Venezuela: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Venezuela?

Life expectancy at birth in Venezuela was 72.7 years in 2024, according to World Bank data based on the UN Population Division's estimates.

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if death rates at each age stayed as they were in that year. It is not a forecast of how long people born today will live. The Ministry of Health (MPPS) publishes mortality yearbooks, but the most recent posted on its site is for 2017, so the international estimate is the latest available figure.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Venezuela

How many malaria cases are there in Venezuela?

Venezuela recorded 73,961 malaria cases in 2026 up to epidemiological week 38, according to the Ministry of Health (MPPS) epidemiological bulletin for week 38. That is 4.6% fewer than the 77,517 cases recorded by the same week of 2025. In week 38 alone, 890 cases were diagnosed from 13,340 samples, 98.5% of them locally acquired.

Of the locally acquired cases that week, 69.8% were Plasmodium vivax, 21.9% Plasmodium falciparum and 8.3% mixed infections. The bulletin breaks cases down by state: Bolívar accounted for 53,405 of the year's cases and Amazonas for 16,241. MPPS publishes the bulletin weekly, and recent weeks can be revised.

Official sources: MPPS: Epidemiological bulletin, week 38, 2026 (PDF)

How many dengue cases are there in Venezuela?

Venezuela had 12,410 suspected dengue cases in 2026 up to epidemiological week 38, according to the Ministry of Health (MPPS) weekly epidemiological bulletin. Of these, 67.7% were dengue without warning signs, 32.0% dengue with warning signs and 0.2% (28 cases) severe dengue. 331 suspected cases were diagnosed in week 38.

These are suspected cases notified by health units, not all laboratory confirmed. MPPS says the age group with the highest incidence is children aged 0 to 9. The bulletin is published every week and also covers respiratory infections, chikungunya and vaccine-preventable diseases.

Official sources: MPPS: Epidemiological bulletin, week 38, 2026 (PDF)

What is the infant mortality rate in Venezuela?

Venezuela's infant mortality rate was 21.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to World Bank data from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. The maternal mortality ratio was 227 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the same source's maternal mortality series.

Infant mortality counts deaths before a child's first birthday. These are modelled estimates that combine surveys and registration data, so they can differ from national registers. The Ministry of Health publishes birth and mortality yearbooks; the latest on its site is for 2017.

Official sources: World Bank: Infant mortality rate, Venezuela · World Bank: Maternal mortality ratio, Venezuela

How many doctors are there in Venezuela?

Venezuela had 1.66 physicians per 1,000 people in 2017, the latest year available in World Bank data drawn from the WHO's Global Health Workforce Statistics.

The figure counts medical doctors, both generalists and specialists. Because it is several years old, it does not reflect any change in the number of doctors since 2017, including the effect of emigration. The Ministry of Health (MPPS) does not publish a current count of doctors on its website; its pages cover epidemiological surveillance, vital statistics and health programmes.

Official sources: World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people, Venezuela

How long do people live in Venezuela?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 72.7 years. The peak was 73.3 years in 2007 and the low 71.5 years in 2021. Latin America & Caribbean median: 74.0 years; Venezuela is 25th highest of 33. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 107th highest.

What is the infant mortality rate in Venezuela?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in Venezuela at 21.2 per 1,000 in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 5th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 12.1 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 66th of 192.

What is maternal mortality in Venezuela?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 227 per 100,000. The peak was 251 per 100,000 in 2021 and the low 92.0 per 100,000 in 2007. It is 2nd highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 55.0 per 100,000. Worldwide: 35th of 192.

How much does Venezuela spend on health?

According to the WHO, current health spending in Venezuela was 3.8% of GDP in 2023. Its high point since 2018 was 2022, at 4.6% of GDP; its low point was 2019, at 2.2% of GDP. Latin America & Caribbean median: 6.8% of GDP; Venezuela is 31st highest of 33. Worldwide: 157th of 191.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Venezuela?

The WHO puts out-of-pocket health spending in Venezuela at 29.7% in 2023. Since 2018 it has ranged from 24.9% (2022) to 36.9% (2018). Latin America & Caribbean median: 29.3%; Venezuela is 16th highest of 33. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 85th highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Venezuela?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Venezuela was 1.7 per 1,000 in 2017. That compares with 1.9 per 1,000 in 2001. It is 15th highest of 24 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 2.1 per 1,000. Worldwide: 83rd of 138.

How many hospital beds per person does Venezuela have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2020, is 0.99 per 1,000. Its high point since 2011 was 2018, at 1.1 per 1,000; its low point was 2015, at 0.75 per 1,000. It is 28th highest of 32 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 1.8 per 1,000. Worldwide: 111th of 131.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Venezuela?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 71.0%. The peak was 96.0% in 2017 and the low 52.0% in 2022. It is 31st highest of 32 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 89.5%. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 164th highest.