Venezuela’s National Institute of Statistics Estimates Population at 28.5 Million

According to preliminary data collected in the 2011 National Census of Population and Habitat, the president of Venezuela’s National Institute of Statistics, Elias Eljuri, said the national population has likely increased from 27 million to 28.5 million inhabitants.

During a televised interview, the INE president said, “We have almost finished counting the most the most populated areas. We’re a little bit late with rural and indigenous areas because of the rains that have hit the country. We will soon have the data that is being transcribed.”

Definitive numbers on the Venezuelan population by age and sex are expected to be ready by January 2012, while the complete results will be available bythe first trimester of next year, Eljuri explained.

He said that among the most interesting information found by the census was the decrease in the number of inhabitants per household, which dropped from 5.29 to 3.08 people. Meanwhile, the average age of the population has increased from 18 years of age to 26 years of age.

“The population is a little bit older, but it remains mainly young,” Eljuri noted.

Additionally, Eljuri said that the INE has registered a decrease in the number of people under 14 years old between 1991 and 2011, from 39 percent to 27.6 percent. The proportion of citizens over the age of 65 has increased from 3.5 to 5.9 percent.

Additionally, the working-age population rose from 56 to 66 percent.

“This is very important because we have been experiencing an interesting phase of economic growth. According to these figures, people who are able to work have fewer burdens,” Eljuri said.