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Government Stats: compare key data on Australia & Italy

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 > 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.
  • 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.
  • 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. "
  • 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.

  • Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.
    Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
    Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
    Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
    Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
    Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
    Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.
    Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
    Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
    Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
    Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa.
    Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics ...
    Full definition
  • 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.
  • Corruption > Bribe Payers Index: 2008
  • 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.
  • Democracy > Civil and political liberties: Civil and political liberties
    Units: Index Ranging from 7 (High Levels of Liberties) to 1 (Low
    Units: This is the average of two indicators - civil liberties and political liberties.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Democracy and rights > Democracy Index: DI 2012.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Politics: Country politics.
  • 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.
  • 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 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 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 > 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.
  • Democracy > Democratic institutions rating: Democratic institutions
    Units: Scale ranging from -10 (autocratic) to +10 (democratic)
  • UN membership date: Date of United Nations Membership
  • Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people: DI 2012. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • 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.
  • Legislature (parliament) > People per member: Number of people each member of the legislature represents on average. The number of members of the legislature is the sum of the members of all chambers of parliament, if applicable.
  • Democracy and rights > Year women first voted at national level: Year women first voted at national level.
  • 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.
  • International relations: Country international relations.
  • 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.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members: Members of the lower house of the legislature or of the only chamber in a unicameral system.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members: Members of the upper house of the legislature. Does not include countries with a unicameral system.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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."
  • 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.
  • 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."
  • Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for upper house members: Members of the upper house*.

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

  • 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.
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Syrian National Council: Date on which the Syrian National Council was recognized, at least as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people. For more information, please see http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Government/Foreign-relations/International-recognition-of-the-Syrian-National-Council-notes
  • 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 > 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 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 > 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.
  • 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.
  • Capital > Daylight saving time: 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.
  • 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 and rights > Major left wing party: Left-wing major party.

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

  • Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador: Name of ambassador to the USA.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 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 constant 2000 U.S. dollars. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • 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
  • Failed States Index: FSI 2013.
  • 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 > 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
  • Democracy > Compulsory voting > Penalty: Sanctions applied for failing to vote. See http://www.int-idea.se/vt/analysis/Compulsory_Voting.cfm for more information
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Democracy and rights > Electoral system: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of electoral system (First Past the Post electoral system; Single-Member District Plurality, also known as First Past the Post (FPTP): There is one seat per district, the candidate with the most votes wins it; Proportional Representation: There are multiple seats for each voting district, allocation is based on either party lists, multi-member proportional (MMP), single transferable vote (STV) or semi-PR; FrenchTtwo-RoundSsystem; Alternative Vote (AV)).
  • 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 and rights > Party system: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of party system (two-party or multi-party).
  • Democracy and rights > Structure: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of structure (presidential or parliamentary).
  • Democracy > Secret ballot > Date of introduction: Date voting by secret ballot was introduced in different countries around the world.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: Statements on the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia issued by countries who do not recognize their sovereignty.
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo: Date on which Kosovo was officially recognized as a state.
  • Democracy and rights > Major party notes: Notes.

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

  • Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament: Number of members of the legislature (sum of members of all chambers of parliament where applicable).
  • Democracy and rights > Last election: Last election.

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

  • 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.
  • 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."
  • Legislature (parliament) > Strongly bicameral?: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of bicameralism, determing if there are two houses in the legislature, both with substantial powers. (Strongly bicameral or not strongly bicameral).
  • 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.
  • 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."
  • Leaders > Prime Minister > Summary: Government > Leaders > Prime Minister > Summary
  • Leaders > Prime Minister: Government > Leaders > Prime Minister
  • 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.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 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 constant 2000 U.S. dollars.
  • 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.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes: The number of invalid votes, as reported by each country.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, 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.
  • 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.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, 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.
  • Spending > Other expense > Current LCU: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Leaders > Prime Minister > Profile: Government > Leaders > Prime Minister > Profile
  • 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.
  • Foreign relations > Date of establishment of relations with China: The date on which each country established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • 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.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 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 constant 2000 U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • 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 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."
  • Spending > Other expense > % of expense: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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."
  • 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.
  • Foreign relations > International recognition of the Syrian National Council notes:

    Degree to which the Syrian National Council is recognized as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

  • Democracy and rights > Major right wing party: Right-wing major party.

