Moreno Venezuelans

Moreno Venezuelans
Venezolanos Morenos
Morenos

Total population
15,586,454 51.6% of the Venezuelan population (2011)[1][2]
Regions with significant populations
Throughout Venezuela
Languages
Venezuelan Spanish small minorities speak Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, English, German, and French.
Religion
Roman Catholicism
Related ethnic groups
Other Venezuelans, Mestizos, White Venezuelan, Afro-Venezuelan, Amerindian, Spaniards, Pardos, Mestizo Colombian, Latin Americans, Cocoa panyol

In Venezuela, Moreno (Spanish: Swarthy, Brown, Dark) is a broad term to describe those Venezuelans, who tend to be multiracial, typically those who are genetically intermediate between Africans, Amerindians and/or Europeans. Historically known as mulattos, mestizos, pardos, and zambos. Some Moreno Venezuelans may also be mixed with Asian ancestry (Arabs, Chinese, or Indian), although this is not as common.

Since the concept of "race" in Venezuela is rather fluid, there is no defined boundary to what is and is not Moreno. Many self-proclaimed White and Black Venezuelans have some degree of Moreno ancestry.

In terms of mere physical description, Moreno can be used to describe indigenous Venezuelans because of their brown complexion.

Moreno may occasionally apply to olive-skinned people of or Canarian origins but it is not very common.

Moreno or the diminutive Morenito can be used to describe Blacks in a less racial connotation.

Per an autosomal DNA genetic study conducted in 2008 by the University of Brasília (UNB), Venezuela's gene pool is composed of 61% European contribution, 23% indigenous contribution, and 16% African contribution.^[3]

According to the 2011 Census, people who identify as Moreno amount to 51.6% of Venezuela's population.

The Census of Venezuela classifies the population as:

• Black^[4]
• Afro descendant^[4]
• Moreno^[4]
• White^[4]
• Other^[4]

• Demographics of Venezuela
• Mestizo
• Mestizo Colombian
• Pardos