South America.

GMT - 4.

916,445 sq km (353,841 sq miles).

26.6 million (UN, 2005).

29.02 per sq km.

Caracas. Population: 3.6 million (metropolitan area, 2004).

Venezuela is bordered to the north by the Caribbean, to the east by Guyana and the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Brazil, and to the west and southwest by Colombia. The country consists of four distinctive regions: the Venezuelan Highlands in the west; the Maracaibo Lowlands in the north; the vast central plain of the Llanos around the Orinoco; and the Guiana Highlands, which take up about half of the country.

A ‘national constitutional assembly’ was convened in July 1999 to rewrite the country’s constitution. Executive power is vested in the President, who is popularly elected for a six-year term. The legislature is the unicameral Asemblea Nacional, whose 165 members are directly elected to serve a five-year term

Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1830. Head of State and Government: President Hugo Chávez Frías since 1998. Recent history: Venezuelans either love or loathe Hugo Chávez. In August 2004, the opposition gathered enough names for a petition demanding a referendum on Chávez's rule. Chávez won the ballot, with 59 per cent of people agreeing that he should serve out his remaining two-and-a-half years of term. The opposition is driven exclusively by its dislike of Chávez: with his removal, the alliance of business, unions, the old political parties and assorted interest groups will fragment. However, for now, Chávez's future is secured. In the 2005 Parliamentary elections, Chávez's party won 114 seats in the 167-seat National Assembly. Voter turnout was low and the main opposition parties boycotted the elections, protesting against what they perceived to be a biased electoral board. However, despite the opposition's doubts regarding the election's legitimacy, a two-thirds majority in Parliament now paves the way for Chavez to alter the constitution, which currently limits a President to two terms in office.

Spanish is the official language. English, French, German and Portuguese are also spoken by some sections of the community.

86 per cent Roman Catholic.

Shaking hands or using the local abrazo, a cross between a hug and a handshake, are the normal forms of greeting. In Caracas, conservative casual wear is the norm. Men are expected to wear suits for business, and jackets and ties are usual for dining out and social functions. Dress on the coast is less formal but beachwear and shorts should not be worn away from the beach or pool. Smoking follows European habits and in most cases it is obvious where not to smoke. Some public buildings are also non-smoking areas.

110 volts AC, 60Hz. US-style two-pin plugs are the most commonly used fittings.