Government Stats: compare key data on Austria & Germany

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.
Civil law system: Description.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Executive branch > Elections: Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election
National symbol(s): A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
Flag description: A written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
Country name > Conventional short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
Constitutional form: Constitutional form of government.
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
Total businesses registered > Number: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward.
National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
Legislative branch > Election results: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
Legislative branch > Elections: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index: Compares countries by their degree of government censorship, according to the Press freedom index. This index, created by the non-governmental organization Reporters without borders (RWS), is ellaborated using data from an extensive annual survey sent to professional reporters throughout the world. The survey contains questions about the type and ownership of media present in the country, freedom of speech, violence exerted against reporters, election campaigns, access of political parties to the media, etc.
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage: Percentage of seats held by women in country's national parliament or legislative houses.
Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. "
Executive branch > Election results: Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election (if any)
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
Basis of executive legitimacy: Basis of executive legitimacy.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
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
Country name > Local short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press: Compares countries by freedom of the press. The lower the score, the more free the press of that country is. The scores are taken from the Freedom of the Press Index, elaborated by Freedom House, self-defined as "an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world". The data used in the index come from an annual survey of media independence in 197 countries and territories, assessing the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in each of them.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament: Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber occupied by women.
Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote: Percentage of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
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.
Leaders > President: Government > Leaders > President
Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
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.
Country name > Local long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency (years). Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Diplomatic representation 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 > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, 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 from the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Parliament > Seats held by women: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses.
Leaders > President > Summary: Government > Leaders > President > Summary
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel: Date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state. Note that some countries had a “de facto” recognition in place long before the legal recognition.
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) > Upper house members: Members of the upper house of the legislature. Does not include countries with a unicameral system.
Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members: Members of the lower house of the legislature or of the only chamber in a unicameral system.
Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state: Head(s) of state.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes: Notes and remarks about the date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
Democracy > Female parliamentarians: Seats in parliament held by women (as % of total). Data are as of 8 March 2002. Where there are lower and upper houses, data refer to the weighted average of women's shares of seats in both houses.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
Leaders > President > Profile: Government > Leaders > President > Profile
Role of head of state: Head of state.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote): This list shows the percentage of votes obtained by nationalist parties across Europe at the latest elections held in their respective countries. Note that the percentages show the votes from all the parties combined, and only for general elections (some parties may obtain a quite higher percentage in regional elections). Nationalist parties usually hold right-wing populist views, and among their common demands are a higher control of immigration, extended social/labor rights for country nationals, and a restriction of islamic customs -such as the veil or the construction of mosques-, though their ideologies and goals vary from country to country. Some parties have as their main goal the seggregation of a region from its parent country (with examples in Scotland, Catalonia and Northern Ireland). Most of nationalist parties with elected members in the European Parliament belong to the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group.
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."
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 > Votes for nationalist parties: Absolute number of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador: Name of ambassador to the USA.
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.
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state. Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.
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.
Failed States Index: FSI 2013.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age
Democracy > Female candidacy: Year in which women received the right to stand for election. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to stand for election.
Trademarks > Nonresidents per 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.
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.
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 > 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.
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.
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 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.
Key ministers > Defence: Minister of Defence, 2005
Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes: January 1, 2005
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 and rights > Democratic socialist party, years in power: Periods in which parties self-identifying as democratic socialist, social democratic or labour have formed or taken part in their national government.
Democracy and rights > Democratic socialist parties which have governed: Parties self-identifying as democratic socialist, social democratic or labour, which have formed or taken part in their national government at least once.
Council of EU > January–April 2004 > European party of leader: January 1, 2004
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).
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).
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Democracy and rights > Last election: Last election.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
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.
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."
Parliamentary republic adoption date: Date each country adopted the parliamentary republic form of government.
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.
Democracy and rights > Next election: Next election.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
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.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo: Date on which Kosovo was officially recognized as a state.
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."
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."
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.
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."
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.
Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
Republic establishment date: The date on which each country (or its precursor) changed its form of government to a republic. In a republic, the power resides in the country’s people, the government and legislature is elected and the country is ruled according to its laws.
Key ministers > Justice: Minister of Justice, 2005
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.
Key ministers > Interior: Minister of Interior, 2005
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes: January 1, 2007
Key ministers > Finance: Minister of Finance, 2005
Council of EU > 2003 > Country votes: January 1, 2003
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.
