Total population | |
---|---|
c. 1,600,000(5-7% of the population) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia, Maracay, Ciudad Guayana, Barcelona-Puerto La Cruz, Punto Fijo, Margarita Island | |
Languages | |
Spanish, Arabic | |
Religion | |
Roman Catholicism Eastern Orthodoxy Islam Druze |
|
Related ethnic groups | |
Lebanese, Syrians, Palestinians |
Arab Venezuelans (Arabic: عرب فنزويلا; Spanish: Arabo-Venezolano) refers to Venezuelan citizens of Arab origin or descent. There are around 1,600,000 Venezuelans of Arab origin, mainly from Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. Most Arab Venezuelans are of Syrian descent with their number between 400,000 and nearly 1 million of inhabitants, and of Lebanese descent with their number around 341,000 to 500,000
Arab immigration to Venezuela started as early as the 19th and 20th centuries. They came mostly from Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, and are present in significant numbers in Caracas.
Immigration of Arabs in Venezuela has influenced Venezuelan culture, in particular Arabic food and music.
In religion, the majority of Arab-Venezuelans are Christians who belong to the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. There are few Muslims.