States of Venezuela

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a federation made up of twenty-three states (Spanish: estados), a Capital District (Spanish: Distrito Capital) and the Federal Dependencies (Spanish: Dependencias Federales), which consist of many islands and islets on the Caribbean Sea. Venezuela also claims the Guayana Esequiba territory which comprises six districts in the independent nation of Guyana.

States, Federal Dependencies and Capital District
Estados, Dependencias Federales y Distrito Capital (Spanish)
CategoryFederated state
LocationBolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Number
  • 23 states
  • 1 Capital District
Populations146,480 (Amazonas) – 3,704,404 (Zulia)
Areas1,100 km2 (440 sq mi) (Nueva Esparta) – 240,000 km2 (92,000 sq mi) (Bolívar)
GovernmentState government
SubdivisionsMunicipality
Island (Federal Dependencies)

The states and territories of Venezuela are usually organized into regions (Spanish: regiones), although these regions are mostly geographical entities and count with no administrative entities.

Historical states

Prior to the Federal War (18591863), the country was divided into provinces rather than states (see Provinces of Venezuela). The victorious forces were supposed to grant more autonomy to the individual states, but this was not implemented.

From 1863 to the early 1900s there were numerous territorial changes, including the merger and splitting of states, but from then until the 1990s the states were left unchanged. States that existed during this time included Guzmán Blanco State (1873–1889). Originally a renamed Aragua State, in 1881 the states of Miranda, Guárico, Nueva Esparta and the Vargas department of the Federal District were merged into the state. This was part of a territorial reorganisation reducing the number of states from 20 to 9, which was reversed in 1901.

The 1990s saw the creation of three new states: Delta Amacuro (1991), Amazonas (1994), and Vargas (1998).

Regions

Venezuela's territory is generally divided into eight geographical regions, which are mostly used for geographical, cultural and planning purposes but count with no active administrative body.

Region Spanish States
Andean Andina Mérida, Táchira, Trujillo
Capital Capital Caracas (Capital District), La Guaira (Vargas), Miranda
Central Centro Aragua, Carabobo
Central-Western Centro-Occidente Falcón, Lara, Yaracuy
Guayana Guayana Amazonas, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro
Insular Insular Nueva Esparta, Federal Dependencies
Llanos Los Llanos Apure, Barinas, Cojedes, Guárico, Portuguesa
Eastern Oriental Anzoátegui, Monagas, Sucre
Zulian Zulia Zulia

States

Below is a list of the 23 states of Venezuela. The states are listed along with their correspondent emblems, data and location.

Flag State Capital Largest city Population
(2011)
Area
(km²)
Region Map
Amazonas Puerto Ayacucho 146,480 180,145 Guayana
Anzoátegui Barcelona 1,469,747 43,300 Eastern
Apure San Fernando de Apure 459,025 76,500 Llanos
Aragua Maracay 1,630,308 7,014 Central
Barinas Barinas 816,264 35,200 Andean
Bolívar Ciudad Bolívar 1,410,964 238,000 Guayana
Carabobo Valencia 2,245,744 4,650 Central
Cojedes San Carlos 323,165 14,800 Central
Delta Amacuro Tucupita 167,676 40,200 Guayana
Falcón Coro Punto Fijo 902,847 24,800 Central-Western
Guárico San Juan de Los Morros Calabozo 747,739 64,986 Llanos

La Guaira
La Guaira Catia La Mar 352,920 1,496 Capital
Lara Barquisimeto 1,774,867 19,800 Central-Western
Mérida Mérida 828,592 11,300 Andean
Miranda Los Teques Petare 2,675,165 7,950 Capital
Monagas Maturín 905,443 28,930 Eastern
Nueva Esparta La Asunción Porlamar 491,610 1,150 Insular
Portuguesa Guanare 876,496 15,200 Central-Western
Sucre Cumaná 896,291 11,800 Eastern
Táchira San Cristóbal 1,168,908 11,100 Andean
Trujillo Trujillo Valera 686,367 7,400 Andean
Yaracuy San Felipe 600,852 7,100 Central-Western
Zulia Maracaibo 3,704,404 63,100 Zulian

Special status areas

Flag State Capital Population
(2011)
Area
(km²)
Region Map
Capital District Caracas 1,943,901 433 Capital
Federal Dependencies Los Roques 2,155 342 Insular

State name etymologies

Several states are named for historical figures:

Several states are named for natural features:

Other naming origins:

See also

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