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

  • Democracy and rights > Active Labor party: Party.

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

  • 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.
  • 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.

  • Democracy and rights > Strongly federal?: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of federalism (strongly federal or not strongly federal).
  • 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.
  • Democracy and rights > Strong judicial review?: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of judicial review, which is the power to declare unconstitutional laws duly passed by parliament and/or signed by the president. (As distinct from the ability to strike down acts of subordinate governments, such as states or provinces. (Strong judicial review or no strong judicial review).
  • 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 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
STAT Australia Italy HISTORY
Administrative divisions 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia 15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma)<br /><strong>regions:</strong> Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto (Venetia)<br /><strong>autonomous regions:</strong> Friuli-Venezia Giulia; Sardegna (Sardinia); Sicilia (Sicily); Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German); Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French)
Capital city > Geographic coordinates 35 17 S, 149 13 E 41 54 N, 12 29 E
Capital city > Name Canberra Rome
Constitution 9 July 1900; effective 1 January 1901; amended several times, last in 1977 previous 1848 (originally for Kingdom of Sardinia and adopted by Kingdom of Italy in 1861); latest enacted 22 December 1947, adopted 27 December 1947, entered into force 1 January 1948; amended many times, last in 2012
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address APO AP 96549 PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
Executive branch > Cabinet prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and nominated by the President of the Republic
Executive branch > Chief of state Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Quentin BRYCE (since 5 September 2008) President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May 2006)
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Anthony John "Tony" ABBOTT (since 18 September 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Warren TRUSS (since 18 September 2013) Prime Minister Enrico LETTA (since 17 April 2013)
Government type federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm republic
Judicial branch High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general acting on the advice of the government) Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (composed of 15 judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative Supreme Courts); Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione
Legal system common law system based on the English model civil law system; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court
Legislative branch bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (315 seats; members elected by proportional vote with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that region; members to serve five-year terms; and up to 5 senators for life appointed by the president of the Republic) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; members elected by popular vote with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats; members to serve five-year terms); note - it has not been clarified if each president has the power to designate up to five senators or if five is the number of senators for life who might sit in the Senate
Political parties and leaders Australian Greens Party [Christine MILNE]<br />Australian Labor Party [Bill SHORTEN]<br />Country Liberal Party [Terry MILLS]<br />Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]<br />Katter's Australian Party [Bob KATTER]<br />Liberal National Party of Queensland [Campbell NEWMAN]<br />Liberal Party [Tony ABBOTT]<br />National Party of Australia [Warren TRUSS]<br />Palmer United Party [Clive PALMER] <strong>Center-right coalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI]: </strong><br />People of Freedom or PdL [Silvio BERLUSCONI]<br />Northern League or LN [Roberto MARONI]<br />Brothers of Italy or Fdl [Giorgia MELONI and Ignazio LA RUSSA]<br />The Right or LD [Francesco STORACE]<br />other minor parties<br /><br /><strong>Italy Common Good (Center-Left) [Pier Luigi BERSANI]:</strong><br />Democratic Party or PD [Pier Luigi BERSANI]<br />Left Ecology Freedom or SEL [Nichi VENDOLA]<br />Italian Socialist Party or PSI [Riccardo NENCINI]<br />Democratic Centre or CD [Bruno TABACCI and Massimo DONADI]<br />South Tyrolean People's Party or SVP [Luis DURNWALDER]<br /><br /><strong>With Monti for Italy (Centrist):</strong><br />Civic Choice or SC [Mario MONTI]<br />Union of the Center or UdC [Pier Ferdinando CASINI]<br />Future and Freedom for Italy or FLI [Gianfranco FINI]<br /><br /><strong>other coalitions and parties:</strong><br />Civil Revolution or RC [Antonio INGROIA]<br />Act to Stop the Decline or FiD [Oscar GIANNINO]<br />Five Star Movment or M5S [Beppe GRILLO]
Political pressure groups and leaders <strong>other: </strong>business groups, environmental groups, social groups, trade unions manufacturers and merchants associations - Confcommercio; Confindustria<br />organized farm groups - Confcoltivatori; Confagricoltura; Roman Catholic Church<br />three major trade union confederations - Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL [Susanna CAMUSSO] which is left wing; Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Raffaele BONANNI], which is Roman Catholic centrist; Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi ANGELETTI] which is lay centrist
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory 18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25)
International organization participation ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Country name > Conventional long form Commonwealth of Australia Italian Republic
Executive branch > Elections the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by parliament
National symbol(s) Southern Cross constellation (five, seven-pointed stars); kangaroo; emu white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia)
Flag description blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small, five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days 2.5
Ranked 183th.
6
Ranked 161st. 2 times more than Australia

