
global geoparks and regional networks: Grutas del Palacio (2023)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: República Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
etymology: name derives from the Uruguay River, which makes up the western border of the country; the river's name comes from the Guarani words uru (bird) and guay (tail)

**Government type:**
presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 51 S, 56 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the origin of the name is disputed but refers to a hill or mountain (monte); one theory combines the Spanish word monte (mountain) with the Latin video (I see)

**Administrative divisions:**
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandú, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San José, Soriano, Tacuarembó, Treinta y Tres

**Legal system:**
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

**Constitution:**
history: several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967, reinstated in 1985 at the conclusion of military rule
amendment process: initiated by public petition of at least 10% of qualified voters, proposed by agreement of at least two fifths of the General Assembly membership, or by existing "constitutional laws" sanctioned by at least two thirds of the membership in both houses of the Assembly; proposals can also be submitted by senators, representatives, or by the executive power and require the formation of and approval in a national constituent convention; final passage by either method requires approval by absolute majority of votes cast in a referendum

**International law organization participation:**
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
head of government: President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly
election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms)
most recent election date: 27 October 2024, with a runoff on 24 November 2024
election results:
2024: Yamandú ORSI Martínez elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez (FA) 46.2%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta (PN) 28.2%, Andrés OJEDA Ojeda Spitz (PC) 16.9%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez 52.1%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta 47.9%
2019: Luis Alberto LACALLE POU elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 40.7%, Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (PN) 29.7%, Ernesto TALVI (Colorado Party) 12.8%, Guido MANINI RIOS (Open Cabildo) 11.3%, other 5.5%; percent of vote in second round - Luis Alberto LACALLE POU 50.6%, Daniel MARTINEZ 49.4%
expected date of next election: 28 October 2029, with a runoff, if needed, on 25 November 2029
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: General Assembly (Asamblea General)
legislative structure: bicameral

**Legislative branch - lower chamber:**
chamber name: House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
number of seats: 99 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 10/27/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Broad Front (FA) (48); National Party (PN) (29); Colorado Party (PC) (17); Other (5)
percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
expected date of next election: October 2029

**Legislative branch - upper chamber:**
chamber name: Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
number of seats: 31 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 10/27/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Broad Front (FA) (16); National Party (PN) (9); Colorado Party (PC) (5)
percentage of women in chamber: 32.3%
expected date of next election: October 2029

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and appointed by two-thirds vote in joint conference of the General Assembly; judges serve 10-year terms, with reelection possible after a lapse of 5 years following the previous term
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales)

**Political parties:**
Broad Front or FA (Frente Amplio) - (a broad governing coalition that comprises 34 factions including Popular Participation Movement or MPP, Uruguay Assembly, Progressive Alliance, Broad Social Democratic Space, Socialist Party, Vertiente Artiguista, Christian Democratic Party, Big House, Communist Party, The Federal League, Fuerza Renovadora)
Colorado Party or PC (including Batllistas and Ciudadanos)
Intransigent Radical Ecologist Party (Partido Ecologista Radical Intransigente) or PERI
Independent Party
National Party or PN (including Todos (Everyone) and National Alliance)
Open Cabildo
Popular Unity

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel CASTILLOS Gómez (since 5 September 2025)
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
email address and website:
urueeuu@mrree.gub.uy
https://embassyofuruguay.us/
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, San Francisco

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador Lou RINALDI (since 30 September 2025)
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: 3360 Montevideo Place, Washington DC 20521-3360
telephone: (+598) 1770-2000
FAX: [+598] 1770-2128
email address and website:
MontevideoACS@state.gov
https://uy.usembassy.gov/

**International organization participation:**
CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

**National holiday:**
Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

**Flag:**
description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper-left corner has a yellow sun with a human face (outlined in black) known as the Sun of May, with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy
meaning: the stripes represent the country's nine original departments; the sun refers to the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was declared from Spain; the sun is said to be Inti, the Inca god of the sun
note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and the design of the US flag

**National symbol(s):**
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)

**National color(s):**
blue, white, yellow

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay)
lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI
history: adopted 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it is the world's longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars; almost five minutes); usually only the first verse and chorus are sung

