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Government Stats: compare key data on Singapore & Sri Lanka

Definitions

  • Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.
  • Capital city > Geographic coordinates: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Capital city > Name: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Constitution: The dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments to a nation's constitution
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Executive branch > Cabinet: Cabinet includes the official name for any body of high-ranking advisers roughly comparable to a U.S. Cabinet. Also notes the method for selection of members.
  • Executive branch > Chief of state: The name and title of any person or role roughly equivalent to a U.S. Chief of State. This means the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government
  • Executive branch > Head of government: Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government.
  • Government type: A description of the basic form of government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).
  • Judicial branch: The name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.
  • Legal system: A brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.
  • Legislative branch: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Political parties and leaders: Significant political organizations and their leaders.
  • Political pressure groups and leaders: Organizations with leaders involved in politics, but not standing for legislative election.
  • Suffrage: The age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted
  • International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
  • Country name > Conventional long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Executive branch > Elections: Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election
  • National symbol(s): A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
  • Flag description: A written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
  • Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Country name > Conventional short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Constitutional form: Constitutional form of government.
  • Transnational Issues > Disputes > International: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
  • Total businesses registered > Number: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward.
  • National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
  • Legislative branch > Election results: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Legislative branch > Elections: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Democracy and rights > Press freedom index: Compares countries by their degree of government censorship, according to the Press freedom index. This index, created by the non-governmental organization Reporters without borders (RWS), is ellaborated using data from an extensive annual survey sent to professional reporters throughout the world. The survey contains questions about the type and ownership of media present in the country, freedom of speech, violence exerted against reporters, election campaigns, access of political parties to the media, etc.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage: Percentage of seats held by women in country's national parliament or legislative houses.
  • Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. "
  • Executive branch > Election results: Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election (if any)
  • Judicial branch > Subordinate courts: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Basis of executive legitimacy: Basis of executive legitimacy.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Country name > Local short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press: Compares countries by freedom of the press. The lower the score, the more free the press of that country is. The scores are taken from the Freedom of the Press Index, elaborated by Freedom House, self-defined as "an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world". The data used in the index come from an annual survey of media independence in 197 countries and territories, assessing the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in each of them.
  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament: Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber occupied by women.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
  • National holiday: The primary national day of celebration - often independence day.
  • Capital > Geographic coordinates: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Democracy > First female parliamentarian: Year first woman elected or appointed to parliament.
  • Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Leaders > President: Government > Leaders > President
  • Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient.
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Status Index 2006: The Status Index’s overall result represents the mean value of the scores for the dimensions “Political Transformationâ€? and “Economic Transformationâ€?. The mean value was calculated using the exact, unrounded values for both these dimensions, which, in turn, were derived from the ratings for the five political criteria (based on 18 indicators) and the seven economic criteria (based on 14 indicators). The table shows rounded scores for political and economic transformation as well as for the Status Index’s overall result. In some cases, therefore, the overall result differs slightly from the mean value.
  • Red tape > Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
  • International law organization participation: This entry includes information on a country's acceptance of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and of the International Criminal Court (ICCt); 55 countries have accepted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations and 11 have accepted ICJ jurisdiction without reservations; 114 countries have accepted ICCt jurisdiction. Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups explains the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt.
  • Parliament > Seats held by men: Number of seats held by men in country's naitonal parliament or legislative houses.
  • Country name > Local long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency (years). Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
  • Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses.
  • Leaders > President > Summary: Government > Leaders > President > Summary
  • UN membership date: Date of United Nations Membership
  • Total businesses registered > Number per 1000: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers.
  • Capital city: The location of the seat of government.
  • Capital > Name: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Legal origin: Legal origin identifies the origin of the Company Law or Commercial Code in each country
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • Spending > Expense > Current LCU: Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends."
  • Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout: The proportion of registered voters who actually voted.
  • Capital > Time difference: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Democracy > Presidential elections > Voting age population: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age
  • Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state: Head(s) of state.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Democracy > Female ministers: Women in government at ministerial level in 2000 (as % of total). Data were provided by states based on their definition of national executive and may therefore include women serving as ministers and vice ministers and those holding other ministerial positions, including parliamentary secretaries.
  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
  • Democracy > Female parliamentarians: Seats in parliament held by women (as % of total). Data are as of 8 March 2002. Where there are lower and upper houses, data refer to the weighted average of women's shares of seats in both houses.
  • Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Leaders > President > Profile: Government > Leaders > President > Profile
  • Role of head of state: Head of state.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Democracy > Presidential elections > Registered voter turnout: The proportion of registered voters who actually voted.
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
  • Democracy > Presidential elections > Voting age population per 1000: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong: Strength of legal rights index measures the degree to which collateral and bankruptcy laws protect the rights of borrowers and lenders and thus facilitate lending. The index ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating that these laws are better designed to expand access to credit."
  • Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU: Compensation of employees consists of all payments in cash, as well as in kind (such as food and housing), to employees in return for services rendered, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions that provide benefits to employees."
  • Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU: Subsidies, grants, and other social benefits include all unrequited, nonrepayable transfers on current account to private and public enterprises; grants to foreign governments, international organisations, and other government units; and social security, social assistance benefits, and employer social benefits in cash and in kind."
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Management Index 2006: This Index evaluates management by political decision-makers while taking into consideration the level of difficulty. The Management Index’s overall result is calculated by multiplying the intermediate result with a factor derived from the level of difficulty evaluation.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Per $ GDP figures expressed per 1 $ gross domestic product.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women per million people: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Democracy > Female suffrage: Year in which women received the right to vote. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to vote.
  • Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Total businesses registered > Number > Per capita: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index>Political Transformation: Political Transformation The score for â€?Political Transformation“ is obtained by calculating the mean value of the ratings for the following criteria: · Stateness · Political Participation · Rule of Law · Stability of Democratic Institutions · Political and Social Integration
  • Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador: Name of ambassador to the USA.
  • Time required to build a warehouse > Days: Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age
  • Democracy > Female candidacy: Year in which women received the right to stand for election. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to stand for election.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration: The number of registered voters. The figure represents the number of names on the voters' register at the time that the registration process closes, as reported by the electoral management body.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote: The total number of votes cast in the relevant election. Total vote includes valid and invalid votes, as well as blank votes in cases where these are separated from invalid votes. More information on valid, invalid and blank votes can be found at aceproject.org
  • Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Procedures to register property > Number: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Procedures to build a warehouse > Number: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers.
  • Democracy > Presidential elections > Turnout: The number of votes divided by the Voting Age Population figure, expressed as a percentage.
  • Democracy > Presidential elections > Invalid votes: The number of invalid votes, as reported by each country.
  • Democracy > Presidential elections > Turnout per million: The number of votes divided by the Voting Age Population figure, expressed as a percentage. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Democracy > Presidential elections > Total vote: The total number of votes cast in the relevant election. Total vote includes valid and invalid votes, as well as blank votes in cases where these are separated from invalid votes. More information on valid, invalid and blank votes can be found at aceproject.org
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment.
  • Parliament > Seats held by men per million people: Number of seats held by men in country's naitonal parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Democracy and rights > Next election: Next election.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense: Subsidies, grants, and other social benefits include all unrequited, nonrepayable transfers on current account to private and public enterprises; grants to foreign governments, international organisations, and other government units; and social security, social assistance benefits, and employer social benefits in cash and in kind."
  • Commonwealth of Nations > Date joined: Date each member country joined the Commonwealth of Nations.
  • Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours: Time to prepare and pay taxes is the time, in hours per year, it takes to prepare, file, and pay (or withhold) three major types of taxes: the corporate income tax, the value added or sales tax, and labor taxes, including payroll taxes and social security contributions.
  • Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
  • Republic establishment date: The date on which each country (or its precursor) changed its form of government to a republic. In a republic, the power resides in the country’s people, the government and legislature is elected and the country is ruled according to its laws.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
  • Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s): This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant local currency.
  • Trademarks > Residents > Per capita: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
  • Trademarks > Residents per million: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Procedures to register property > Number per million: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth: Annual percentage growth of general government final consumption expenditure based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2000 U.S. dollars. General government final consumption expenditure (general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.
  • Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > %: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%). Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber held by women.
  • Spending > Expense > % of GDP: Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends."
  • Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense: Compensation of employees consists of all payments in cash, as well as in kind (such as food and housing), to employees in return for services rendered, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions that provide benefits to employees."
  • Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • Democracy and rights > Last election: Last election.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Democracy > Presidential elections > Voter registration: The number of registered voters. The figure represents the number of names on the voters' register at the time that the registration process closes, as reported by the electoral management body.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current local currency.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members: Members of the lower (or sole) house.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Trademarks > Residents: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment.
  • Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Capital city > Time difference: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
  • Spending > Interest payments > % of expense: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • Ruling party: In power now.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
STAT Singapore Sri Lanka HISTORY
Administrative divisions none 9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Capital city > Geographic coordinates 1 17 N, 103 51 E 6 56 N, 79 51 E
Capital city > Name Singapore Colombo
Constitution several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965; amended several times, last in 2010 adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended 20 December 2001
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address FPO AP 96507-0001 P. O. Box 106, Colombo
Executive branch > Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to parliament Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
Executive branch > Chief of state President Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 September 2011) President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005)(since 21 April 2010)
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister TEO Chee Hean (since 1 April 2009) and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman SHANMUGARATNAM (since 21 May 2011) President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005)
Government type parliamentary republic republic
Judicial branch Supreme Court consists of High Court and Court of Appeals; Specialist Commercial Courts consist of Admiralty Court, Intellectual Property Court, and Abritation Court Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are appointed by the president
Legal system English common law mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to 9 nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency" members unicameral Parliament
Political parties and leaders National Solidarity Party or NSP [Hazel POA]<br />People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]<br />Reform Party [Kenneth JEYARETNAM]<br />Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [Desmond LIM]<br />Singapore Democratic Party [CHEE Soon Juan]<br />Singapore People's Party or SPP [CHIAM See Tong]<br />Workers' Party or WP [LOW Thia Khiang] Coalitions and leaders: Democratic National Alliance, led by General (Retired) Sarath FONSEKA<br />Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]<br />Tamil National Alliance led by Illandai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [R. SAMPANTHAN]<br />United National Front led by United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]<br />United People's Freedom Alliance led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]
Political pressure groups and leaders none Buddhist clergy<br />labor unions<br />hard-line nationalist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism<br />Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal and compulsory 18 years of age; universal
International organization participation ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Country name > Conventional long form Republic of Singapore Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Executive branch > Elections president elected by popular vote for six-year term; election last held on 27 August 2011 (next to be held by August 2017); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president president elected by popular vote for a six-year term, eligible for a second term; election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be held in 2016)
National symbol(s) lion, merlion (mythical half lion-half fish creature) lion
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle; red denotes brotherhood and equality; white signifies purity and virtue; the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the five stars represent the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days 2.5
Ranked 181st.
8
Ranked 139th. 3 times more than Singapore