Country name > Conventional short form Australia Italy
Constitutional form Constitutional monarchy Republic
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica; Australia's 2004 submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) extends its continental margins over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent beyond its claimed exclusive economic zone; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa
Total businesses registered > Number 3.16 million
Ranked 6th.
5.9 million
Ranked 3rd. 87% more than Australia

National anthem <strong>name: </strong>"Advance Australia Fair"<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Peter Dodds McCORMICK <strong>name: </strong>"Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO
FAX 61 39
Legislative branch > Elections Senate - last held on 7 September 2013; House of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2013 (the latest a simultaneous half-Senate and House of Representative elections can be held is 30 November 2016) Senate - last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
Legislative branch > Election results Senate NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Liberal/National Coalition 53.45%, Australian Labor Party 46.55%; seats by party - Liberal/National Coalition 90 (Liberal 58, Liberal National 22, Nationals 9, Country Liberals 1), Australian Labor Party 55, Australian Greens Party 1, Katter's Australian Party 1, Palmer United Party 1, independents 2 Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Pier Luigi BERSANI coalition 123 (PD 111, SEL 7, SVP 2, other 3), Silvio BERLUSCONI coalition 117 (PdL 98, LN 18, other 1), M5S 54, Mario MONTI coalition 19, other 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Pier Luigi BERSANI coalition 345 (PD 297, SEL 37, CD 6 SVP 5), Silvio BERLUSCONI coalition 125 (PdL 98, LN 18, FdI 9), M5S 109, Mario MONTI coalition 47, other 4
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index 15.24
Ranked 16th.
26.11
Ranked 6th. 71% more than Australia
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage 24.67%
Ranked 50th. 15% more than Italy
21.43%
Ranked 73th.

Independence 1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies) 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts subordinate courts at the federal level: Federal Court; Federal Magistrates' Courts of Australia; Family Court; subordinate courts at the state and territory level: Local Court - New South Wales; Magistrates' Courts – Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory; District Courts – New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia; County Court – Victoria; Family Court – Western Australia; Court of Petty Sessions – Norfolk Island various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals, courts, and courts of appeal)
Basis of executive legitimacy Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press 21
Ranked 163th.
33
Ranked 125th. 57% more than Australia
Corruption > Bribe Payers Index 8.5
Ranked 7th. 15% more than Italy
7.4
Ranked 16th.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament 24.7%
Ranked 35th. 43% more than Italy
17.3%
Ranked 69th.

Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 3
Ranked 174th.
6
Ranked 114th. Twice as much as Australia

Democracy > Civil and political liberties 6
Ranked 9th. 9% more than Italy
5.5
Ranked 29th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ 119.87 billion$
Ranked 11th.
357.61 billion$
Ranked 4th. 3 times more than Australia

National holiday Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915) Republic Day, 2 June
Capital > Geographic coordinates 35 16 S, 149 08 E 41 54 N, 12 29 E
Democracy > First female parliamentarian 1943 (elected) 1946 (elected)
Time required to start a business > Days 2 days
Ranked 170th.
13 days
Ranked 150th. 7 times more than Australia

Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment 0.994
Ranked 47th.
0.995
Ranked 51st. About the same as Australia

Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70 Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president, to serve NA terms; Constitutional Court judges - 5 appointed by the president, 5 elected by parliament, 5 elected by select higher courts; judges serve up to 9 years)
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index 9.22
Ranked 6th. 19% more than Italy
7.74
Ranked 25th.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient 5.3
Ranked 10th. 29% more than Italy
4.1
Ranked 71st.