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic City of Colonia del Sacramento; Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape; The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
high-income, export-oriented South American economy; South America’s largest middle class; low socioeconomic inequality; growing homicide rates; growing Chinese and EU relations; 2019 Argentine recession hurt; key milk, beef, rice, and wool exporter

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$108.502 billion (2024 est.)
$105.231 billion (2023 est.)
$104.456 billion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
3.1% (2024 est.)
0.7% (2023 est.)
4.5% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$32,000 (2024 est.)
$31,100 (2023 est.)
$30,800 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$80.962 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
4.8% (2024 est.)
5.9% (2023 est.)
9.1% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**GDP - composition, by sector of origin:**
agriculture: 6.4% (2024 est.)
industry: 16.8% (2024 est.)
services: 65.3% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

**GDP - composition, by end use:**
household consumption: 66.8% (2015 est.)
government consumption: 13.8% (2015 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.8% (2015 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.1% (2015 est.)
exports of goods and services: 22.5% (2015 est.)
imports of goods and services: -22.9% (2015 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

**Agricultural products:**
milk, rice, wheat, barley, soybeans, beef, rapeseed, sugarcane, maize, beef offal (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages

**Industrial production growth rate:**
4.4% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

**Labor force:**
1.768 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
8.5% (2024 est.)
8.4% (2023 est.)
7.9% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 26.4% (2024 est.)
male: 23.5% (2024 est.)
female: 29.8% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
10.1% (2023 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line

**Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:**
40.9 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**
lowest 10%: 2.1% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 30.8% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

**Remittances:**
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

**Budget:**
revenues: $27.781 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $17.808 billion (2023 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

**Public debt:**
62.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP

**Taxes and other revenues:**
18.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

**Current account balance:**
-$821.38 million (2024 est.)
-$2.64 billion (2023 est.)
-$2.675 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$23.329 billion (2024 est.)
$21.946 billion (2023 est.)
$23.56 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$19.117 billion (2024 est.)
$19.259 billion (2023 est.)
$19.639 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$17.378 billion (2024 est.)
$16.257 billion (2023 est.)
$15.127 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Exchange rates:**
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
40.213 (2024 est.)
38.824 (2023 est.)
41.171 (2022 est.)
43.555 (2021 est.)
42.013 (2020 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 5.682 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 9.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 84 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.136 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 27.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 23.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
consumption: 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

**Natural gas:**
consumption: 90.018 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 90.871 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
45.755 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 1.205 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 4.93 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 146 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
mix of privately owned and state-run broadcast media; over 100 commercial radio stations and about 20 TV channels; cable TV is available; many community radio and TV stations; adopted the hybrid Japanese/Brazilian HDTV standard (ISDB-T) in 2010 (2019)

**Internet country code:**
.uy

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 1.1 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
CX

**Airports:**
65 (2025)

**Heliports:**
4 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 1,673 km (2016) (operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km)
standard gauge: 1,673 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge

**Merchant marine:**
total: 58 (2023)
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 3, other 50

**Ports:**
total ports: 8 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 1
very small: 6
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Colonia, Fray Bentos, Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Puerto Sauce

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Armed Forces of Uruguay (Fuerzas Armadas del Uruguay or FF.AA. del Uruguay): National Army, National Navy (includes Coast Guard (Prefectura Nacional Naval or PRENA)), Uruguayan Air Force
Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
note: the National Police includes the paramilitary National Republican Guard (Guardia Nacional Republicana)

**Military expenditures:**
2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
2% of GDP (2023 est.)
2% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
2% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
approximately 23,000 active-duty Armed Forces (15,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force) (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the military's inventory includes a variety of mostly older or secondhand equipment originating from a range of suppliers, including Brazil, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, and the US (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
generally 18-30 years of age (up to 22 for the Navy and up to 40 for some specialist positions) for voluntary military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation (2025)

**Military deployments:**
630 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2025)

**Military - note:**
the armed forces are responsible for defense of the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as protecting strategic resources; it has some domestic responsibilities, including perimeter security for a number of prisons, border security, and providing humanitarian/disaster assistance; it also assists the Ministry of Interior in combating narcotics trafficking; the military participates in UN peacekeeping missions and multinational exercises with foreign partners; Uruguay traditionally has held security ties with Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and the US; since 2018, it has also signed defense cooperation agreements with China and Russia (2025)

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 32,149 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 33 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