Country name > Conventional short form Singapore Sri Lanka
Constitutional form Republic Republic
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, ICJ awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but did not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait none
Total businesses registered > Number 312,231
Ranked 30th. 6 times more than Sri Lanka
49,785
Ranked 53th.

National anthem <strong>name: </strong>"Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> ZUBIR Said <strong>name: </strong>"Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Ananda SAMARKONE
FAX 65 94
Legislative branch > Election results percent of vote by party - PAP 60.1%, WP 12.8%, NSP 12.1%, others 15%; seats by party - PAP 81, WP 6; (seats as of February 2013 PAP 80, WP 7) percent of vote by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 60.93%, United National Party 29.34%, Democratic National Alliance 5.49%, Tamil National Alliance 2.9%, other 1.34%; seats by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 144, United National Party 60, Tamil National Alliance 14, Democratic National Alliance 7
Legislative branch > Elections last held on 7 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2016) last held on 8 April 2010 with a repoll in two electorates held on 20 April 2010 (next to be held by April 2016)
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index 43.43
Ranked 31st.
56.59
Ranked 18th. 30% more than Singapore
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage 24.24%
Ranked 55th. 4 times more than Sri Lanka
5.78%
Ranked 169th.

Independence 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation) 4 February 1948 (from the UK)
Executive branch > Election results Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president from a field of four candidates with 35.2% of the votes cast Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA reelected president for second term; percent of vote - Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA 57.88%, Sarath FONSEKA 40.15%, other 1.97%
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts district, magistrates', juvenile, family, community, and coroners' courts; small claims tribunals Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate's Courts; municipal and primary courts
Basis of executive legitimacy Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Country name > Local short form Singapore Shri Lanka/Ilankai
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press 67
Ranked 44th.
72
Ranked 34th. 7% more than Singapore
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament 21.2%
Ranked 48th. 4 times more than Sri Lanka
4.9%
Ranked 155th.

Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy 27 210
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 3
Ranked 168th.
6
Ranked 96th. Twice as much as Singapore

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ 12.43 billion$
Ranked 40th. 6 times more than Sri Lanka
1.99 billion$
Ranked 76th.