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.
Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader: January 1, 2005
Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader: January 1, 2007
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.
Council of EU > 2002 > Country leader: January 1, 2002
Council of EU > 2001 > Country leader: January 1, 2001
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."
Spending > Other expense > Current LCU: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
Council of EU > 2002 > European party of leader: January 1, 2002
Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
Trademarks > Residents per million: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Council of EU > 2001 > Country votes: January 1, 2001
Procedures to register property > Number per million: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth: Annual percentage growth of general government final consumption expenditure based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2000 U.S. dollars. General government final consumption expenditure (general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.
Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
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.
Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader: January 1, 2005
Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader: January 1, 2007
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.
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.
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.
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament: Number of members of the legislature (sum of members of all chambers of parliament where applicable).
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members: Members of the lower (or sole) house.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
European Union > Council of the European Union votes: Number of votes each member state of the European Union has in the Council of the European Union.
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.
Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes: January 1, 2006
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.
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.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes: The number of invalid votes, as reported by each country.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Capital city > Time difference: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > %: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%). Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber held by women.
Spending > 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.
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.

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STAT	Austria	Germany
Administrative divisions	9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)	16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen (Hesse), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia)(Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat)
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	48	52 31 N, 13 24 E
Capital city > Name	Vienna	Berlin
Constitution	several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934 (authoritarian-corporate constitution), replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation; latest reinstated 1 May 1945 (1920 constitution with 1929	previous 1919 (Weimar Constitution); latest drafted 10 to 23 August 1948, approved 12 May 1949, promulgated 23 May 1949, entered into force 24 May 1949; amended many times, last in 2012
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address	use embassy street address	Unit 5090, Box 1000, DPO AE09265
Executive branch > Cabinet	Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor	Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor
Executive branch > Chief of state	President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004)	President Joachim GAUCK (since 23 March 2012)
Executive branch > Head of government	Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Michael SPINDELEGGER (OeVP) (since 21 April 2011)	Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)
Government type	federal republic	federal republic
Judicial branch	Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof	Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat); Federal Court of Justice; Federal Administrative Court
Legal system	civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court	civil law system
Legislative branch	bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat	bicameral legislature consists of the Federal Council or Bundesrat
Political parties and leaders	Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Josef BUCHER]<br />Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Michael SPINDELEGGER]<br />Communist Party of Austria or KPOe [Mirko MESSNER]<br />Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]<br />The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG]<br />NEOS - The New Austria [Matthias STROLZ]<br />Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]<br />"Team Stronach for Austria" [Frank STRONACH]	Alliance '90/Greens [Cem OEZDEMIR]<br />Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]<br />Christian Social Union or CSU [Horst SEEHOFER]<br />Free Democratic Party or FDP [Philipp ROESLER]<br />Left Party or Die Linke [Katia KIPPING and Bernd RIEXINGER]<br />Social Democratic Party or SPD [Sigmar GABRIEL]
Political pressure groups and leaders	Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic)<br />Federal Economic Chamber<br />Labor Chamber or AK (Social Democratic-leaning think tank)<br />OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV<br />Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action<br /><strong>other:</strong> three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment organizations in the areas of environment and human rights	business associations and employers' organizations<br />trade unions; religious, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups
Suffrage	16 years of age; universal	18 years of age; universal
International organization participation	ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC	ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, 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), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Country name > Conventional long form	Republic of Austria	Federal Republic of Germany
Civil law system	The Allgemeines b\u00fcrgerliches Gesetzbuch (ABGB) of 1811	The B\u00fcrgerliches Gesetzbuch of 1900 ("BGB"). The BGB is influenced both by Roman and German law traditions.
Executive branch > Elections	president elected for a six-year term (eligible for a second term) by direct popular vote and formally sworn into office before the Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung; presidential election last held on 25 April 2010 (next to be held on 25 April 2016); chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor	president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) by a Federal Convention, including all members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; election last held on 19 February 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Parliament for a four-year term; Federal Parliament vote for Chancellor last held after 22 September 2013 (next to be held September 2017)
National symbol(s)	golden eagle	golden eagle
Flag description	three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red; the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner	three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold; these colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days	25 Ranked 59th. 72% more than Germany	14.5 Ranked 103th.
