Venezuela Population 2026 | Religion, Ethnicity & Major Cities Overview

Venezuela Population Overview (2026 Projections)

Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America that also administers several Caribbean islands and archipelagos, including Margarita Island, La Blanquilla, La Tortuga, Los Roques, and Los Monjes.

As per the UN World Population Prospects, the estimated population of Venezuela in 2026 is 30,419,164 (about 30.5 million).

Venezuela Demographics – Quick Facts

Official Name: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Continent: South America
Capital City: Caracas
Total Population (2024 est.): ~28.4 million
Land Area: 882,050 sq. km (340,561 sq. mi)
Population Density: ~32 people per sq. km
Urban Population: ~89% (mostly urban)
Major Religion: Christianity (~87% of population)
Major Ethnic Groups: Moreno (mixed) ~51.6%, White ~43.6%, Black ~2.9%
Administrative Divisions: 23 states + Capital District

Read about the Top Countries in South America by Population

Future Population Projection

Venezuela’s population is expected to gradually grow in the coming decades, though growth rates are projected to slow due to declining fertility and ongoing emigration. The population is likely to peak around mid‑21st century before stabilizing or slightly declining towards 2100.

Year	Projected Population
2030	31,230,000
2040	32,100,000
2050	32,780,000
2060	32,500,000
2070	31,900,000
2100	30,800,000

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2022

Historical Population of Venezuela

Venezuela has experienced rapid population growth over the past century and a half, driven by natural population increase and immigration. The country’s population grew from 1.7 million in 1873 to 27.7 million by the 2011 census, reflecting periods of accelerated growth, particularly in the mid‑20th century. Urbanization and economic development have concentrated populations in major cities like Caracas, Maracaibo, and Valencia.

Venezuela Census Population (1873–2011)

Year	Population	± % Change
1873	1,732,411	—
1881	2,005,139	+15.7%
1891	2,221,572	+10.8%
1920	2,479,525	+11.6%
1926	2,814,131	+13.5%
1936	3,364,347	+19.6%
1941	3,850,771	+14.5%
1950	5,034,838	+30.7%
1961	7,523,999	+49.4%
1971	10,721,522	+42.5%
1981	14,516,735	+35.4%
1990	18,105,265	+24.7%
2001	23,232,553	+28.3%
2011	27,722,793	+19.3%

Source: National Census of Venezuela

Next, we can add a Future Population Projection section (2026–2100) for Venezuela in a compact, easy-to-

Religion in Venezuela

Christianity is the largest religion in Venezuela, and the majority of the population identifies as Christian, with Roman Catholicism historically the dominant faith. According to the 2011 census, about 88.3% of Venezuelans were Christian, with 71% identifying as Roman Catholic and 17% as Protestant (primarily Evangelical). Around 8–9% reported no religion, and roughly 3% followed other religions such as Santería.

More recent survey data from the Latino Barómetro (2020) show a decline in Catholic affiliation and growth in evangelical Protestantism and unaffiliated groups. In that report, 63.6% of adults identified as Catholic, 21.7% as Evangelical Protestant, and smaller shares as Adventist, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Mormon. About 9.4% said they had no religion, while other faiths (including small Jewish and African‑derived traditions) made up about 3.7%.

Religious Composition in Venezuela

Religion / Affiliation	Percentage (2020 estimate)
Christianity (Total)	86.9%
└ Catholic	63.6%
└ Evangelical Protestant	21.7%
└ Adventist	0.3%
└ Jehovah’s Witnesses	1.0%
└ Mormon	0.1%
Other Religions	3.7%
None / Atheist / Unaffiliated	9.4%

Sources: Latino Barómetro (2020); 2011 census historical context

📉 Trend Note (2011 → 2020)

Since the 2011 census, Catholic affiliation has decreased while evangelical Protestantism and no‑religion identification have increased, reflecting broader secular and denominational shifts across Latin America.

Race and Ethnicity in Venezuela

Venezuela is a multi‑ethnic nation shaped by centuries of Indigenous cultures, European settlement, African heritage from the colonial era, and later immigration. The largest share of the population identifies as Moreno, a term used in Latin America to describe people with brown or mixed ancestry, typically combining Indigenous, European, and sometimes African roots. The high degree of racial and ethnic mixing reflects Venezuela’s long multicultural history.

Ethnic Composition of Venezuela (2011 Census)

Race / Ethnicity	Percentage
Moreno (mixed)	51.6%
White	43.6%
Black	2.9%
Afro‑descendant	0.7%
Other races	1.2%

Source: National Census of Venezuela 2011

Additional Context

The category Moreno is widely used in Venezuelan demographic surveys to describe people with intermediate or mixed racial traits, rather than strict ancestral groups.
Indigenous peoples make up a small but distinct share of the population (about 2.6–2.8% in census data), with groups such as Wayúu, Warao, Kariña, and Pemón among the largest.
Genetic studies suggest most Venezuelans have mixed ancestry, with a substantial European contribution alongside Indigenous and African components.

Top Cities in Venezuela by Population

Venezuela’s urban population is heavily clustered in a few large metropolitan areas, with the capital Caracas far ahead as the most populous city. Other major centers like Maracaibo, Valencia, and Barquisimeto are also key economic and cultural hubs of the country’s urban landscape.

Largest Cities in Venezuela (2026 Estimates)

#	City	Region / State	Estimated Population
1	Caracas	Capital District	3,041,600
2	Maracaibo	Zulia	2,462,670
3	Valencia	Carabobo	2,054,030
4	Barquisimeto	Lara	1,295,700
5	Maracay	Aragua	1,284,200
6	Ciudad Guayana	Bolívar	1,003,920
7	Maturín	Monagas	802,927
8	Cabimas	Zulia	632,057
9	San Cristóbal	Táchira	502,881
10	Ciudad Bolívar	Bolívar	432,350
11	Cumaná	Sucre	427,808
12	Barcelona	Anzoátegui	424,795
13	Barinas	Barinas	423,801
14	Puerto La Cruz	Anzoátegui	370,000
15	Mérida	Mérida	366,766
16	Petare	Miranda	364,684
17	Turmero	Aragua	344,700
18	Alto Barinas	Barinas	284,289
19	Santa Teresa del Tuy	Miranda	278,890
20	Los Teques	Miranda	140,617

Estimates from World Population Review and related demographic sources.

Note: Caracas remains by far the largest city and the primary metropolitan center in Venezuela, with a population exceeding 3 million in its urban area

Sources

Venezuela Population 2026 – Demographics, Religion, Ethnicity & Major Cities

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