Mérida: population and official figures
In depth
- Education in Mérida: The illiteracy rate among people aged 10 and over in the Libertador municipality (which contains Mérida) was 2.97% at the 2011 census (5,584 people), 12th highest of 26 of the cities and against 4.92% nationally.
- Poverty and living standards in Mérida: 8.0% of households in the Libertador municipality (which contains Mérida) were classified as poor or extremely poor in the 2011 census, the lowest of 26 of the cities and against 24.6% nationally.
What is the population of Mérida?
The Libertador municipality (which contains Mérida) had 217,537 inhabitants at the 2011 census, 13th lowest of 26 among the Venezuelan cities covered here, and 0.80% of the national census count of 27,227,930.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Venezuela · saved copyWhat is the average age in Mérida?
The Libertador municipality (which contains Mérida) had an average age of 32.6 years at the 2011 census (4th oldest of 26 cities, national average 27); 20.7% of residents were under 15 and 8.1% were 65 or older.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Venezuela · saved copyWhat is the dependency ratio in Mérida?
The dependency ratio in the Libertador municipality (which contains Mérida) was 40.4 people under 15 or over 64 per 100 of working age (15 to 64) at the 2011 census, 2nd lowest of 26 of the cities and against 49.2 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Venezuela · saved copyHow many indigenous people live in Mérida?
209 residents of the Libertador municipality (which contains Mérida) identified as indigenous at the 2011 census, 0.1% of the population against 2.7% nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Venezuela · saved copyHow big is the average household in Mérida?
The average household in the Libertador municipality (which contains Mérida) had 3.60 people at the 2011 census (60,002 households; national average 3.82), and 42.4% of households were headed by a woman against 38.7% nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Venezuela · saved copyHow many homes are empty in Mérida?
The Libertador municipality (which contains Mérida) had 68,103 family and collective dwellings at the 2011 census, of which 5,718 (8.4% of family dwellings) were unoccupied, against 7.7% nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Venezuela · saved copyWho runs Mérida?
In Venezuela, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Mayor and municipal council directly elected. Local services, urban planning, local taxes.
How local power works in Venezuela
Cities of a similar size in Venezuela
- Ciudad Guayana 877,547
- Maturín 571,276
- Petare 434,320
- Maracay 419,052
- Ciudad Bolívar 407,452
- Barinas 389,578
- Baruta 358,221
- Cumaná 358,138
- San Cristóbal 263,765
- Cabimas 263,056
- Punto Fijo 239,444
- Turmero 211,010
- Guarenas 209,987
- Ciudad Ojeda 203,435
- Guatire 187,075
- Puerto Cabello 182,493
Up a level: all cities in Venezuela · Venezuela · government and power
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Venezuela: Viviendas, hogares y personas, Censo 2011: persons (age, urban/rural, indigenous, school attendance, illiteracy), households (size, headship, poverty classification, household deficits) and dwellings by municipality, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 936f89b85c8c…)
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