Country name > Conventional short form	Austria	Germany
Constitutional form	Republic	Republic
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International	none	none
Total businesses registered > Number	161,732 Ranked 37th.	2.92 million Ranked 8th. 18 times more than Austria
National anthem	<strong>name: </strong>"Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed)	<strong>name: </strong>"Das Lied der Deutschen" (Song of the Germans)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> August Heinrich HOFFMANN VON FALLERSLEBEN/Franz Joseph HAYDN
FAX	43	49
Legislative branch > Election results	National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 27.1%, OeVP 23.8%, FPOe 21.4%, Greens 11.5%, Team Stronach for Austria 5.8%, NEOS - The New Austria 4.8%, other 5.6%; seats by party - SPOe 53, OeVP 46, FPOe 42, Greens 22; Team Stronach for Austria 11, NEOS - The New Austria 9	Bundestag - percent of vote by party - CDU/CSU 41.5%, SPD 25.7%, Left 8.6%, Greens 8.4%, FDP 4.8%, other 11%; seats by party - CDU/CSU 311, SPD 192, Left 64, Greens 63
Legislative branch > Elections	National Council - last held on 29 September 2013 (next to be held by September 2018)	Bundestag - last held on 22 September 2013 (next to be held no later than autumn 2017); most all postwar German governments have been coalitions
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index	9.4 Ranked 25th.	10.24 Ranked 21st. 9% more than Austria
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage	27.87% Ranked 37th.	32.9% Ranked 26th. 18% more than Austria
Independence	12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed)	18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)
Executive branch > Election results	Heinz FISCHER reelected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER 79.33%, Barbara ROSENKRANZ 15.24%, Rudolf GEHRING 5.43%	Joachim GAUCK elected president; received 991 votes of the Federal Convention against 126 for Beate KLARSFELD and 3 for Olaf ROSE; Angela MERKEL reelected chancellor; vote by Federal Parliament 323 to 285 with four abstentions
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts	Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); district courts (120); county courts	Federal Administrative Court; Federal Finance Court; Federal Labor Court; Federal Social Court; each of the 16 German states or Land has its own constitutional court and a hierarchy of ordinary (civil, criminal, family) and specialized (administrative, finance, labor, social) courts
Basis of executive legitimacy	Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence	Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs	transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs	source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs; major financial center
Country name > Local short form	Oesterreich	Deutschland
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press	21 Ranked 159th. 24% more than Germany	17 Ranked 174th.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament	32.2% Ranked 15th. 1% more than Germany	31.8% Ranked 17th.
Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy	Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna	Clayallee 170, 14191 Berlin
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number	8 Ranked 60th.	9 Ranked 39th. 13% more than Austria
Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote	20.5% Ranked 1st. 14 times more than Germany	1.5% Ranked 3rd.
Democracy > Civil and political liberties	6 Ranked 4th. 9% more than Germany	5.5 Ranked 17th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$	54.31 billion$ Ranked 19th.	518.82 billion$ Ranked 1st. 10 times more than Austria
National holiday	National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality	Unity Day, 3 October
Capital > Geographic coordinates	48 12 N, 16 22 E	52 31 N, 13 24 E
Democracy > First female parliamentarian	1919 (elected)	1919 (elected)
Time required to start a business > Days	29 days Ranked 106th. 21% more than Germany	24 days Ranked 118th.
Leaders > President	Heinz Fischer	Joachim Gauck
Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment	0.998 Ranked 33th.	1 Ranked 25th. About the same as Austria
Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office	Supreme Court judges nominated by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges nominated by several executive branch departments and approved by the president; judges serve for life; Administrative Court judges recommended by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; terms of judges and members determined by the president	Federal Court of Justice judges selected by the Judges Election Committee, which consists of the Secretaries of Justice from each of the 16 federated States and 16 members appointed by the Federal Parliament; judges appointed by the president of Germany; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; Federal Constitutional Court judges - one-half elected by the House of Representatives and one-half by the Senate; judges appointed for 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 68
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index	8.62 Ranked 12th. 3% more than Germany	8.34 Ranked 14th.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient	5.1 Ranked 16th. 4% more than Germany	4.9 Ranked 24th.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days	20.5 Ranked 131st.	40 Ranked 82nd. 95% more than Austria
Politics	Under the "grand coalition" tradition, the centre-left SPOe and conservative People's Party have shared power for much of the post-World War II period	Angela Merkel of the conservative Christian Democrats won a third term as chancellor in 2013
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Parliament > Seats held by men	132 Ranked 73th.	416 Ranked 13th. 3 times more than Austria
Country name > Local long form	Republik Oesterreich	Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years	1.1 Ranked 154th.	1.2 Ranked 153th. 9% more than Austria
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million	0.945 Ranked 86th. 9 times more than Germany	0.11 Ranked 163th.