---

## Venezuela
**Slug:** venezuela
**Region:** South America
**Flag:** 🇻🇪
**Codes:** cek: ve, iso2: VE, iso3: VEN, iso_num: 862, genc: VEN, stanag: VEN, internet: .ve

### Introduction

**Background:**
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830, the others being Ecuador and New Granada (Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, military strongmen ruled Venezuela and promoted the oil industry while allowing some social reforms. Democratically elected governments largely held sway until 1999, but Hugo CHAVEZ, who was president from 1999 to 2013, exercised authoritarian control over other branches of government. This trend continued in 2018 when Nicolas MADURO claimed the presidency for his second term in an election boycotted by most opposition parties and widely viewed as fraudulent. The legislative elections in 2020 were also seen as fraudulent, and most opposition parties and many international actors consider the resulting National Assembly illegitimate. In 2021, many opposition parties broke a three-year election boycott and participated in mayoral and gubernatorial elections, despite flawed conditions. As a result, the opposition more than doubled its representation at the mayoral level and retained four of 23 governorships. The 2021 regional elections marked the first time since 2006 that the EU was allowed to send an electoral observation mission to Venezuela.
MADURO has placed strong restrictions on free speech and the press. Since CHAVEZ, the ruling party has expanded the state's role in the economy through expropriations of major enterprises, strict currency exchange and price controls, and over-dependence on the petroleum industry for revenues. Years of economic mismanagement left Venezuela ill-prepared to weather the global drop in oil prices in 2014, sparking an economic decline that has resulted in reduced government social spending, shortages of basic goods, and high inflation. Worsened living conditions have prompted nearly 8 million Venezuelans to emigrate, mainly settling in nearby countries. The US imposed financial sanctions on MADURO and his representatives in 2017 and on sectors of the Venezuelan economy in 2018. Limited sanctions relief followed when the MADURO administration began making democratic and electoral concessions.
The government's mismanagement and lack of investment in infrastructure has also weakened the country's energy sector. Caracas has relaxed some controls to mitigate the impact of its sustained economic crisis, such as allowing increased import flexibility for the private sector and the informal use of US dollars and other international currencies. Ongoing concerns include human rights abuses, rampant violent crime, political manipulation of the judicial and electoral systems, and corruption.

### Geography

**Location:**
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

**Geographic coordinates:**
8 00 N, 66 00 W

**Map references:**
South America

**Area:**
total : 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km

**Area - comparative:**
almost six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California

**Land boundaries:**
total: 5,267 km
border countries (3): Brazil 2,137 km; Colombia 2,341 km; Guyana 789 km

**Coastline:**
2,800 km

**Maritime claims:**
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

**Climate:**
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

**Terrain:**
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

**Elevation:**
highest point: Pico Bolivar 4,978 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 450 m

**Natural resources:**
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 24.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 20.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 53.5% (2023 est.)
other: 22.1% (2023 est.)

**Irrigated land:**
10,550 sq km (2012)

**Major lakes (area sq km):**
salt water lake(s): Lago de Maracaibo - 13,010 sq km

**Major rivers (by length in km):**
Rio Negro (shared with Colombia [s] and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco river source and mouth (shared with Colombia) - 2,101 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

**Major watersheds (area sq km):**
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

**Population distribution:**
most of the population is concentrated in the northern and western highlands along an eastern spur at the northern end of the Andes, an area that includes the capital of Caracas

**Natural hazards:**
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

**Geography - note:**
note 1: the country lies on major sea and air routes linking North and South America
note 2: Venezuela has some of the most unique geology in the world; tepuis are the massive table-top mountains of the western Guiana Highlands that tend to be isolated and thus support unique endemic plant and animal species; their sheer cliffsides help create some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, including Angel Falls, the world's highest (979 m; 3,212 ft) that drops from Auyan Tepui

### People and Society

**Population:**
total: 31,755,435 (2025 est.)
male: 15,808,263
female: 15,947,172

**Nationality:**
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan

**Ethnic groups:**
unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous

**Languages:**
Spanish (official) 98.2%, indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4% (2023 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

**Religions:**
Roman Catholic 48.1%, Protestant 31.6% (Evangelical 31.4%, Adventist 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, African American/umbanda 0.7%, other 0.1%, believer 3.5%, agnostic 0.1%, atheist, 0.4%, none 13.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2023 est.)

