Croatian diaspora in Venezuela
Number of Croats and their immigration
There is around 5,000 Croats and their descendants in Venezuela. Majority of Croats settled in the area of West Venezuela in Caracas, in the states of Zulia ( Maracaibo), Merida ( Merida), Mid Venezuela where the largest number of Croats and their descendents live (around 3,000), in the states of Carabobo ( Valenzia), Aragua ( Maracay), Miranda ( East Caracas) Metropola ( West Caracas) East Venezuela and the states of Anzoategua ( Barcelona / Pto La Cruz), Bolivar ( Ciudad Bolivar/ Pto. Ordaz), Monagas (Maturin) and Nueva Esparta (the Island of Margarita).
Status of Croats in Venezuela
Croats and their descendants in Venezuela have Venezuelan citizenship. As Venezuela acknowledges dual citizenship around 350 people have both Croatian and Venezuelan citizenship.
Croatian associations and Catholic Mission
There are five Croatian organizations in Venezuela. Three of them are non for profit societies which are members of Croatian World Congress (HSK). Croatian Committee for Venezuela was established in 1958 and officially registered in 1673. Croatia- Venezuela Center ( Centro Croata – Venezoalno) established in 1949 and Croatian Women Society established and registed in 1968.
There are also Venezuela- Croatia Chamber of Commerce (Camara Venezolano – Croata de Industria y Comercio – Cavecro) established and registered in 1997 and Croatian Home ( Hrvatski dom d. d. Hogar Croata C. A.), company established and registered in 1962.
There are no Croatian Catholic missions in Venezuela.
Publishing and Media
Since 1950 Croats and their descendents have published 118 books and pamphlets. Part of the books was presented on Books Fair in Zagreb. Of the stated number 29 books written by father Augstin Augustinović have religious character and they are written in Spanish.