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone	[43] (1) 31339-0	[49] (30) 48305-0
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission	Ambassador Hans Peter MANZ (since 2 December 2011)	Ambassador Niels Peter Georg AMMON (since 9 August 2011)
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery	None	None
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission	Ambassador Alexa L. WESNER (since 6 September 2013)	Ambassador John B. EMERSON (since 7 August 2013)
Parliament > Seats held by women	51 Ranked 49th.	204 Ranked 3rd. 4 times more than Austria
Leaders > President > Summary	President Heinz Fischer is a former science minister	President Joachim Gauck
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel	None	None
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating	10 Ranked 7th. The same as Germany	10 Ranked 2nd.
UN membership date	14 Dec. 1955	18 Sep. 1973
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people	1.02 Ranked 13th. 10 times more than Germany	0.102 Ranked 30th.
Total businesses registered > Number per 1000	19.91 Ranked 41st.	35.32 Ranked 34th. 77% more than Austria
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number	13 Ranked 102nd. 44% more than Germany	9 Ranked 163th.
Capital city	Vienna	Berlin
Capital > Name	Vienna	Berlin
Legal origin	<a href=/country/gm>German</a>	<a href=/country/gm>German</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita	6,596.58$ per capita Ranked 11th. 5% more than Germany	6,291.01$ per capita Ranked 12th.
Spending > Expense > Current LCU	108.3 billion Ranked 53th.	717.25 billion Ranked 25th. 7 times more than Austria
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days	23 Ranked 184th. 35% more than Germany	17 Ranked 188th.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout	80.4% Ranked 42nd. 2% more than Germany	79.1% Ranked 45th.
Legislature (parliament) > People per member	34,103 Ranked 77th.	118,671 Ranked 23th. 3 times more than Austria
Democracy and rights > Year women first voted at national level	1919	1918
Capital > Time difference	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
International relations	Permanent neutrality is a cornerstone of foreign policy. Vienna is home to key international organisations	Germany is a major player in Europe and a proponent of European integration. It is the third biggest troop supplier in Afghanistan
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million	2.72 Ranked 150th. 13 times more than Germany	0.208 Ranked 185th.
Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members	62 Ranked 36th.	69 Ranked 34th. 11% more than Austria
Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members	183 Ranked 52nd.	622 Ranked 6th. 3 times more than Austria
Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state	6 Ranked 18th. 20% more than Germany	5 Ranked 35th.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes	author=Government of Austria\|title=Bilateral Relations\|url= http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/embassy/tel-aviv/bilateral-relations.html\|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs\|accessdate=2011-10-16}}</ref>	Date full diplomatic relations established. Prior to this, Germany signed the Reparations agreement with Israel.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days	397 Ranked 153th. 1% more than Germany	394 Ranked 158th.
