Venezuela Information Office

"As the world’s fifth-largest oil producer, Venezuela has long been a country of contrasts. Despite its great wealth, 80 percent of Venezuelans live in poverty. To address this injustice, the state-owned oil company has increased annual spending on social programs from 40 million to 1.7 billion dollars. For the first time, many Venezuelans have access to education, job training, housing, and health care. "