Zulia
Zulia
Suuria (Wayuu) | |
|---|---|
| Zulia State Estado Zulia (Spanish) Mma'ipakat Suuria (Wayuu) | |
Mountains in Machiques de Perijá | |
|
Flag Coat of arms | |
| Anthem: Sobre Palmas | |
Location within Venezuela | |
| Coordinates: 9°50′N 72°15′W / 9.84°N 72.25°W | |
| Country | Venezuela |
| Created | 1864 |
| Capital | Maracaibo |
| Government | |
| • Body | Legislative Council |
| • Governor | Luis Caldera (2025–2029) |
| Area | |
• Total | 50,230 km2 (19,390 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 5th |
| 6.92% of Venezuela | |
| Population (2017 estimate) | |
• Total | 5,125,579 |
| • Rank | 1st |
| • Density | 102.0/km2 (264.3/sq mi) |
| 18.29% of Venezuela | |
| Demonym | zuliano |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (VET) |
| ISO 3166 code | VE-V |
| Emblematic tree | Coconut (Cocos nucifera) |
| HDI (2019) | 0.697 medium · 13th of 24 |
| Website | web |
Zulia State (Spanish: Estado Zulia, IPA: [esˈtaðo ˈsulja]; Wayuu: Mma’ipakat Suuria) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Maracaibo. As of the 2011 census, it had a population of 3,704,404, making it the most populous state in the country. Zulia is also notable for being one of the few states in Venezuela where voseo—the use of vos as the second-person singular pronoun—is widespread. The state is coterminous with the eponymous region of Zulia.
Zulia is located in northwestern Venezuela, bordering Lake Maracaibo, the largest body of its kind in Latin America. The lake's basin holds some of the largest oil and gas reserves in the Western Hemisphere.
Zulia is economically significant due to its oil and mineral exploitation, but it is also one of Venezuela's major agricultural regions. The state contributes notably in livestock, bananas, fruits, meat, and milk.