National holiday National Day, 9 August Independence Day, 4 February
Capital > Geographic coordinates 1 17 N, 103 51 E 6 55 N, 79 50 E
Democracy > First female parliamentarian 1963 (elected) 1947 (elected)
Time required to start a business > Days 6 days
Ranked 165th.
50 days
Ranked 47th. 8 times more than Singapore

Leaders > President Tony Tan Mahinda Rajapaksa
Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment 0.997
Ranked 34th. 1% more than Sri Lanka
0.988
Ranked 73th.

Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office all judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; justices appointed for life the chief justice appointed by the president; the other justices appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; all justices hold office until age 65
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient 6.2
Ranked 1st. 44% more than Sri Lanka
4.3
Ranked 56th.

Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Status Index 2006 7.28
Ranked 22nd. 10% more than Sri Lanka
6.63
Ranked 35th.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days 5.5
Ranked 172nd.
52
Ranked 59th. 9 times more than Singapore

International law organization participation has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Parliament > Seats held by men 75
Ranked 124th.
212
Ranked 48th. 3 times more than Singapore

Country name > Local long form Republic of Singapore Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years 0.8
Ranked 167th.
1.7
Ranked 136th. 2 times more than Singapore

Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 0.565
Ranked 109th. 91% more than Sri Lanka
0.295
Ranked 135th.

Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery None None
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Ashok Kumar MIRPURI Ambassador Jaliya Chitran WICKRAMASURIYA (since 18 July 2008)
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone [65] 6476-9100 [94] (11) 249-8500
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Kirk WAGER (since 4 September 2013) Ambassador Michele J. SISON
Parliament > Seats held by women 24
Ranked 96th. 85% more than Sri Lanka
13
Ranked 128th.

Leaders > President > Summary Tony Tan A giant cardboard cut-out of President Rajapaksa looks down on traffic
UN membership date 21 Sep. 1965 14 Dec. 1955
Total businesses registered > Number per 1000 75.88
Ranked 14th. 29 times more than Sri Lanka
2.6
Ranked 56th.

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 11
Ranked 138th.
17
Ranked 47th. 55% more than Singapore

Capital city Singapore Colombo
Capital > Name Singapore Colombo
Legal origin <a href=/encyclopedia/England>English</a> <a href=/encyclopedia/England>English</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita 2,862.35$ per capita
Ranked 24th. 28 times more than Sri Lanka
101.59$ per capita
Ranked 104th.

Spending > Expense > Current LCU 39.73 billion
Ranked 62nd.
847.37 billion
Ranked 21st. 21 times more than Singapore

Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days 36
Ranked 173th.
110
Ranked 70th. 3 times more than Singapore

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout 94.6%
Ranked 4th. 25% more than Sri Lanka
75.6%
Ranked 52nd.
Capital > Time difference UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Democracy > Presidential elections > Voting age population 1.98 million
Ranked 71st.
11 million
Ranked 21st. 6 times more than Singapore
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million 6.78
Ranked 114th. 4% more than Sri Lanka
6.49
Ranked 116th.

Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state 6
Ranked 15th. The same as Sri Lanka
6
Ranked 14th.
Democracy > Female ministers 14.3%
Ranked 57th. 47% more than Sri Lanka
9.7%
Ranked 79th.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days 150
Ranked 188th.
1,318
Ranked 9th. 9 times more than Singapore

Democracy > Female parliamentarians 11.8%
Ranked 72nd. 3 times more than Sri Lanka
4.4%
Ranked 135th.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number 5
Ranked 102nd.
8
Ranked 20th. 60% more than Singapore