**Age structure:**
0-14 years: 25% (male 3,987,361/female 3,811,307)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 10,264,353/female 10,330,376)
65 years and over: 9.1% (2024 est.) (male 1,303,737/female 1,553,172)

**Dependency ratios:**
total dependency ratio: 51.8 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 37.5 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 7 (2025 est.)

**Median age:**
total: 31.3 years (2025 est.)
male: 30.3 years
female: 31.7 years

**Population growth rate:**
0.88% (2025 est.)

**Birth rate:**
16.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Death rate:**
6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Net migration rate:**
-1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

**Population distribution:**
most of the population is concentrated in the northern and western highlands along an eastern spur at the northern end of the Andes, an area that includes the capital of Caracas

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Major urban areas - population:**
2.972 million CARACAS (capital), 2.368 million Maracaibo, 1.983 million Valencia, 1.254 million Barquisimeto, 1.243 million Maracay, 964,000 Ciudad Guayana (2023)

**Sex ratio:**
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

**Maternal mortality ratio:**
227 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

**Infant mortality rate:**
total: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

**Life expectancy at birth:**
total population: 74.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 71.5 years
female: 77.7 years

**Total fertility rate:**
2.16 children born/woman (2025 est.)

**Gross reproduction rate:**
1.05 (2025 est.)

**Drinking water source:**
improved:
total: 93.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
total: 6.7% of population (2022 est.)

**Health expenditure:**
4% of GDP (2021)
6% of national budget (2022 est.)

**Physician density:**
1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

**Hospital bed density:**
1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

**Sanitation facility access:**
improved:
total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

**Obesity - adult prevalence rate:**
25.6% (2016)

**Alcohol consumption per capita:**
total: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

**Education expenditure:**
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
10.3% national budget (2024 est.)

**Literacy:**
total population: 97.2% (2017 est.)
male: 97.2% (2017 est.)
female: 97.3% (2017 est.)

### Environment

**Environmental 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 mining operations

**International environmental agreements:**
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

**Climate:**
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

**Land use:**
agricultural land: 24.4% (2023 est.)
arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
permanent pasture: 20.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 53.5% (2023 est.)
other: 22.1% (2023 est.)

**Urbanization:**
urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

**Carbon dioxide emissions:**
76.73 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 179,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 27.928 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 48.623 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

**Particulate matter emissions:**
16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

**Methane emissions:**
energy: 3,595.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 1,007.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 328.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

**Waste and recycling:**
municipal solid waste generated annually: 9.779 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21.3% (2022 est.)

**Total water withdrawal:**
municipal: 5.123 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 793.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 16.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

**Total renewable water resources:**
1.325 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

### Government

**Country name:**
conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: República Bolivariana de Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela
former: State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela
etymology: in 1499, the stilt-houses built on Lake Maracaibo reminded explorers Alonso de OJEDA and Amerigo VESPUCCI of buildings in Venice, Italy, and they named the region "Venezuola," meaning "Little Venice"

**Government type:**
federal presidential republic

**Capital:**
name: Caracas
geographic coordinates: 10 29 N, 66 52 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named for the Caracas tribe that originally settled in the area; the origin of their name is unknown

**Administrative divisions:**
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoátegui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guárico, La Guairá, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

**Legal system:**
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

**Constitution:**
history: many previous; latest adopted 15 December 1999, effective 30 December 1999
amendment process: proposed through agreement by at least 39% of the National Assembly membership, by the president of the republic in session with the cabinet of ministers, or by petition of at least 15% of registered voters; passage requires simple majority vote by the Assembly and simple majority approval in a referendum

**International law organization participation:**
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

**Citizenship:**
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years; reduced to five years in the case of applicants from Spain, Portugal, Italy, or a Latin American or Caribbean country

