Venezuela

Peoples Under Threat Ranking:
#20
5

Communities at risk

Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants

Summary

In 2021, Venezuela remains afflicted by interlocking political, economic and humanitarian crises. Yet after a failed coup in April 2019 by opposition leader Juan Guaidó with the backing of the US and other allied countries, facing threats of US military intervention and pummelled by international sanctions that disproportionately harm ordinary Venezuelans, President Nicolás Maduro’s government… Read more »

Peoples Under Threat Data

2021 Data Peoples under Threat value
Self-determination conflictsNo data
Major armed conflictNo data
Prior genocide / politicideNo data
Flight of refugees and IDPs0.2140
Legacy of vengeance - group grievance7.0
Rise of factionalized elites9.3
Voice and Accountability-1.507
Political Stability-1.518
Rule of Law-2.346
OECD country risk classification7
TOTAL14.603

The overall measure for each country is based on a basket of 10 indicators. The number in each row is drawn from the source for that particular indicator. The sources of data and calculations used are detailed on the Notes to Table page. 

Background

In 2021, Venezuela remains afflicted by interlocking political, economic and humanitarian crises. Yet after a failed coup in April 2019 by opposition leader Juan Guaidó with the backing of the US and other allied countries, facing threats of US military intervention and pummelled by international sanctions that disproportionately harm ordinary Venezuelans, President Nicolás Maduro’s government has since only consolidated its grip on power. Legislative elections in December 2020 and regional elections in November 2021 resulted in major losses for opposition parties, while civil liberties continue to be restricted, dissent quashed and thousands of political opponents have been subjected to extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and torture, constituting crimes against humanity. More than 5.9 million people have now fled the country, amounting to one of the world’s largest mass displacements, in order to escape shortages of basic goods and services while violence and insecurity persist.