Democracy > Female parliamentarians	25.1% Ranked 19th.	31% Ranked 8th. 24% more than Austria
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number	3 Ranked 165th.	5 Ranked 103th. 67% more than Austria
Leaders > President > Profile	<p>Heinz Fischer, a centrist politician committed to the welfare state and Austrian neutrality, was elected to the largely ceremonial presidency in April 2004 and again 2010. </p> <p>In the 2010 poll he warded off a challenge by Barbara Rosenkranz of the anti-foreigner and anti-European Union Freedom. </p> <p>He has spent most of his life in politics. After graduating with a law degree from the University of Vienna in 1961, he took a position in the Social Democratic Party (SPO), entering parliament as a deputy in 1971 and staying on until 2004. </p> <p>During this time, he served as science and research minister between 1983 and 1987, before being elected parliamentary president in 1990. He was re-elected three times. </p> <p>Between 1992 and 2004, he was also a vice-president of the European Socialist Party. </p> <p>Once in office, he officially renounced any party membership to become independent. </p>	<p>Joachim Gauck, a human-rights campaigner and former East German dissident, became president in March 2012. </p> <p>The opposition Social Democrats and Greens nominated him after the resignation of President Christian Wulff in February over a housing loan scandal, and the governing centre-right coaltion parties agreed to support him. </p> <p>Mr Gauck stood for the largely ceremonial presidency in 2010, losing to the government's preferred candidate Mr Wulff. </p> <p>Mr Gauck, like the Christian Democrat chancellor, Angela Merkel, has a background in the Lutheran Church in East Germany - he was a pastor there, as was Mrs Merkel's father. </p> <p>An active anti-Communist from an early age whose father was exiled to a Soviet forced-labour camp for several years, Mr Gauck was a leader of the opposition New Forum in the last days of the East German dictatorship. </p> <p>He served in the first and last democratic East German parliament, which put him in charge of investigating the archives of the Stasi secret police. </p> <p>He continued this task after the reunification of Germany, earning the admiration of all but diehard Communists for his work in exposing the crimes of the Communist era. </p> <p>Mr Gauck describes himself as a "liberal left conservative", and has expressed support for the policies of both Social-Democrat and Christian-Democrat coalition governments on a non-partisan basis. </p> <p>In recent years he has concentrated on campaigning against both left and right extremist threats to Germany's democratic system. </p> <p>Born in Rostock in 1940, Mr Gauck has four children by his wife, from whom he is separated. His partner since 2000 is the journalist Daniela Schadt, who will take on the ceremonial duties of First Lady. </p>
Role of head of state	Ceremonial	Ceremonial
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita	6,600.97$ Ranked 11th. 5% more than Germany	6,291.01$ Ranked 12th.
Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote)	20.5% Ranked 1st. 14 times more than Germany	1.5% Ranked 3rd.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number	9 Ranked 85th. The same as Germany	9 Ranked 82nd.
Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong	7 Ranked 49th. The same as Germany	7 Ranked 41st.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million	0.603 Ranked 57th. 10 times more than Germany	0.0598 Ranked 124th.
Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU	14.16 billion Ranked 58th.	39.56 billion Ranked 43th. 3 times more than Austria
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU	75.75 billion Ranked 45th.	581.96 billion Ranked 16th. 8 times more than Austria
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP	0.177$ per $1 of GDP Ranked 51st.	0.186$ per $1 of GDP Ranked 43th. 5% more than Austria
Parliament > Seats held by women per million people	6.2 Ranked 57th. 2 times more than Germany	2.51 Ranked 111th.
Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment	August 15, 1959	April 4, 1958
Democracy > Female suffrage	1918	1918
Political pressure groups and leaders > Other	three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment organizations in the areas of environment and human rights	business associations and employers' organizations; religious, trade unions, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days	194 Ranked 51st. Twice as much as Germany	97 Ranked 149th.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Syrian National Council	Informal relations Rejection of Assad government	Verbal support Rejection of Assad government Informal relations
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million	2.95 Ranked 76th. 17 times more than Germany	0.177 Ranked 169th.
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million	2.95 Ranked 116th. 8 times more than Germany	0.366 Ranked 176th.
Constitution codification > Date	1920	1949
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million	2.42 Ranked 108th. 5 times more than Germany	0.488 Ranked 152nd.
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million	1.54 Ranked 102nd. 14 times more than Germany	0.11 Ranked 173th.
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million	22.92 Ranked 85th. 19 times more than Germany	1.18 Ranked 175th.
Capital > Daylight saving time	+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October	+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Total businesses registered > Number > Per capita	19.92 per 1,000 people Ranked 42nd.	35.32 per 1,000 people Ranked 34th. 77% more than Austria
Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU	6.93 billion Ranked 50th.	41.34 billion Ranked 27th. 6 times more than Austria
Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties	962,313 Ranked 5th. 51% more than Germany	635,525 Ranked 10th.
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador	Prosl, Christian Christian Prosl	Ammon, Peter Peter Ammon
Democracy and rights > Major left wing party	Social Democratic Party	Social Democratic Party
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people	0.064 Ranked 43th.	0.0694 Ranked 42nd. 8% more than Austria
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons	542 Ranked 44th.	5,683 Ranked 22nd. 10 times more than Austria
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita	4,503.32 constant 2000 US$ per c Ranked 12th. 2% more than Germany	4,402.8 constant 2000 US$ per c Ranked 13th.
Time required to build a warehouse > Days	195 days Ranked 77th. 47% more than Germany	133 days Ranked 128th.