**Suffrage:**
18 years of age; universal

**Executive branch:**
chief of state: Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2026)
head of government: Interim President Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ Gómez (since 5 January 2026)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
most recent election date: 28 July 2024
election results:
2024: official results disputed; Nicolas MADURO Moros was declared the winner by the MADURO-controlled National Electoral Council; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 52%, Edmundo GONZÁLEZ Urrutia (Independent) 43.2%, Luis Eduardo MARTÍNEZ (AD) 1.2%, other 3.6%
2018: Nicolas MADURO Moros reelected president; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 67.9%, Henri FALCON (AP) 20.9%, Javier BERTUCCI 10.8%
expected date of next election: unknown
note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government
note 2: in January 2026, the United States removed Nicolas MADURO Moros from his position as leader; Interim President RODRÍGUEZ has been sworn in and is expected to remain during a transition period
note 3: the United States did not recognize Nicolas MADURO Moros as president of Venezuela; the United States recognized that Edmundo GONZÁLEZ won the most votes in the 28 July 2024 presidential election because of overwhelming evidence, including more than 80% of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations that indicated GONZÁLEZ received the most votes by an insurmountable margin

**Legislative branch:**
legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 277 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 12/6/2020
percentage of women in chamber: 32.1%
expected date of next election: May 2025
note: in 2020, the National Electoral Council increased the number of seats in the National Assembly from 167 to 277 for the December 2020 election

**Judicial branch:**
highest court(s): Supreme Tribunal of Justice (consists of 32 judges organized into constitutional, political-administrative, electoral, civil appeals, criminal appeals, and social divisions)
judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by the Committee of Judicial Postulation (an independent body of organizations dealing with legal issues and of the organs of citizen power) and appointed by the National Assembly; judges serve nonrenewable 12-year terms
subordinate courts: Superior or Appeals Courts (Tribunales Superiores); District Tribunals (Tribunales de Distrito); Courts of First Instance (Tribunales de Primera Instancia); Parish Courts (Tribunales de Parroquia); Justices of the Peace (Justicia de Paz) Network

**Political parties:**
A New Era (Un Nuevo Tiempo) or UNT
Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC
Christian Democrats or COPEI (also known as the Social Christian Party)
Citizens Encounter or EC
Clear Accounts or CC
Coalition of parties loyal to Nicolas MADURO - Great Patriotic Pole or GPP
Coalition of opposition parties - Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democratica) (includes AD, EL CAMBIO, COPEI, CMC, and AP)
Come Venezuela (Vente Venezuela) or VV
Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV
Consenso en la Zona or Conenzo
Convergencia
Democratic Action or AD
Fatherland for All (Patria para Todos) or PPT
Fearless People's Alliance or ABP
Fuerza Vecinal or FV
Hope for Change (Esperanza por el Cambio) or EL CAMBIO
Justice First (Primero Justicia) or PJ
LAPIZ
Movement to Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo) or MAS
Popular Will (Voluntad Popular) or VP
Progressive Advance (Avanzada Progresista) or AP
The Radical Cause or La Causa R
United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV
Venezuela First (Primero Venezuela) or PV
Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV
Venezuela Project or PV

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**
none
note: the embassy, which had been run by the Venezuelan political opposition, announced on 5 January 2023, that it had ended all embassy functions

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025); note - serves as the chief of mission of the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located in the US Embassy, Bogota
embassy: Venezuela Affairs Unit, US Embassy, Carrera 45 N. 24B-27, Bogota, Colombia
mailing address: 3140 Caracas Place, Washington DC 20521-3140
telephone: 1-888-407-4747
email address and website:
ACSBogota@state.gov
https://ve.usembassy.gov/

**International organization participation:**
ACS, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

**Independence:**
5 July 1811 (from Spain)

**National holiday:**
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

**Flag:**
description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red, with the coat of arms on the left side of the yellow band and an arc of eight five-pointed white stars centered on the blue band
meaning: yellow stands for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence
history: the flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors from the flag of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; in 2006, President Hugo CHAVEZ added the eighth star -- the original seven stars represented the country's provinces that united in the war of independence -- to match Simon Bolivar's flag from 1827 and to represent the historic province of Guayana

**National symbol(s):**
troupial (bird)

**National color(s):**
yellow, blue, red

**National anthem(s):**
title: "Gloria al bravo pueblo" (Glory to the Brave People)
lyrics/music: Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA
history: adopted 1881; lyrics were written in 1810; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela's fight for independence

**National heritage:**
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Coro and its Port (c); Canaima National Park (n); Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (c)

### Economy

**Economic overview:**
South American economy; ongoing hyperinflation since mid-2010s; chaotic economy due to political corruption, infrastructure cuts, and human rights abuses; in debt default; oil exporter; hydropower consumer; rising Chinese relations