Red tape > Time required to register property > Days 4.5
Ranked 174th.
16
Ranked 145th. 4 times more than Australia

Politics Tony Abbott&#039;s conservative Liberal-National coalition swept into office in elections in September 2013 Two months after the 2013 elections left a stalemated parliament, a grand coalition was formed under Enrico Letta
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Parliament > Seats held by men 113
Ranked 86th.
495
Ranked 4th. 4 times more than Australia

Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years 1
Ranked 163th.
1.8
Ranked 131st. 80% more than Australia

Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 0.132
Ranked 161st. 34% more than Italy
0.0985
Ranked 167th.

Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone [61] (02) 6214-5600 [39] (06) 46741
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery None None
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Kim Christian BEAZLEY (since 7 February 2010) Ambassador Claudio BISOGNIERO (since 13 January 2012)
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission Ambassador John BERRY (since 25 September 2013) Ambassador John R. PHILLIPS (since 16 August 2013)
Parliament > Seats held by women 37
Ranked 64th.
135
Ranked 13th. 4 times more than Australia

Democracy > Democratic institutions rating 10
Ranked 23th. The same as Italy
10
Ranked 21st.
UN membership date 1 Nov. 1945 14 Dec. 1955
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people 0.406
Ranked 22nd. 3 times more than Italy
0.127
Ranked 28th.
Total businesses registered > Number per 1000 158.93
Ranked 3rd. 55% more than Italy
102.51
Ranked 6th.

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 11
Ranked 152nd. The same as Italy
11
Ranked 151st.

Capital city Canberra Rome
Capital > Name Canberra Rome
Legal origin <a href=/encyclopedia/England>English</a> <a href=/country/fr>French</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita 5,965.83$ per capita
Ranked 16th.
6,101.91$ per capita
Ranked 13th. 2% more than Australia

Spending > Expense > Current LCU 287.94 billion
Ranked 40th.
631.13 billion
Ranked 29th. 2 times more than Australia

Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days 75
Ranked 111th.
124
Ranked 56th. 65% more than Australia

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout 94.9%
Ranked 3rd. 17% more than Italy
81.4%
Ranked 36th.
Legislature (parliament) > People per member 97,044
Ranked 35th. 53% more than Italy
63,411
Ranked 52nd.
Democracy and rights > Year women first voted at national level 1902 1946
Capital > Time difference UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
International relations Australia is a regional policeman; further afield, its troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan Italian forces have been active in peacekeeping in the Balkans, Africa and Middle East, and are present in Afghanistan
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million 3.31
Ranked 145th. 62% more than Italy
2.04
Ranked 159th.

Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members 150
Ranked 63th.
630
Ranked 5th. 4 times more than Australia
Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members 76
Ranked 29th.
315
Ranked 3rd. 4 times more than Australia
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days 395
Ranked 156th.
1,185
Ranked 17th. 3 times more than Australia

Democracy > Female parliamentarians 26.5%
Ranked 14th. 3 times more than Italy
9.1%
Ranked 102nd.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number 5
Ranked 127th. 25% more than Italy
4
Ranked 158th.

Role of head of state Ceremonial Ceremonial
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita 5,955.33$
Ranked 16th.
6,101.91$
Ranked 13th. 2% more than Australia

Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 2
Ranked 169th.
9
Ranked 93th. 5 times more than Australia

Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong 9
Ranked 17th. 3 times more than Italy
3
Ranked 143th.

Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million 0.234
Ranked 90th. 3 times more than Italy
0.0673
Ranked 121st.

Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU 29.57 billion
Ranked 48th.
97.33 billion
Ranked 31st. 3 times more than Australia

Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU 201.9 billion
Ranked 31st.
411.71 billion
Ranked 22nd. 2 times more than Australia

Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for upper house members 6
Ranked 20th. 20% more than Italy
5
Ranked 39th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP 0.183$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 55th.
0.203$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 31st. 11% more than Australia

Parliament > Seats held by women per million people 1.66
Ranked 127th.
2.2
Ranked 121st. 32% more than Australia

Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment February 15, 1960 August 31, 1959
Democracy > Female suffrage "1902 ,1962" 1945
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days 112
Ranked 133th.
233.5
Ranked 35th. 2 times more than Australia

Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Syrian National Council Informal relations Rejection of Assad government Informal relations Verbal support Rejection of Assad government
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million 0.11
Ranked 178th. 12% more than Italy
0.0985
Ranked 182nd.

Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 1.23
Ranked 147th. 2 times more than Italy
0.607
Ranked 165th.

Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million 0.198
Ranked 172nd.
0.41
Ranked 161st. 2 times more than Australia

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 0.485
Ranked 142nd. 3 times more than Italy
0.181
Ranked 167th.

Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million 4.94
Ranked 145th. 29% more than Italy
3.83
Ranked 155th.

Capital > Daylight saving time +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Total businesses registered > Number > Per capita 159.11 per 1,000 people
Ranked 4th. 55% more than Italy
102.51 per 1,000 people
Ranked 6th.

Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU 10.21 billion
Ranked 47th.
75.59 billion
Ranked 18th. 7 times more than Australia

Democracy and rights > Major left wing party Australian Labor Party Democratic Party
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador Beazley, Kim Kim Beazley Bisogniero, Claudio Claudio Bisogniero
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita 4,126.37 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 18th. 9% more than Italy
3,794.89 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 14th.

Time required to build a warehouse > Days 140 days
Ranked 123th.
284 days
Ranked 27th. 2 times more than Australia

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population 14.04 million
Ranked 36th.
47.33 million
Ranked 12th. 3 times more than Australia
Failed States Index 25.4
Ranked 24th.
44.6
Ranked 7th. 76% more than Australia
Democracy > Female candidacy 1,902
Ranked 160th.
1,945
Ranked 101st. 2% more than Australia
Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita 0.797 per 1,000 people
Ranked 8th. 6 times more than Italy
0.143 per 1,000 people
Ranked 43th.

Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000 0.795
Ranked 8th. 6 times more than Italy
0.143
Ranked 44th.

Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment February 13, 1992 January 17, 1992
National anthem > Name "Advance Australia Fair" "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)
Executive branch > A note <a href=/cat/Government>government</a> coalition - <a href=/encyclopedia/The-Liberal-Party-(UK)><a href=/encyclopedia/The-Liberal-Party-(UK)>Liberal Party</a></a> and National Party a five-party <a href=/cat/Government>government</a> coalition includes Forza Italia, National Alliance, <a href=/kp/Northern>Northern</a> League, <a href=/encyclopedia/United-States-Democratic-Party><a href=/encyclopedia/United-States-Democratic-Party>Democratic</a></a> <a href=/kp/Christian>Christian</a> Center, United <a href=/kp/Christian>Christian</a> <a href=/encyclopedia/United-States-Democratic-Party>Democrats</a>
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote 12.05 million
Ranked 27th.
40.2 million
Ranked 9th. 3 times more than Australia
Democracy > Compulsory voting > Penalty "Explanation, Fine " (-) other (-)
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration 12.71 million
Ranked 34th.
49.36 million
Ranked 12th. 4 times more than Australia
Time required to enforce a contract > Days 181 days
Ranked 165th.
1,210 days
Ranked 10th. 7 times more than Australia

Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita 0.097 per 1 million people
Ranked 156th.
0.154 per 1 million people
Ranked 146th. 59% more than Australia

Democracy and rights > Electoral system Lower House AV; Upper House PR (STV) PR (MMP)
Procedures to register property > Number 5
Ranked 121st.
8
Ranked 37th. 60% more than Australia

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 17
Ranked 87th. The same as Italy
17
Ranked 84th.