Leaders > President > Profile <p>Tony Tan, a former deputy prime minister, won the 2011 presidential election by a narrow margin. He was seen as the establishment candidate. </p> <p>All four candidates in the election - the first of its kind for 18 years - shared the same surname, Tan. </p> <p>Presidential candidates run as individuals because Singapore&#039;s head of state is supposed to be non-partisan. </p> <p>Mahinda Rajapaksa won a landslide victory in January 2010 in early elections which he called after he declared victory in a 25-year war with the Tamil Tiger separatists.</p> <p>Former army chief General Sarath Fonseka, who led the final campaign that crushed the Tamil Tigers, stood against Mr Rajapaksa in the 2010 election and challenged the result.</p> <p>Soon after, Gen Fonseka was arrested and charged with a variety of offences ranging from harbouring deserters to treason. He was found guilty on several of the charges but was released from prison in May 2012. The terms of his release prevent him from running for public office for seven years.</p> <p>President Rajapaksa further consolidated his grip on power when his ruling coalition won an overwhelming majority in parliamentary elections in April 2010. Later in the year, MPs passed a constitutional amendment allowing him to stand for unlimited terms in office. </p> <p>Dictatorial tendencies? </span> <p>The opposition accuses the president of moving the country towards dictatorship, but Mr Rajapaksa says he is guaranteeing Sri Lanka much-needed stability. </p> <p>Mr Rajapaksa first won the presidency in 2005 when Sri Lanka was in the middle of a tenuous ceasefire agreement with the Tamil Tigers. Peace talks yielded nothing and in 2006 he determined to defeat the Tigers once and for all. </p> <p>Defeat of the rebels came in mid-2009. Mr Rajapaksa, seeking to capitalise on his success at ending the war, called early elections to get a fresh mandate to revive the economy and implement a political solution for ethnic minorities. </p> <p>A lawyer from the Sinhalese ethnic majority, Mr Rajapaksa draws the core of his support from rural Sinhalese voters whose rights he championed as labour minister in the 1990s. </p> <p>Mr Rajapaksa became prime minister in 2004, and was praised for his handling of the aftermath of the tsunami of the year. </p> <p>But he has faced criticism for events at the end of the Tamil Tiger war, during which thousands of civilians were killed as troops battled to corner and crush the rebels. </p> <p>He also promised to protect journalists and freedom of speech, but at least one prominent journalist was murdered and dozens have been beaten, arrested or forced to flee the country during his time in office.</p> <p>In 2011, Mr Rajapaksa&#039;s government scrapped emergency laws in place for much of the past four decades. However, it sparked international outcry by introducing new laws restoring many of the controversial powers granted the authorities under the state of emergency.</p> <p>Growing tension between the government and the judiciary culminated in the impeachment and dismissal of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake in January 2013, in what critics described as a politically motivated move intended to curtail the independence of the judiciary.</p>
Role of head of state Ceremonial Executive
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita 2,913.34$
Ranked 23th. 29 times more than Sri Lanka
101.49$
Ranked 100th.

Democracy > Presidential elections > Registered voter turnout 94.5%
Ranked 3rd. 29% more than Sri Lanka
73.3%
Ranked 40th.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 6
Ranked 136th.
8
Ranked 100th. 33% more than Singapore

Democracy > Presidential elections > Voting age population per 1000 481.93
Ranked 50th.
573.81
Ranked 33th. 19% more than Singapore
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million 1.17
Ranked 35th. 6 times more than Sri Lanka
0.212
Ranked 95th.

Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong 10
Ranked 1st. 3 times more than Sri Lanka
4
Ranked 101st.

Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU 10.79 billion
Ranked 61st.
239.08 billion
Ranked 17th. 22 times more than Singapore

Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU 119 million
Ranked 86th.
192.15 billion
Ranked 32nd. 1615 times more than Singapore

Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Management Index 2006 5.78
Ranked 36th. 9% more than Sri Lanka
5.32
Ranked 45th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP 0.106$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 111th. 25% more than Sri Lanka
0.085$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 130th.

Parliament > Seats held by women per million people 4.4
Ranked 75th. 7 times more than Sri Lanka
0.6
Ranked 161st.

Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment March 25, 1969 July 1, 1957
Democracy > Female suffrage 1947 1931
Political pressure groups and leaders > Other investment companies; news organizations Buddhist clergy; labor unions; radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days 26
Ranked 184th.
186
Ranked 55th. 7 times more than Singapore

Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 3.95
Ranked 102nd. Twice as much as Sri Lanka
1.97
Ranked 132nd.

Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million 0.471
Ranked 145th. 20% more than Sri Lanka
0.394
Ranked 152nd.

Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million 3.76
Ranked 92nd. 47% more than Sri Lanka
2.56
Ranked 106th.

Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million 4.89
Ranked 146th.
9.99
Ranked 121st. 2 times more than Singapore

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 2.07
Ranked 91st. 2 times more than Sri Lanka
0.885
Ranked 119th.

Total businesses registered > Number > Per capita 74.6 per 1,000 people
Ranked 14th. 29 times more than Sri Lanka
2.59 per 1,000 people
Ranked 57th.

Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU 33 million
Ranked 86th.
212.47 billion
Ranked 11th. 6439 times more than Singapore

Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index>Political Transformation 5.35
Ranked 70th.
6
Ranked 62nd. 12% more than Singapore
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador Chee, Chan Heng Chan Heng Chee Wickramasuriya, Jaliya Jaliya Wickramasuriya
Time required to build a warehouse > Days 129 days
Ranked 131st.
167 days
Ranked 98th. 29% more than Singapore

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population 2.08 million
Ranked 104th.
11.11 million
Ranked 43th. 5 times more than Singapore
Democracy > Female candidacy 1,947
Ranked 85th. 1% more than Sri Lanka
1,931
Ranked 117th.
Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita 4.34 per 1,000 people
Ranked 4th. 47 times more than Sri Lanka
0.092 per 1,000 people
Ranked 37th.

Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000 4.42
Ranked 4th. 48 times more than Sri Lanka
0.0925
Ranked 37th.

Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment November 23, 1992 February 14, 1997
National anthem > Name "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore) "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration 675,306
Ranked 115th.
12.07 million
Ranked 36th. 18 times more than Singapore
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote 638,903
Ranked 110th.
9.13 million
Ranked 31st. 14 times more than Singapore
Time required to enforce a contract > Days 120 days
Ranked 169th.
837 days
Ranked 23th. 7 times more than Singapore

Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita 1.37 per 1 million people
Ranked 79th. 3 times more than Sri Lanka
0.405 per 1 million people
Ranked 125th.

Procedures to register property > Number 3
Ranked 144th.
8
Ranked 21st. 3 times more than Singapore

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 11
Ranked 148th.
17
Ranked 75th. 55% more than Singapore

Democracy > Presidential elections > Turnout 83.7
Ranked 9th. 7% more than Sri Lanka
78.5
Ranked 17th.
Democracy > Presidential elections > Invalid votes 2.2%
Ranked 28th.
2.3%
Ranked 27th. 5% more than Singapore
Democracy > Presidential elections > Turnout per million 20.34
Ranked 21st. 5 times more than Sri Lanka
4.09
Ranked 51st.
Democracy > Presidential elections > Total vote 1.66 million
Ranked 59th.
8.64 million
Ranked 16th. 5 times more than Singapore
Date of transition to republican system of government > Republic since May 14, 1948 January 26, 1950
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 1.36
Ranked 75th. 3 times more than Sri Lanka
0.403
Ranked 123th.

Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general San Francisco Los Angeles
Trademarks > Nonresidents 18,409
Ranked 6th. 10 times more than Sri Lanka
1,773
Ranked 24th.

Parliament > Seats held by men per million people 13.74
Ranked 101st. 40% more than Sri Lanka
9.78
Ranked 114th.

Democracy and rights > Next election January 2017 November 2016
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense 0.3%
Ranked 87th.
22.68%
Ranked 69th. 76 times more than Singapore

Commonwealth of Nations > Date joined <span style="display:none">1965-10-15ƒ?ÿ</span>15 October 1965 <span style="display:none">1948-02-04</span>4 February 1948
Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours 30 hours
Ranked 167th.
256 hours
Ranked 81st. 9 times more than Singapore

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita 2.5 per 1 million people
Ranked 75th. 3 times more than Sri Lanka
0.86 per 1 million people
Ranked 118th.

Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU 15.79 billion
Ranked 50th.
121.25 billion
Ranked 19th. 8 times more than Singapore

Republic establishment date August 9, 1965 May 22, 1972
Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX [65] 6476-9340 [94] (11) 243-7345
National anthem > Note adopted 1965; the anthem, which was first performed in 1958 at the Victoria Theatre, is sung only in Malay adopted 1951
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 21
Ranked 187th.
40
Ranked 61st. 90% more than Singapore

Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.941
Ranked 75th. 2 times more than Sri Lanka
0.394
Ranked 109th.

FAX > Consulate(s) New York New York
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) New York New York
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX [1] (202) 537-0876 [1] (202) 232-7181
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU 20226200000 81021000000
Trademarks > Residents > Per capita 1.14 per 1,000 people
Ranked 8th. 6 times more than Sri Lanka
0.207 per 1,000 people
Ranked 39th.

