|
|
Bolivia
|
Brazil
|
Ecuador
|
Venezuela
|
|
Population
|
8,445,134
(July 2002 est.)
|
176,029,560
(July 2002 est.)
|
13,447,494
(July 2002 est.)
|
24,287,670
(July 2002 est.)
|
|
Age Structure
|
0-14
years: 37.8%
15-64 years: 57.7%
65 years and over: 4.5%
|
0-14
years: 28% 15-64 years: 66.4% 65 years and over: 5.6%
|
0-14
years: 35.4%
15-64 years: 60.2%
65 years and over: 4.4%
|
0-14
years: 31.6%
15-64 years: 63.6%
65 years and over: 4.8%
|
|
Average Education
Level
|
Age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.1%
male: 90.5%
female: 76% (1995 est.)
|
Age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.3%
male: 83.3%
female: 83.2% (1995 est.)
|
Age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.1%
male: 92%
female: 88.2% (1995 est.)
|
Age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.1%
male: 91.8%
female: 90.3% (1995 est.)
|
|
Territories (Location,
Total Area)
|
Central
South America- land: 1,084,390 sq km
|
Eastern
South America
Land:
8,456,510 sq km
|
Western
South America
Land:
276,840 sq km
|
Northern
South America
Land:
882,050 sq km
|
|
Urban/Rural (Ratio)
|
56:44
as of 2000
|
75:25
as of 1991
|
61:39
as of 1991
|
87:13
as of 1990
|
|
Ethnic
|
Quechua
30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%,
white 15%
|
White
(includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed
white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab,
Amerindian) 1%
|
mestizo
(mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others
7%, black 3%
|
Spanish,
Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people
|
|
Geographical Variation
|
9
departments
|
26
states and 1 federal district
|
22
provinces
|
23
states, 1 federal district and 1 federal dependency
|
|
Colonialism History
|
Broke
away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has
consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups.
|
Following
three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an
independent nation in 1822
|
A
border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999
|
For
most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by
generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil
industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected
governments have held sway since 1959.
|
