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Country analysis

Venezuela

The deepening political and socioeconomic crisis in Venezuela has led to the collapse of basic services, the deterioration of living conditions, and one of the largest international displacements ever recorded in Latin America. As at January 2023, there were an estimated 7,130,000 Venezuelan migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in the world, of whom more than 5,900,000 were in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Inside Venezuela, hyperinflation has reduced access to food, medicine, and other basic goods, while import restrictions hamper the general availability of goods. Between the periods 2013–2015 and 2019–2021, hunger increased by 18.4%, leaving a total of about 6.5 million people hungry by the end of 2021. Although multidimensional poverty fell by 14% in 2022 compared to 2021, 53.3% of the population were still below the poverty line.

ultidimensional poverty has led to the deprivation or deterioration of education, housing, overall access to public services, income, and employment.

Venezuela is prone to natural disasters, especially during the rainy season from May–November. Heavy rains during these months normally result in flooding and landslides, causing damage to critical infrastructure and affecting the supply of electricity, drinking water, and mobile connectivity and the serviceability of access roads.

(R4V accessed 01/02/2023, FAO 2023, Infobae 19/01/2023, France24 11/11/2022, Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela 11/10/2022)

The deepening political and socioeconomic crisis in Venezuela has led to the collapse of basic services, the deterioration of living conditions, and one of the largest international displacements ever recorded in Latin America. As at January 2023, there were an estimated 7,130,000 Venezuelan migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in the world, of whom more than 5,900,000 were in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Inside Venezuela, hyperinflation has reduced access to food, medicine, and other basic goods, while import restrictions hamper the general availability of goods. Between the periods 2013–2015 and 2019–2021, hunger increased by 18.4%, leaving a total of about 6.5 million people hungry by the end of 2021. Although multidimensional poverty fell by 14% in 2022 compared to 2021, 53.3% of the population were still below the poverty line.

ultidimensional poverty has led to the deprivation or deterioration of education, housing, overall access to public services, income, and employment.

Venezuela is prone to natural disasters, especially during the rainy season from May–November. Heavy rains during these months normally result in flooding and landslides, causing damage to critical infrastructure and affecting the supply of electricity, drinking water, and mobile connectivity and the serviceability of access roads.

(R4V accessed 01/02/2023, FAO 2023, Infobae 19/01/2023, France24 11/11/2022, Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela 11/10/2022)

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current crises
in Venezuela

These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

REG002 - Venezuela Regional Crisis

Last updated 17/05/2023

Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

3.9 High

Access constraints

4.0

VEN001 - Complex crisis

Last updated 30/08/2023

Drivers

Socio-political
Violence
Floods

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.1 Very High

Access constraints

3.0

Analysis products
on Venezuela

Venezuela Anticipation of flooding

20 July 2023

Venezuela Anticipation of flooding

DOCUMENT / PDF / 323 KB

Since 26 May, there have been heavy rains across Venezuela, especially in the states of Zulia, Táchira, Mérida, Trujillo, Amazonas, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro and Esequibo. The first tropical wave (an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, which moves from east to west across the tropics) of the rainy season (typically between May and November) occurred in June and resulted in flooding.

Natural hazards
Mexico: Venezuelan people stranded in Mexico

03 November 2022

Mexico: Venezuelan people stranded in Mexico

DOCUMENT / PDF / 395 KB

On 12 October, the US Department of Homeland Security announced joint actions with Mexico to create a more orderly and safe immigration system for Venezuelans. This aims to reduce the number of people arriving at the southwestern US border. At the same time, the number of stranded people unlikely to reach their destination is increasing, and the response capacity is overwhelmed.

Mixed migration
Colombia and Venezuela: Needs and vulnerabilities of the Caminantes

21 January 2021

Colombia and Venezuela: Needs and vulnerabilities of the Caminantes

DOCUMENT / PDF / 3 MB

This report is based on a secondary data review, supplemented by interviews with members of civil society, INGOs, and UN agencies. Although the issue of caminantes is understood to be a regional phenomenon that affects multiple countries, because of the availability of information the focus of this report is on Colombia and Venezuela. 

Coping mechanisms

Attached resources

DocumentREAD THE REPORT IN SPANISH
Venezuela: COVID-19 outbreak overwhelms health system

27 May 2020

Venezuela: COVID-19 outbreak overwhelms health system

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

In Venezuela, the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on 13 March 2020 and containment measures were introduced over the following weeks. An increase in cases is likely, due to an inconsistent adherence to the lockdown, limited PCR testing, and limitations on regular access to hygiene related to water shortages.

COVID-19

Attached resources

DocumentREAD THE REPORT IN SPANISH
Venezuela: Situational update and 2019 outlook

28 March 2019

Venezuela: Situational update and 2019 outlook

DOCUMENT / PDF / 512 KB

The socioeconomic crisis in Venezuela continued to deteriorate throughout 2018, leading to further collapse of services, deterioration of health facilities, food security, and nutrition among the population, and one of the biggest mass displacements in South America’s history.

Displacement
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