Time to resolve insolvency > Years 0.8 years
Ranked 147th.
2.2 years
Ranked 99th. 3 times more than Singapore

Trademarks > Residents per million 1,161.35
Ranked 8th. 6 times more than Sri Lanka
208.05
Ranked 38th.

Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.682
Ranked 77th. 69% more than Sri Lanka
0.403
Ranked 105th.

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth 6.52%
Ranked 28th.
18.6%
Ranked 10th. 3 times more than Singapore

Time required to register property > Days 9 days
Ranked 149th.
63 days
Ranked 63th. 7 times more than Singapore

Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 6.59
Ranked 67th. 7 times more than Sri Lanka
1.01
Ranked 134th.

Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > % 24.2%
Ranked 61st. 4 times more than Sri Lanka
5.8%
Ranked 171st.

Spending > Expense > % of GDP 14.53%
Ranked 80th.
19.21%
Ranked 66th. 32% more than Singapore

Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense 27.15%
Ranked 33th.
28.21%
Ranked 30th. 4% more than Singapore

Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue 0.06%
Ranked 86th.
30.95%
Ranked 3rd. 516 times more than Singapore

Democracy and rights > Last election May 2011 January 2010
Democracy > Presidential elections > Voter registration 1.76 million
Ranked 68th.
11.78 million
Ranked 16th. 7 times more than Singapore
FAX > Consulate(s) general San Francisco Los Angeles
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000 504.57
Ranked 103th.
579.49
Ranked 71st. 15% more than Singapore
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 29
Ranked 102nd. 45% more than Sri Lanka
20
Ranked 155th.

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU 20686600000 200363400000
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members 5
Ranked 7th.
6
Ranked 1st. 20% more than Singapore
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million 28.24
Ranked 131st.
64.84
Ranked 94th. 2 times more than Singapore

Trademarks > Residents 4,839
Ranked 23th. 21% more than Sri Lanka
3,989
Ranked 25th.

Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita 0.683 per 1 million people
Ranked 78th. 69% more than Sri Lanka
0.405 per 1 million people
Ranked 104th.

Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita 6.6 per 1 million people
Ranked 67th. 7 times more than Sri Lanka
1.01 per 1 million people
Ranked 134th.

Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone [1] (202) 537-3100 [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
Capital city > Time difference UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense 39.74%
Ranked 4th. 3 times more than Sri Lanka
14.31%
Ranked 35th.

Spending > Interest payments > % of expense 0.08%
Ranked 85th.
25.07%
Ranked 3rd. 313 times more than Singapore

Ruling party People's Action Party UPFA
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 2.5
Ranked 74th. 3 times more than Sri Lanka
0.856
Ranked 116th.

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).; Wikipedia: List of countries by system of government (Alphabetical list of countries); All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; World Development Indicators database; Wikipedia: Censorship by country (Censorship by country) ("Press Freedom Index 2013" , Reporters Without Borders, 30 January 2013); United Nations Statistics Division; "2012 Freedom of the Press Data" , Freedom House, 1 May 2012; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 1995. Women in Parliaments 1945-1995: A World Statistical Survey. Geneva and IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. Correspondence on year women received the right to vote and to stand for election and year first woman was elected or appointed to parliament. March. Geneva.; British Broadcasting Corporation 2014; Source: Millennium Development Goals Database | United Nations Statistics Division; World Economic Forum, Global Competiveness Report and data files.; Bertelsmann Transformation Index online, 2006; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/). Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook and Statistical Yearbook; World Development Indicators database. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files.; Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2003; Wikipedia: Term of office (Terms of office by country); IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. Correspondence on women in government at the ministerial level. March. Geneva; calculated on the basis of data on parliamentary seats from IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2002. Parline Database. March 2002; Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2003. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; World Economic Forum, Global Competiveness Report and data files. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: Foreign relations of Nepal; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 1995. Women in Parliaments 1945-1995: A World Statistical Survey. Geneva and IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. Correspondence on year women received the right to vote and to stand for election and year first woman was elected or appointed to parliament. March. Geneva; http://www.bertelsmann-transformation-index.de/fileadmin/pdf/BTI_2006_Ranking_GB.pdf; Wikipedia: List of ambassadors to the United States; Wikipedia: Foreign relations of Croatia; Wikipedia: List of countries by date of transition to republican system of government; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: List of next general elections (Africa); Various sources compiled into Wikipedia's Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations; Wikipedia: List of countries by date of transition to republican system of government (List); Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (www.ipu.org); International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates.

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