Government Stats: compare key data on Belgium & Portugal

Compare vs for

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. "
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.
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 in the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Diplomatic representation 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.
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating: Democratic institutions
Units: Scale ranging from -10 (autocratic) to +10 (democratic)
Executive branch > Note: This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of 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. 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. Cabinet includes the official name for this body of high-ranking advisers and the method for selection of members. 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 for each candidate in the last election.
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.
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.
Democracy > Female ministers: Women in government at ministerial level in 2000 (as % of total). Data were provided by states based on their definition of national executive and may therefore include women serving as ministers and vice ministers and those holding other ministerial positions, including parliamentary secretaries.
Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members: Members of the lower house of the legislature or of the only chamber in a unicameral system.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
Democracy > Female parliamentarians: Seats in parliament held by women (as % of total). Data are as of 8 March 2002. Where there are lower and upper houses, data refer to the weighted average of women's shares of seats in both houses.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
Role of head of state: Head of state.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
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 > 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."
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."
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.
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 capita: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote: The total number of votes cast in the relevant election. Total vote includes valid and invalid votes, as well as blank votes in cases where these are separated from invalid votes. More information on valid, invalid and blank votes can be found at aceproject.org
Democracy > 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.
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.
Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes: January 1, 2005
Key ministers > Defence: Minister of Defence, 2005
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.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: Statements on the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia issued by countries who do not recognize their sovereignty.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo: Date on which Kosovo was officially recognized as a state.
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament: Number of members of the legislature (sum of members of all chambers of parliament where applicable).
Democracy and rights > Last election: Last election.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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 build a warehouse > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s): This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 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 > 2007 > Country votes: January 1, 2007
Council of EU > 2003 > Country votes: January 1, 2003
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 > 2005 > Country leader: January 1, 2005
Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader: January 1, 2007
Council of EU > 2002 > Country leader: January 1, 2002
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 > 2001 > Country leader: January 1, 2001
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.
Council of EU > 2001 > Country votes: January 1, 2001
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.
Foreign relations > Date of establishment of relations with China: The date on which each country established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
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.
Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
Spending > Interest payments > % of expense: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
Spending > Other expense > % of expense: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
Trademarks > Residents per million: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Procedures to register property > Number per million: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Ruling party: In power now.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Spending > Expense > % of GDP: Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends."
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.
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.
Council of EU > January–April 2004 > European party of leader: January 1, 2004
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.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current local currency.
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members: Members of the lower (or sole) house.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader: January 1, 2007
Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader: January 1, 2005
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 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.
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.
Democracy and rights > Next election: Next election.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Capital city > Time difference: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
Spending > 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."

