From 2017 to 2021, the share of households living under the poverty line in Venezuela has been surpassing 90 percent. In 2024, the share fell to 73.2 percent. Still, more than one-third of households (36.5 percent) lived in extreme poverty in 2024. Although poverty is widespread among the population as a whole, some groups are more vulnerable than others. An economy in disarray Venezuela, the country with the largest oil reserves in the world and whose economy has been largely dependent on oil revenues for decades, was once one of the most prosperous countries in Latin America. Today, hyperinflation and an astronomic public debt are only some of the many pressing concerns that affect the domestic economy. The socio-economic consequences of the crisis As a result of the economic recession, more than half of the population in every state in Venezuela lives in extreme poverty. This issue is particularly noteworthy in the states of Amazonas, Monagas, and Falcón, where the extreme poverty rate hovers over 80 percent. Such alarming levels of poverty, together with persistent food shortages, provoked a rapid increase in undernourishment, which was estimated at 17.9 percent between 2020 and 2022. The combination of humanitarian crisis, political turmoil and economic havoc led to the Venezuelan refugee and migrant crisis. As of 2020, more than five million Venezuelans had fled their home country, with neighboring Colombia being the main country of destination.

In 2021, the national poverty rate of Venezuela was reported at 94.46 percent. In comparison, more women than men were estimated to live in poverty. Up to 95.1 percent of the female population in Venezuela lived in poverty, whereas the male poverty rate stood 1.34 percentage points lower. Younger segments of the Venezuelan population registered higher poverty rates than the national average.

Historical dataset showing Venezuela poverty rate by year from 1981 to 2006.

Amazonas, one of the 24 Venezuelan federal entities, registered the highest extreme poverty rate in the country in 2021. That year, around 87 percent of the population of Amazonas was considered to live below the extreme poverty line. Monagas was the Venezuelan state with the second highest extreme poverty rate, at 86 percent. More than half of households in Venezuela are estimated to be under extreme poverty.

Since 2017, the share of households living under the poverty line in Venezuela has been surpassing 90 percent. In addition, more than six out of every ten households (67.97 percent) lived in extreme poverty in 2021. The overall household poverty rate in Venezuela has registered a steady growth from 2014 to 2019, after having remained relatively stable, below 40 percent, since 2005. Although poverty is widespread among the population as a whole, some groups are more vulnerable than others. That is the case of younger generations and particularly children: 98.03 percent of Venezuelans aged 15 or younger lived in poverty in 2021.

Amazonas, a sparsely populated state located in the southern part of Venezuela, is the region with the highest poverty rate in Venezuela. In 2021, 99 percent of the population in Amazonas state was considered to live below the poverty line. Yaracuy and Sucre were other Venezuelan states that registered the highest poverty rates that year, both above 97 percent. More than half of households in Venezuela are estimated to be under extreme poverty.

In 2021, the age group with the lowest poverty rate in Venezuela was among those aged 65 or older, with a share of 90.61 percent of this group living under the poverty line. In comparison, the highest poverty rate was registered among Venezuelans younger than 15, at 98.03 percent.

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The municipalities of Manapiare and Bolívar, located in the Venezuelan states of Amazonas and Falcón, respectively, registered the highest share of population living under the poverty line in the country in 2021. That year, almost the entire population of these municipalities was reported to be living in poverty. All the 25 Venezuelan cities listed in this statistic had at least 99.7 percent of their population living under the poverty line.

In 2023, more than half of Venezuelans were living in extreme poverty. Following the crisis of inflation and shortages, Venezuela saw a considerable increase in the population living in extreme poverty since 2014, rising from 25.2 percent that year to 75.2 percent in 2018. Since then, the percentage has generally declined, reaching around 51 percent in 2023.

Venezuela: Poverty, percent of population: Pour cet indicateur, La Banque mondiale fournit des données pour la Venezuela de 1997 à 2015. La valeur moyenne pour Venezuela pendant cette période était de 36.78 pour cent avec un minimum de 26.4 pour cent en 2009 et un maximum de 55.6 pour cent en 1997.

In Venezuela in 2021, the prevalence of individuals experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity was more pronounced in the state of Amazonas, reaching **** percent. Food insecurity is defined as a condition where individuals lack consistent access to an adequate supply of safe and nutritious food essential for normal growth, development, and a healthy, active life.

VE: IMF Account: Fund Position: USD: UFC: Outstanding Loans: Structural Adj. Facility, Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility & Trust Fund data was reported at 0.000 USD mn in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 USD mn for 2016. VE: IMF Account: Fund Position: USD: UFC: Outstanding Loans: Structural Adj. Facility, Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility & Trust Fund data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 USD mn from Dec 1945 (Median) to 2017, with 73 observations. VE: IMF Account: Fund Position: USD: UFC: Outstanding Loans: Structural Adj. Facility, Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility & Trust Fund data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Venezuela – Table VE.IMF.IFS: IMF Account: Fund Position: Annual.