Failed States Index	26.9 Ranked 22nd.	29.7 Ranked 20th. 10% more than Austria
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population	6.46 million Ranked 60th.	66.31 million Ranked 8th. 10 times more than Austria
Democracy > Female candidacy	1,918 Ranked 147th. The same as Germany	1,918 Ranked 145th.
Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000	0.128 Ranked 28th. 3 times more than Germany	0.0405 Ranked 46th.
Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita	0.128 per 1,000 people Ranked 28th. 3 times more than Germany	0.041 per 1,000 people Ranked 45th.
Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment	January 15, 1992	January 15, 1992
National anthem > Name	"Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn)	"Lied der Deutschen" (Song of the Germans)
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Votes	10 Ranked 13th.	29 Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Austria
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote	4.7 million Ranked 50th.	48.58 million Ranked 8th. 10 times more than Austria
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration	5.84 million Ranked 56th.	61.43 million Ranked 9th. 11 times more than Austria
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita	1.09 per 1 million people Ranked 84th. 10 times more than Germany	0.109 per 1 million people Ranked 154th.
Time required to enforce a contract > Days	342 days Ranked 125th.	394 days Ranked 113th. 15% more than Austria
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Democracy and rights > Electoral system	PR (list)	PR (MMP)
Procedures to register property > Number	3 Ranked 146th.	4 Ranked 127th. 33% more than Austria
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number	14 Ranked 118th. 27% more than Germany	11 Ranked 149th.
Key ministers > Defence	Gunther Platter (OVP)	Peter Struck (<a href=/encyclopedia/Social-Democratic-Party-of-Germany>SPD</a>)
Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes	10 Ranked 13th.	29 Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Austria
Democracy and rights > Party system	Multi	Multi
Democracy and rights > Structure	Parliamentary	Parliamentary
Democracy and rights > Democratic socialist party, years in power	1919-1920, 1945-1966, 1971-2000, 2006-present	1969-1982, 1998-2005, 2005-2009 (coalition)
Democracy and rights > Democratic socialist parties which have governed	Social Democratic Party of Austria	Social Democratic Party of Germany
Council of EU > January–April 2004 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Parties in the European Council during 1999 > Leaders > January 1 > 1999 > Votes	4 Ranked 10th.	10 Ranked 3rd. 3 times more than Austria
Democracy and rights > Strong judicial review?	No	Yes
Democracy and rights > Strongly federal?	Yes	Yes
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general	Chicago, Los Angeles, New York	Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Votes	10 Ranked 13th.	29 Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Austria
Democracy and rights > Last election	September 2013	September 2013
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million	1.09 Ranked 82nd. 10 times more than Germany	0.109 Ranked 154th.
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number	23 Ranked 140th.	30 Ranked 98th. 30% more than Austria
Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue	6.54% Ranked 37th. 13% more than Germany	5.81% Ranked 39th.
Parliamentary republic adoption date	1955	1949
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million	2.78 Ranked 96th. 8 times more than Germany	0.364 Ranked 153th.
Democracy and rights > Next election	September 2018	September 2017
Foreign relations > International recognition of the Syrian National Council notes	Vice Chancellor and Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Spindelegger met with SNC President Burhan Ghalioun on 9 December 2011. In a statement regarding the meeting, Spindelegger stated, "A regime that cracks down against its own people with inhumane violence has lost all its legitimacy. With his recent statements, President Assad has proven again that he is either a ruthless cynic or that he lives in a grotesque world of illusion. He must step down immediately, to finally allow for a peaceful transition to a new leadership\u201c.	In a 6 August 2011 interview, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle remarked that "I don't believe that Assad has a political future ahead of him which is supported by the Syrian people". The German foreign ministry is reportedly in talks with the Syrian opposition. In November 2011, a Syrian National Council delegation met with Westerwelle and other high level foreign policy decision makers to brief them on developments in Syria. Westerwelle said "we cannot remain quiet to the human rights violations in Syria.\u201d He then lauded the efforts of the National Council and discussed future cooperation with the SNC regarding the transition phase to democracy.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo	None	None
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense	69.94% Ranked 10th.	81.14% Ranked 1st. 16% more than Austria
Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense	13.07% Ranked 70th. 2 times more than Germany	5.52% Ranked 87th.
Legislature (parliament) > Strongly bicameral?	No	Yes
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU	43672000000	417180000000
Spending > Expense > % of GDP	38.42% Ranked 15th. 34% more than Germany	28.74% Ranked 46th.