**Real GDP (purchasing power parity):**
$110.943 billion (2023 est.)
$106.672 billion (2022 est.)
$98.768 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2015 dollars

**Real GDP growth rate:**
-19.67% (2018 est.)
-14% (2017 est.)
-15.76% (2017 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

**Real GDP per capita:**
$4,900 (2023 est.)
$4,600 (2022 est.)
$4,000 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2015 dollars

**GDP (official exchange rate):**
$139.395 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**
200.9% (2022 est.)
1,588.5% (2021 est.)
2,355.1% (2020 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices

**Agricultural products:**
milk, sugarcane, maize, rice, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, chicken, pineapples, potatoes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

**Industries:**
agricultural products, livestock, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel products, crude oil and petroleum products

**Labor force:**
11.136 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

**Unemployment rate:**
5.5% (2024 est.)
5.5% (2023 est.)
5.8% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment

**Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):**
total: 10.6% (2024 est.)
male: 9.3% (2024 est.)
female: 13.2% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

**Population below poverty line:**
33.1% (2015 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line

**Average household expenditures:**
on food: 52% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

**Budget:**
revenues: $30 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: $76 million (2017 est.)

**Public debt:**
38.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, as well as the debt of state-owned oil company PDVSA; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include some debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; some debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions

**Current account balance:**
-$3.87 billion (2016 est.)
-$3.87 billion (2016 est.)
-$16.051 billion (2015 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

**Exports:**
$83.401 billion (2018 est.)
$93.485 billion (2017 est.)
$28.684 billion (2016 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

**Exports - partners:**
USA 50%, China 10%, Spain 9%, Brazil 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

**Exports - commodities:**
crude petroleum, petroleum coke, scrap iron, alcohols, fertilizers (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

**Imports:**
$18.432 billion (2018 est.)
$18.376 billion (2017 est.)
$25.81 billion (2016 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

**Imports - partners:**
China 35%, USA 24%, Brazil 12%, Colombia 7%, Turkey 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

**Imports - commodities:**
refined petroleum, soybean meal, corn, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**
$9.794 billion (2017 est.)
$10.15 billion (2016 est.)
$15.625 billion (2015 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

**Exchange rates:**
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
9.975 (2017 est.)
9.257 (2016 est.)
6.284 (2015 est.)
6.284 (2014 est.)
6.048 (2013 est.)

### Energy

**Electricity access:**
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

**Electricity:**
installed generating capacity: 33.493 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 56.493 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 600 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 25.849 billion kWh (2023 est.)

**Electricity generation sources:**
fossil fuels: 21.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

**Coal:**
production: 149,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 80,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 730.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

**Petroleum:**
total petroleum production: 801,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 203,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 303.806 billion barrels (2021 est.)

**Natural gas:**
production: 23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 5.674 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

**Energy consumption per capita:**
54.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

### Communications

**Telephones - fixed lines:**
total subscriptions: 2.683 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)

**Telephones - mobile cellular:**
total subscriptions: 20.2 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71 (2024 est.)

**Broadcast media:**
mix of state-run and private broadcast media subject to high levels of control; 13 public service networks, 61 privately owned TV networks, 1 privately owned news channel with limited national coverage, and a Maduro-backed Pan-American channel; 3 Maduro-aligned radio networks control about 65 news stations and another 30 stations targeted at specific audiences; Maduro-sponsored community broadcasters include 235 radio stations and 44 TV stations; the number of private broadcast radio stations declining, but many remain (2021)

**Internet country code:**
.ve

**Internet users:**
percent of population: 62% (2017 est.)

**Broadband - fixed subscriptions:**
total: 2.7 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)

### Transportation

**Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:**
YV

**Airports:**
509 (2025)

**Heliports:**
88 (2025)

**Railways:**
total: 447 km (2014)
standard gauge: 447 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.4 km electrified)

**Merchant marine:**
total: 272 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 1, general cargo 26, oil tanker 17, other 225

**Ports:**
total ports: 31 (2024)
large: 1
medium: 2
small: 11
very small: 17
ports with oil terminals: 21
key ports: Amuay (Bahia de Amuay), Bahia de Pertigalete, Ciudad Bolivar, Guanta, La Guaira, La Salina, Las Piedras, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Puerto de Hierro, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Miranda, Puerto Ordaz, Punta Cardon