Democracy and rights > Party system Two Multi
Democracy and rights > Structure Parliamentary Parliamentary
Democracy > Secret ballot > Date of introduction 1856 1861
FAX > Consulate(s) general Perth, Sydney Milan, Naples
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 0.0966
Ranked 156th.
0.153
Ranked 145th. 58% more than Australia

Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 19
Ranked 161st.
40
Ranked 54th. 2 times more than Australia

Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said that "the declaration overnight by Russian President Medvedev I don't believe is a helpful contribution. Indeed some may regard that as provocative. I don't think it helps circumstances in Georgia and I don't think it helps relationships generally between Russia and the rest of the world. Australia respects the territorial integrity of Georgia and our ongoing position is that we believe that Russia should abide by the ceasefire effected through the European Union and President Sarkozy and return its forces to the positions they occupied on August 6 and 7". Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said "The move does not apply in an international legal framework. An ethnic-based balkanisation of the Caucasus is a serious danger for all".
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo None
None
Democracy and rights > Major party notes Federally (and in New South Wales ) the Liberal Party of Australia is in coalition with the Nationals . Until 1992 the major party was the centrist Christian Democracy , which had been in government for five decades; the second one was the Italian Communist Party .
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament 226
Ranked 50th.
948
Ranked 3rd. 4 times more than Australia
Democracy and rights > Last election September 2013 February 2013
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 0.918
Ranked 135th. 35% more than Italy
0.679
Ranked 141st.

Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue 3.26%
Ranked 55th.
12.81%
Ranked 11th. 4 times more than Australia

Legislature (parliament) > Strongly bicameral? Yes Yes
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU 162993000000 287558000000
Democracy and rights > Next election January 2017 February 2018
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense 70.12%
Ranked 8th. 7% more than Italy
65.23%
Ranked 18th.

Leaders > Prime Minister > Summary Tony Abbott Enrico Letta led a grand coalition
Leaders > Prime Minister Tony Abbott Enrico Letta (resigned)
Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours 107 hours
Ranked 145th.
360 hours
Ranked 46th. 3 times more than Australia

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ 82.91 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 12th.
222.41 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 5th. 3 times more than Australia

Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita 0.244 per 1 million people
Ranked 123th. 78% more than Italy
0.137 per 1 million people
Ranked 139th.

Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita 0.926 per 1 million people
Ranked 136th. 36% more than Italy
0.683 per 1 million people
Ranked 142nd.

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes 4.8%
Ranked 26th.
7.2%
Ranked 17th. 50% more than Australia
National anthem > Note adopted 1984; although originally written in the late 19th century, the anthem did not become official until 1984; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom) adopted 1946; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli D'Italia" (Brothers of Italy)
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX [1] (202) 797-3168 [1] (202) 518-2154
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 28
Ranked 177th.
37
Ranked 108th. 32% more than Australia

Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.22
Ranked 136th. 3 times more than Italy
0.0821
Ranked 168th.

Capital city > Time difference UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Diplomatic representation from the US > Consulate(s) general Melbourne, Perth, Sydney Florence, Milan, Naples
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU 142998000000 241400500000
Trademarks > Residents > Per capita 1.85 per 1,000 people
Ranked 5th. 3 times more than Italy
0.693 per 1,000 people
Ranked 24th.

Spending > Other expense > Current LCU 18.82 billion
Ranked 32nd.
32.86 billion
Ranked 29th. 75% more than Australia

Time to resolve insolvency > Years 1 years
Ranked 142nd.
1.2 years
Ranked 133th. 20% more than Australia

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth 3.73%
Ranked 48th. 3 times more than Italy
1.16%
Ranked 86th.