Council of Europe > Date joined	4/16/1956	7/13/1950
Parties in the European Council during 2006 > Leaders > January 1 > 2006 > Votes	10 Ranked 12th.	29 Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Austria
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Leader	Wolfgang SchÃ‡Â¬ssel	Gerhard SchrÃ‡Ã´der
Parties in the European Council during 2002 > Leaders > January 1 > 2002 > Votes	4 Ranked 10th.	10 Ranked 3rd. 3 times more than Austria
Parties in the European Council during 2001 > Leaders > January 1 > 2001 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > National party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria">SPÃ‡?</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Democratic_Union_%28Germany%29">CDU</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > National party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria">SPÃ‡?</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Democratic_Union_%28Germany%29">CDU</a>
Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours	272 hours Ranked 68th. 3 times more than Germany	105 hours Ranked 146th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$	37.08 billion constant 2000 US$ Ranked 18th.	363.1 billion constant 2000 US$ Ranked 1st. 10 times more than Austria
Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita	0.364 per 1 million people Ranked 111th. 7 times more than Germany	0.049 per 1 million people Ranked 155th.
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita	2.79 per 1 million people Ranked 97th. 8 times more than Germany	0.364 per 1 million people Ranked 154th.
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2007 > Leaders > January 1 > 2007 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU	6.65 billion Ranked 59th.	36.2 billion Ranked 38th. 5 times more than Austria
Republic establishment date	November 12, 1918	November 9, 1918
Parties in the European Council during 2009 > Leaders > January 1 > 2009 > Leader	Werner Faymann	Angela Merkel
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > Votes	10 Ranked 13th.	29 Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Austria
Parties in the European Council during 2000 > Leaders > January 1 > 2000 > Leader	Viktor Klima	Gerhard SchrÃ‡Ã´der
Parties in the European Council between January and April 2004 > Leaders > January 1 > 2004 > Leader	Wolfgang SchÃ‡Â¬ssel	Gerhard SchrÃ‡Ã´der
Key ministers > Justice	Karin Gastinger (BZO)	Brigitte Zypries (<a href=/encyclopedia/Social-Democratic-Party-of-Germany>SPD</a>)
Parties in the European Council during 1999 > Leaders > January 1 > 1999 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
National anthem > Note	adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land on the River); Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which had been appropriated by Germany in 1922 and was now associated with the Nazi regime	adopted 1922, restored 1990; the anthem, also known as "Deutschlandlied" (Song of Germany), was abolished in 1945 because of the Nazi's use of the first verse, specifically the phrase, "Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles" (Germany, Germany above all) to promote nationalism; since restoration in 1990, only the third verse is sung
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number	25 Ranked 185th.	30 Ranked 164th. 20% more than Austria
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million	0.355 Ranked 115th. 6 times more than Germany	0.0611 Ranked 172nd.
Key ministers > Interior	Liese Prokop (OVP)	Otto Schily (<a href=/encyclopedia/Social-Democratic-Party-of-Germany>SPD</a>)
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX	[1] (202) 895-6750	[1] (202) 298-4261
Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes	10 Ranked 14th.	29 Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Austria
Copyright > Reference	Â§ 60, ;<br/>Â§ 1(2), (Nr. 492, 1972-12-16)	Â§ 64, , as amended by the Law of 23 June 1995
Key ministers > Finance	Karl-Heinz Grasser (independent)	Hans Eichel (<a href=/encyclopedia/Social-Democratic-Party-of-Germany>SPD</a>)
Council of EU > 2003 > Country votes	4 Ranked 11th.	10 Ranked 4th. 3 times more than Austria
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU	40243600000	394104700000
Parties in the European Council during 2002 > Leaders > January 1 > 2002 > Leader	Wolfgang SchÃ‡Â¬ssel	Gerhard SchrÃ‡Ã´der
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita	4,506.32 constant 2000 US$ Ranked 12th. 2% more than Germany	4,402.8 constant 2000 US$ Ranked 13th.
Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader	Wolfgang SchÃ¼ssel	Gerhard SchrÃ¶der
Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader	Wolfgang SchÃ¼ssel	Angela Merkel
Trademarks > Residents > Per capita	0.897 per 1,000 people Ranked 11th. 18% more than Germany	0.758 per 1,000 people Ranked 17th.
