Caracas, Jan. 3, 2026 (Lusa) - Throughout the 21st century, Venezuela has welcomed important foreign communities, including the Portuguese community, which continues to number several hundred thousand and maintains a strong presence in commerce, mainly supermarkets, bakeries, grocery stores, and services.
More than 80% of the community originates from the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Still, there are Portuguese from northern mainland Portugal, mainly from Aveiro, and, to a lesser extent, from the Azores. The community remains one of the most influential in the diaspora and is seen by Venezuelans as one of the most integrated in the host country.
Regarding the number of Portuguese and Portuguese descendants living in the country, the Portuguese Government reports that around 220,000 people were registered with consular services in Venezuela in November last year. Still, this figure does not include people of Portuguese descent, so the authorities estimate the community is much larger, especially given that consular registration is not mandatory.
The Portuguese community in Venezuela is one of the largest in the diaspora, ranking second in Latin America after Brazil.
Sources within the community estimate that the total, including those of Portuguese descent, may be around 1.2 million.
In addition to Caracas, the country's capital, there are significant communities of Portuguese and Portuguese descendants in Valencia, Maracay, Barquisimeto, and Maracaibo, among others.
In cities such as Los Teques, in the Venezuelan state of Miranda, Mérida, in the state of Mérida, Puerto La Cruz, in Anzoátegui, and Puerto Ordáz, in the state of Guayana, the Portuguese are also often cited as examples of integration and for the services they provide locally to Venezuelans.
In the states of Miranda and Aragua, Portuguese nationals and people of Portuguese descent also play an important role in supplying flowers, horticultural products and vegetables to large cities, including Caracas and Valencia.
Following today's attacks on Venezuela by the United States, the Portuguese Government today declared the safety of Portuguese nationals in that country a priority and called for a reduction in tensions and respect for international law.
In a statement, the ministry headed by Paulo Rangel said that the Portuguese community in Venezuela is ‘well and calm, although naturally expectant’.
Since the Venezuelan authorities have declared a state of emergency, the government reaffirms its call for calm and caution, already addressed in a statement to the Portuguese community in Venezuela.
US President Donald Trump announced a ‘large-scale attack’ on Venezuela on Saturday to capture the Venezuelan head of state, Nicolás Maduro, who was forcibly removed from the country.
The Caracas government denounced a ‘very serious military aggression’ by the United States after explosions in the capital during the night and declared a state of emergency.
Meanwhile, Trump said that Maduro and his wife are aboard a US warship and that his counterpart will be tried in New York.
FPG/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