Time required to register property > Days 5 days
Ranked 157th.
27 days
Ranked 121st. 5 times more than Australia

Leaders > Prime Minister > Profile <p>Tony Abbott&#039;s conservative Liberal-National coalition swept into office in elections in September 2013, ending six years of centre-left Labor Party rule.</p> <p>Oxford-educated Mr Abbott ran a disciplined campaign against a government in disarray after years of power struggles between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, who ousted one another in turn as prime minister. </p> <p>He was able to overcome his relatively low personal approval rating with policies aimed at reversing Labor&#039;s carbon emissions tax, curbing spending on foreign aid and cutting the numbers of asylum seekers. </p> <p>One key policy of the British-born Roman Catholic, who considered training for the priesthood, is a generous parental leave scheme, but this sits awkwardly with his pledge to cut public spending.</p> <p>After less than a year in the job, Enrico Letta resigned as prime minister in February 2014, after his Democratic Party (PD) voted in favour of an urgent change of government to push through reforms. </p> <p>President Giorgio Napolitano then asked PD leader and mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi, to form a new government.</p> <p>Mr Letta was named prime minister in April 2013 after inconclusive elections at a time when Italy was mired in recession. </p> <p>He forged a coalition with former premier Silvio Berlusconi&#039;s conservatives - an unusual alliance of bitter rivals - as well as centrists led by former prime minister Mario Monti.</p> <p>The creation of the coalition at first appeared to pave the way for yet another political comeback for Mr Berlusconi, who was forced to resign in 2011 as Italy slid deeper into the eurozone&#039;s sovereign debt crisis. </p> <p>Mr Letta&#039;s appointment of a protege of Mr Berlusconi, Angelino Alfano, as his deputy initially raised suspicions that the scandal-tainted billionaire tycoon would continue to call the shots from the sidelines.</p> <p>However, the former prime minister&#039;s accumulating criminal convictions cast a shadow over the future of the coalition, and the Supreme Court&#039;s upholding of a custodial sentence for Mr Berlusconi in the first of these cases in August 2013 caused further tremors within the government.</p> <p>Mr Berlusconi responded to moves to expel him from parliament and deprive him of his immunity from arrest by attempting to bring down the government. This move backfired when Mr Alfano refused to follow the instructions of his former mentor and formed his own breakaway centre-right faction.</p> <p>But even after having been finally flung out of parliament in November, Mr Berlusconi continued to insist that he would remain a force in Italian politics as the leader of Forza Italia - a party that still enjoys considerable electoral support.</p> <p>Mr Letta, aged 46 at the time of his inauguration, is a moderate with a reputation as a political bridge-builder.</p> <p>On taking office said he would act fast to reverse an austerity policy he argued was killing Italy and called on Europe to become a motor for growth.</p> <p>But tensions within his own party over the pace of reform and differences over economic policy came to a head after Matteo Renzi was elected leader of the PD in December 2013. Mr Renzi forced a showdown in which the PD backed his vision of a new government that could implement &quot;profound change&quot; and get Italy &quot;out of the quagmire&quot;. Mr Letta had no choice but to step down. </p>
Trademarks > Nonresidents 16,007
Ranked 8th. 97% more than Italy
8,135
Ranked 16th.

Foreign relations > Date of establishment of relations with China December 21, 1972 November 6, 1970
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone [1] (202) 797-3000 [1] (202) 612-4400
Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense 10.75%
Ranked 60th. 3 times more than Italy
3.82%
Ranked 85th.

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita 4,119.11 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 18th. 9% more than Italy
3,794.89 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 14th.

Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense 10.27%
Ranked 78th.
15.42%
Ranked 63th. 50% more than Australia

Spending > Interest payments > % of expense 3.55%
Ranked 55th.
11.98%
Ranked 12th. 3 times more than Australia

Spending > Other expense > % of expense 6.54%
Ranked 39th. 26% more than Italy
5.21%
Ranked 51st.

Trademarks > Residents per million 1,848.33
Ranked 5th. 3 times more than Italy
692.97
Ranked 25th.

Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.242
Ranked 122nd. 78% more than Italy
0.136
Ranked 139th.