Council of EU > 2002 > Country leader	Wolfgang SchÃ¼ssel	Gerhard SchrÃ¶der
Council of EU > 2001 > Country leader	Wolfgang SchÃ¼ssel	Gerhard SchrÃ¶der
Spending > Interest payments > % of expense	6.39% Ranked 36th. 11% more than Germany	5.76% Ranked 39th.
Spending > Other expense > % of expense	5.6% Ranked 47th. 51% more than Germany	3.72% Ranked 60th.
Spending > Other expense > Current LCU	6.07 billion Ranked 49th.	26.66 billion Ranked 31st. 4 times more than Austria
Council of EU > 2002 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Time to resolve insolvency > Years	1.1 years Ranked 134th.	1.2 years Ranked 132nd. 9% more than Austria
Trademarks > Residents per million	897.7 Ranked 11th. 18% more than Germany	758.35 Ranked 17th.
Council of EU > 2001 > Country votes	4 Ranked 11th.	10 Ranked 4th. 3 times more than Austria
Procedures to register property > Number per million	0.363 Ranked 113th. 7 times more than Germany	0.0486 Ranked 154th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth	1.43% Ranked 83th. 14 times more than Germany	0.1% Ranked 101st.
Time required to register property > Days	32 days Ranked 114th.	40 days Ranked 100th. 25% more than Austria
Trademarks > Nonresidents	1,049 Ranked 28th.	3,342 Ranked 16th. 3 times more than Austria
Stabilisation and Association process > Stabilisation and Association process > Republic of > Macedonia	6.9.2002	20.6.2002
Stabilisation and Association process > Croatia	15.3.2002	18.10.2002
Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Leader	Werner Faymann	Angela Merkel
FAX > Consulate(s) general	Los Angeles, New York	Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000	795.84 Ranked 15th.	803.47 Ranked 11th. 1% more than Austria
Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia	Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said in a statement that "this step goes against all the principles of Georgian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, which Russia has repeatedly accepted in the UN Security Council . The Georgian conflict must be solved through dialogue and international mediation, not through unilateral measures".	Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "this contradicts the principle of territorial integrity, a principle based on the international law of nations and for this reason it is unacceptable".
Democracy and rights > Major right wing party	Austrian People's Party	Christian Democratic Union
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament	245 Ranked 47th.	691 Ranked 10th. 3 times more than Austria
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members	5 Ranked 30th. 25% more than Germany	4 Ranked 107th.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million	46.91 Ranked 111th. 10 times more than Germany	4.81 Ranked 176th.
European Union > Council of the European Union votes	10 Ranked 14th.	29 Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Austria
Trademarks > Residents	7,336 Ranked 19th.	62,576 Ranked 5th. 9 times more than Austria
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita	1.7 per 1 million people Ranked 95th. 13 times more than Germany	0.133 per 1 million people Ranked 157th.
Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes	10 Ranked 13th.	29 Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Austria
Parliament > Seats held by men per million people	16.06 Ranked 93th. 3 times more than Germany	5.13 Ranked 158th.
Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX	[43] (1) 3100682	[49] (30) 8305-1215
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes	1.5% Ranked 74th. 25% more than Germany	1.2% Ranked 82nd.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone	[1] (202) 895-6700	[1] (202) 298-4000
Capital city > Time difference	1	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > %	33.3% Ranked 27th.	36.5% Ranked 20th. 10% more than Austria
Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense	6.14% Ranked 80th. 22% more than Germany	5.05% Ranked 83th.
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2003 > Leaders > January 1 > 2003 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Votes	10 Ranked 12th.	29 Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Austria
Parties in the European Council during 1999 > Leaders > January 1 > 1999 > Leader	Viktor Klima	Gerhard SchrÃ‡Ã´der
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Leader	Werner Faymann	Angela Merkel
Ruling party	Social Democrat	Christian Democrat
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million	1.69 Ranked 94th. 13 times more than Germany	0.134 Ranked 156th.

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; Wikipedia: List of national legal systems (Civil law); 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: List of active nationalist parties in Europe (National); 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. 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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; Wikipedia: International recognition of Israel (UN member states); 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); Wikipedia: Term of office (Terms of office by country); 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.; 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. 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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: 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; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2011; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2010; How Democratic is the American Constitution? Robert A. Dahl.2001. ISBN 0-300-09218-0. 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