### Military and Security

**Military and security forces:**
Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB): Bolivarian Army (Ejercito Bolivariano, EB), Bolivarian Navy (Armada Bolivariana, AB; includes marines, Coast Guard), Bolivarian Military Aviation (Aviacion Militar Bolivariana, AMB), Bolivarian Militia (Milicia Bolivariana), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB), Presidential Honor Guard
Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace: Bolivarian National Police (Policía Nacional Bolivariana, PNB) (2025)
note 1: the Bolivarian Militia and the Presidential Honor Guard are considered special/secondary components of the FANB; the Militia is composed of the Military Reserve and the Territorial Militia and is comprised of armed civilians who receive periodic training in exchange for a small stipend
note 2: the National Guard was made part of the FANB in 2007 and is responsible for maintaining public order, guarding the exterior of key government installations and prisons, conducting counter-narcotics operations, monitoring borders, and providing law enforcement in remote areas; it reports to both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace
note 3: the PNB is a federal force created by Hugo CHAVEZ in 2008 as a “preventative police force,” separate from state and local ones; the PNB largely focuses on policing Caracas’ Libertador municipality, patrolling Caracas-area highways, railways, and metro system, and protecting diplomatic missions; the PNB includes the Special Action Forces (Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales, FAES), a paramilitary unit created by President MADURO to bolster internal security after the 2017 anti-government protests
note 4: there are also pro-government armed groups known as colectivos operating in Caracas and other cities

**Military expenditures:**
0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

**Military and security service personnel strengths:**
information varies; approximately 125-150,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 200,000 Bolivarian Militia (2025)

**Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:**
the FANB inventory is a mix of mostly older and some more modern armaments from a variety of foreign suppliers, including China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Russia/former Soviet Union, Spain, the UK, and the US (2025)

**Military service age and obligation:**
18-30 (25 for women) for voluntary service; the minimum service obligation is 24-30 months; 17-39 for Militia service; all citizens of military service age (18-50) are obligated to register for military service and subject to military training (2025)

**Military - note:**
the armed forces (FANB) are responsible for ensuring Venezuela’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; they also have a domestic role, including assisting with maintaining internal security, conducting counter-narcotics missions, contributing to national socio-economic development, and providing disaster relief/humanitarian assistance; the military has been deployed against illegal armed groups operating in the Colombian border region and other areas to combat organized crime gangs involved in narcotics trafficking and illegal mining; it has ties with the militaries of China, Cuba, Iran, and Russia
the FANB has a role in the country’s economy and political sectors; military officers hold key positions in state-owned companies, government ministries, and funding agencies; the FANB runs corporation involved in agriculture, banking, communications, energy, insurance, mining, and transportation (2025)

### Space

**Space agency/agencies:**
Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (Agencia Bolivariana para Actividades Espaciales, ABAE; formed 2007) (2025)
note: the ABAE is under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation; it was originally known as the Venezuelan Space Center (CEV; created 2005)

**Space program overview:**
has a small national program primarily focused on acquiring satellites and expanding the country’s science and technological capabilities; operates satellites and maintains two satellite ground control stations; participates in multinational space organizations such as the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency; closest bilateral partners are China and Russia; also has bilateral framework agreements for space cooperation with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay (2025)

**Key space-program milestones:**
2005 - signed space cooperation partnership with China
2008- first communications satellite (Venesat-1 or Bolivar) financed, built, and launched by China
2012 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (VRSS-1 or Miranda) built and launched by China
2017 - second RS satellite (VRSS-2 or Sucre) built and launched by China
2021 - signed agreement to establish the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (formally established in 2022)
2023 - joined China-Russia project to construct a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s
2025 - announced intent to participate in planned Mars sample-return mission (Tianwen-3) led by China

### Terrorism

**Terrorist group(s):**
Terrorist group(s): National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP); Segundo Marquetalia (SM); Tren de Aragua (TdA)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

### Transnational Issues

**Refugees and internally displaced persons:**
refugees: 20,911 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 2,338 (2024 est.)

**Trafficking in persons:**
tier rating: Tier 3 — Venezuela does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making any efforts to do so, therefore, Venezuela remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/venezuela/

**Illicit drugs:**
USG identification:
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

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