VE: IMF Account: Fund Position: USD: UFC: Outstanding Loans: Structural Adj. Facility, Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility & Trust Fund data was reported at 0.000 USD mn in Aug 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 USD mn for Jul 2018. VE: IMF Account: Fund Position: USD: UFC: Outstanding Loans: Structural Adj. Facility, Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility & Trust Fund data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 USD mn from Jan 1945 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 884 observations. VE: IMF Account: Fund Position: USD: UFC: Outstanding Loans: Structural Adj. Facility, Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility & Trust Fund data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Venezuela – Table VE.IMF.IFS: IMF Account: Fund Position.

In 2021, Venezuela was at the bottom three in the gender gap index out of 26 Latin American countries. Venezuela scored *** in the area of political empowerment, which shows a gender gap of approximately ** percent (women are ** percent less likely than men to have equal opportunities in political participation). The overall gender gap index score of Venezuela is at *****.

Financial inclusion is critical in reducing poverty and achieving inclusive economic growth. When people can participate in the financial system, they are better able to start and expand businesses, invest in their children’s education, and absorb financial shocks. Yet prior to 2011, little was known about the extent of financial inclusion and the degree to which such groups as the poor, women, and rural residents were excluded from formal financial systems. By collecting detailed indicators about how adults around the world manage their day-to-day finances, the Global Findex allows policy makers, researchers, businesses, and development practitioners to track how the use of financial services has changed over time. The database can also be used to identify gaps in access to the formal financial system and design policies to expand financial inclusion. | This dataset contains important information and resources. For comprehensive details, documentation, and inquiries, please contact data@worldbank.org. Additional metadata and related resources are available on this page.

In 2025, the youth unemployment rate in Venezuela amounted to 10.44 percent. Between 1991 and 2025, the figure dropped by 5.15 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

VE: Risk of Impoverishing Expenditure for Surgical Care: % of People at Risk data was reported at 10.900 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 10.100 % for 2016. VE: Risk of Impoverishing Expenditure for Surgical Care: % of People at Risk data is updated yearly, averaging 10.100 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2017, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.700 % in 2005 and a record low of 8.800 % in 2013. VE: Risk of Impoverishing Expenditure for Surgical Care: % of People at Risk data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Venezuela – Table VE.World Bank: Health Statistics. The proportion of population at risk of impoverishing expenditure when surgical care is required. Impoverishing expenditure is defined as direct out of pocket payments for surgical and anaesthesia care which drive people below a poverty threshold (using a threshold of $1.25 PPP/day).; ; The Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC) at Harvard Medical School (https://www.pgssc.org/); Weighted Average;

In Venezuela, as of 2024, the food insecurity index has been highest among the population who expressed concerns about running out of food, registering at **** percent. This group was followed by those who reported compromising their diet by eating less healthy food and experiencing variations in their food consumption.

BackgroundWarao Amerindians, who inhabit the Orinoco Delta, are the second largest indigenous group in Venezuela. High Warao general mortality rates were mentioned in a limited study 21 years ago. However, there have been no comprehensive studies addressing child survival across the entire population. ObjectivesTo determine the Child Survival-Index (CSI) (ratio: still-living children/total-live births) in the Warao population, the principal causes of childhood death and the socio-demographic factors associated with childhood deaths. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological survey of 688 women from 97 communities in 7 different subregions of the Orinoco Delta. Data collected included socio-demographic characteristics and the reproductive history of each woman surveyed. The multidimensional poverty index (MPI) was used to classify the households as deprived across the three dimensions of the Human Development Index. Multivariable linear regression and Generalized Linear Model Procedures were used to identify socioeconomic and environmental characteristics statistically associated with the CSI. FindingsThe average CSI was 73.8% ±26. The two most common causes of death were gastroenteritis/diarrhea (63%) and acute respiratory tract Infection/pneumonia (18%). Deaths in children under five years accounted for 97.3% of childhood deaths, with 54% occurring in the neonatal period or first year of life. Most of the women (95.5%) were classified as multidimensionally poor. The general MPI in the sample was 0.56. CSI was negatively correlated with MPI, maternal age, residence in a traditional dwelling and profession of the head of household other than nurse or teacher. ConclusionsThe Warao have a low CSI which is correlated with MPI and maternal age. Infectious diseases are responsible for 85% of childhood deaths. The low socioeconomic development, lack of infrastructure and geographic and cultural isolation suggest that an integrated approach is urgently needed to improve the child survival and overall health of the Warao Amerindians.