In times of economic and political crisis since the 2010s, Venezuelans have often fled to other countries in the Americas and beyond to establish a more sustainable life.
In times of economic and political crisis since the 2010s, Venezuelans have often fled to other countries in the Americas and beyond to establish a more sustainable life.
In 1827, a group of Jews moved from Curaçao and settled in Coro, Venezuela. [35] In 1855, rioting in the area forced the entire Jewish population, 168 individuals, back to Curaçao. [35] Assimilation of Jews in Venezuela was difficult, though small communities could be found in Puerto Cabello, Villa de Cura, Carupano, Rio Chico, Maracaibo, and Barquisimeto. [35]
During World War II, the Venezuelan government broke relations with the Axis powers in 1942, with many groups consisting of hundreds of German-Venezuelans leaving Venezuela to be repatriated into Nazi Germany. [36]
In the early 1980s, the Venezuelan government had invested much into the country's infrastructure and communications, though by the mid-1980s when Venezuela faced economic difficulties and inequality increased, some Venezuelans emigrated. [37] Again, at the peak of Venezuela's socioeconomic difficulties in the late 1990s, Venezuelans began to emigrate once more, with some attempting to enter the United States legally and illegally. [38]
During the Bolivarian Revolution, many Venezuelans have sought residence in other countries. According to Newsweek , the "Bolivarian diaspora is a reversal of fortune on a massive scale" as compared to the 20th century, when "Venezuela was a haven for immigrants fleeing Old World repression and intolerance". [33] El Universal explained how the "Bolivarian diaspora" in Venezuela has been caused by the "deterioration of both the economy and the social fabric, rampant crime, uncertainty and lack of hope for a change in leadership in the near future". [32]
In 1998, the year Chavez was first elected, only 14 Venezuelans were granted U.S. asylum. By September 1999, 1,086 Venezuelans were granted asylum according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. [39] It has been calculated that from 1998 to 2013, over 1.5 million Venezuelans (between 4% and 6% of the Venezuela's total population) left the country following the Bolivarian Revolution. [40] Former Venezuelan residents have been driven by lack of freedom, high levels of insecurity, and inadequate opportunities in the country, risking their lives sometimes walking the Darien Gap. [40] [41] It has also been reported that some parents in Venezuela encourage their children to leave the country because of the insecurities Venezuelans face. [41] [42] This has led to significant human capital flight in Venezuela. [32] [40] [43]
By late 2025, the UNHCR reported that approximately 7.9 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants were residing worldwide, with the majority in Latin America. [44]
In 2018, the Brazilian Army launched Operation Welcome to help Venezuelan immigrants arriving in the state of Roraima, which borders Venezuela. [45] [46] [47]
We have more than 1.7 million refugees, that's the official number and I think it's under-reported. Bogota has 375,000 — that's like the size of New Orleans
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
| Americas |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | ||
| Asia & Oceania | ||
| History | ||