Ruling party Liberal/National Democrat / NCD
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 0.821
Ranked 117th. 3 times more than Italy
0.288
Ranked 146th.

Spending > Expense > % of GDP 24.37%
Ranked 51st.
40.25%
Ranked 13th. 65% more than Australia

Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > % 26%
Ranked 51st.
31.4%
Ranked 34th. 21% more than Australia

Foreign relations > International recognition of the Syrian National Council notes On 20 January 2012, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd publicly rejected the Assad regime in a joint press conference with French foreign Minister Alan Juppe. "Our view in Australia is that Assad must go." On 24 January, Rudd met with UK foreign minister William Hague, and announced that he had met with Burhan Ghalioun, the President of the SNC, in the previous week. On 25 November Italian Foreign Minister, Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata reiterated Italy's support to "organised opposition" in the shape of SNC. On 11 December, Terzi met SNC's president Burhan Ghalioun and said Italy would intensify its contacts with SNC which grouped "an important segment" of the Syrian opposition .
Democracy and rights > Major right wing party Liberal Party of Australia Forza Italia
Democracy and rights > Active Labor party Australian Labor Party Democratic Labor Party Progressive Labor Party Labour Federation
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000 705.65
Ranked 44th.
821.68
Ranked 7th. 16% more than Australia
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members 3
Ranked 181st.
5
Ranked 74th. 67% more than Australia
Democracy and rights > Strongly federal? Yes No
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million 17.41
Ranked 150th.
19.45
Ranked 146th. 12% more than Australia

Democracy and rights > Strong judicial review? No No
Trademarks > Residents 37,202
Ranked 8th.
39,459
Ranked 11th. 6% more than Australia

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita 0.828 per 1 million people
Ranked 119th. 3 times more than Italy
0.29 per 1 million people
Ranked 146th.

Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU 30.95 billion
Ranked 40th. 28% more than Italy
24.09 billion
Ranked 44th.

Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX [61] (02) 6214-5970 [39] (06) 4674-2244
Parliament > Seats held by men per million people 5.08
Ranked 159th.
8.05
Ranked 129th. 59% more than Australia

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; Wikipedia: Bribe Payers Index; Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2000-2001, New York: Freedom House, 2001; 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.; Source: Millennium Development Goals Database | United Nations Statistics Division; Wikipedia: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Indicators) ("Democracy Index 2012" (PDF). The Economist. March 2013 . Retrieved 2013-03-21 .); World Economic Forum, Global Competiveness Report and data files.; British Broadcasting Corporation 2014; 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; Polity IV Project, University of Maryland, at Polity IV Project; United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook and Statistical Yearbook; Wikipedia: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Indicators) ("Democracy Index 2012" (PDF). The Economist. March 2013 . Retrieved 2013-03-21 .). 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 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: List of legislatures by number of members; Wikipedia: Women's suffrage (Summary); calculated on the basis of data on parliamentary seats from IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2002. Parline Database. March 2002; 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.; Wikipedia: Term of office (Terms of office by country); 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; Wikipedia: International recognition of the Syrian National Council (UN member states); Wikipedia: Major party (List of major parties); Wikipedia: List of ambassadors to the United States; Wikipedia: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Indicators) ("The Failed States Index 2013" . The Fund for Peace . July 2013 . Retrieved 2013-07-20 .); Wikipedia: Foreign relations of Croatia; CIA World Factbook, December 2003; How Democratic is the American Constitution? Robert A. Dahl.2001. ISBN 0-300-09218-0. Table 1.; Various sources compiled into Wikipedia's Secret ballot; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_recognition_of_Abkhazia_and_South_Ossetia#States_that_do_not_recognise_Abkhazia_or_South_Ossetia_as_independent; Wikipedia: International recognition of Kosovo (United Nations member states); Wikipedia: List of next general elections (Africa); http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dates_of_establishment_of_diplomatic_relations_with_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates.; Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (www.ipu.org); Wikipedia: List of Labour Parties (Active Labor parties); 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.; 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.

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