<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Venezuela<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> Petroleum is the backbone of the economy, accounting for 23% of GDP, 61% of central government ordinary revenues, and 77% of export earnings in 1993. Former President PEREZ introduced an economic readjustment program when he assumed office in February 1989. Lower tariffs and the removal of price controls, a free market exchange rate, and market-linked interest rates threw the economy into confusion, causing an 8% decline in GDP in 1989. The economy recovered part way in 1990 and grew by 9.7% in 1991 and 6.8% in 1992; economic activity fell by 1% in 1993, primarily because of business concerns over political instability.
<item><hi format=bold>National product:</hi> GDP—purchasing power equivalent—$161 billion (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product real growth rate:</hi> -1% (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product per capita:</hi> $8,000 (1993 est.)
<item>• <hi format=ital>consumption per capita:</hi> 2,830 kWh (1992)
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<item><hi format=bold>Industries:</hi> petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
<item><hi format=bold>Agriculture:</hi> accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; products—corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish; not self-sufficient in food other than meat
<item><hi format=bold>Illicit drugs:</hi> illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit the country from Colombia; important money-laundering hub
<item><hi format=bold>Economic aid:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>recipient:</hi> US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $10 million