SHOW ALL

LESS

SHARE TWEET EMBED

STAT	Belgium	Portugal
Administrative divisions	3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)	18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores), Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	50	38
Capital city > Name	Brussels	Lisbon
Constitution	drafted 25 November 1830, approved 7 February 1831, entered into force 26 July 1831, revised 14 July 1993 (creating a federal state); amended many times, last in 2012	several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976; amended several times, last in 2005
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address	PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710	Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE 09726
Executive branch > Cabinet	Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch	Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch > Chief of state	King PHILIPPE (since 21 August 2013); Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH, daughter of the monarch	President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)
Executive branch > Head of government	Prime Minister Elio DI RUPO (since 6 December 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Alexander DE CROO (since 22 October 2012); Joelle MILQUET (since 20 March 2008); Laurette ONKELINX (since 30 December 2008); Didier REYNDERS (since 30 December 2008); Pieter DE CREM (since 5 March 2013)	Prime Minister Pedro Manuel Mamede PASSOS COELHO (since 21 June 2011)
Government type	federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy	republic; parliamentary democracy
Judicial branch	Constitutional Court (12 judges, 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking, appointed by the King); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)	Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) consists of 13 judges (10 appointed by the Assembly and 3 are coopted by the 10 judges) for six-year terms; Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal de Justica); Audit Court (auditoria do Tribunal); Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); all judges are appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
Legal system	civil law system based on the French Civil Code	civil law system; Constitutional Tribunal review of legislative acts
Legislative branch	bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French	unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica
Political parties and leaders	<strong>Flemish parties: </strong><br />Christian Democratic and Flemish or CD&V [Wouter BEKE]<br />Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Gwendolyn RUTTEN]<br />Groen! [Wouter VAN BESIEN] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens)<br />Libertarian, Direct, Democratic or LDD (formerly Dedecker's List) [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]<br />New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]<br />Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Bruno TOBBACK]<br />Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Gerolf ANNEMANS]<br /><strong>Francophone parties:</strong><br />Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Olivier DELEUZE, Emily HOYOS]<br />Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Benoit LUTGEN]<br />Popular Party or PP [ Mischael MODRIKAMEN]<br />Reform Movement or MR [Charles MICHEL]<br />Socialist Party or PS [Paul MAGNETTE]<br />other minor parties	Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS/PP [Paulo PORTAS]<br />Social Democratic Party or PPD/PSD [Pedro PASSOS COELHO]<br />Socialist Party or PS [Maria de BELEM ROSEIRA]<br />The Left Bloc or BE [Pedro Filipe SOARES]<br />Unitarian Democratic Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes Portuguese Communist Party or PCP and Ecologist Party ("The Greens") or PEV)
Political pressure groups and leaders	Federation of Belgian Industries<br /><strong>other:</strong> trade unions; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants	Armed Forces Officers' Association (AOFA) [Colonel Pereira CRACEL]<br />the Desperate Generation (youth movement protesting against low wages, precarious labor conditions, and unemployment)<br />the General Workers Union or General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (UGT) [Joao PROENCA]<br />Portuguese National Workers' Conference (CGTP) [Armenio CARLOS]<br />TugaLeaks (a website that has become a mouthpiece for publicizing diverse protest action)<br /><br /><strong>other:</strong> the media; labor unions
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal and compulsory	18 years of age; universal
International organization participation	ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, 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, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC	ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIT, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Country name > Conventional long form	Kingdom of Belgium	Portuguese Republic
Civil law system	The Napoleonic Code is still in use, although it is heavily modified (especially concerning family law)	Influenced by the Napoleonic Code and later by the German Civil Law
Executive branch > Elections	the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament	president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 January 2011 (next to be held in January 2016); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president
National symbol(s)	lion	armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe modeling objects in the sky)
Flag description	three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field)	two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days	4 Ranked 178th. 60% more than Portugal	2.5 Ranked 184th.
Country name > Conventional short form	Belgium	Portugal
Constitutional form	Constitutional monarchy	Republic
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International	none	Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
Total businesses registered > Number	687,762 Ranked 21st.	1.1 million Ranked 18th. 60% more than Belgium
National anthem	<strong>name: </strong>"La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Louis-Alexandre DECHET[French] Victor CEULEMANS [Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT	<strong>name: </strong>"A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL
FAX	32	351
Legislative branch > Election results	Senate - percent of vote by party - N-VA 19.6%, PS 13.6%, CD&V 10%, SP.A 9.5%, MR 9.3%, Open VLD 8.2%, VB 7.6%, Ecolo 5.5%, CDH 5.1% Groen! 3.9%, other 7.7%; seats by party - N-VA 9, PS 7, CD&V 4, SP.A 4, MR 4, Open VLD 4, VB 3, Ecolo 2, CDH 2, Groen! 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - N-VA 17.4%, PS 13.7%, CD&V 10.9%, MR 9.3%, SP.A 9.2%, Open VLD 8.6%, VB 7.8%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 4.8%, Groen! 4.4%, List Dedecker 2.3%, the Popular Party 1.3%, other 4.8%; seats by party - N-VA 27, PS 26, CD&V 17, MR 18, sp.a 13, Open VLD 13, VB 12, CDH 9, Ecolo 8, Groen! 5, List Dedecker 1, the Popular Party 1	percent of vote by party - PPD/PSD 38%, PS 28%, CDS/PP 11%, PCP/PEV (see CDU) 7%, BE 5%, other 11%; seats by party - PPD/PSD 108, PS 74, CDS/PP 24, PCP/PEV (see CDU) 16, BE 8
Legislative branch > Elections	Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13 June 2010 (next to be held no later than June 2014)	last held on 5 June 2011 (next to be held in 2015)
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index	12.94 Ranked 19th.	16.75 Ranked 15th. 29% more than Belgium
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage	38% Ranked 17th. 32% more than Portugal	28.7% Ranked 35th.
Independence	4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)	1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts	Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace	Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Auditoria do Tribunal); appellate, district, and municipal courts
Basis of executive legitimacy	Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence	Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs	growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy	seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
Country name > Local short form	Belgique/Belgie/Belgien	Portugal
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press	11 Ranked 191st.	17 Ranked 179th. 55% more than Belgium
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament	34.7% Ranked 12th. 63% more than Portugal	21.3% Ranked 47th.
Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy	27	Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number	3 Ranked 170th. The same as Portugal	3 Ranked 176th.
Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote	7.8% Ranked 2nd. 26 times more than Portugal	0.3% Ranked 13th.
Democracy > Civil and political liberties	5.5 Ranked 18th.	6 Ranked 11th. 9% more than Belgium
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$	85.52 billion$ Ranked 14th. 2 times more than Portugal	38.59 billion$ Ranked 23th.
National holiday	21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I	Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580)(1524-80) died
Capital > Geographic coordinates	50 50 N, 4 20 E	38 43 N, 9 08 W
Democracy > First female parliamentarian	1921 (appointed)	1934 (elected and appointed)
Time required to start a business > Days	27 days Ranked 110th. 3 times more than Portugal	8 days Ranked 161st.
Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment	0.993 Ranked 49th. 4% more than Portugal	0.956 Ranked 123th.
Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office	Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life	Supreme Court justices nominated by the president and appointed by the Assembly of the Republic; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges - 10 elected by the Assembly and 3 elected by the other Constitutional Court judges; judges elected for 6-year non-renewable terms
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index	8.05 Ranked 20th. 2% more than Portugal	7.92 Ranked 22nd.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient	4.9 Ranked 26th. 2% more than Portugal	4.8 Ranked 34th.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days	64 Ranked 45th. 64 times more than Portugal	1 Ranked 184th.
Politics	Socialist PM Elio di Rupo, a French speaker, was appointed in late 2011 to lead a six-party coalition after 18 months of negotiations	Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho from the Social Democrats heads a coalition with the Popular Party
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Parliament > Seats held by men	93 Ranked 104th.	164 Ranked 57th. 76% more than Belgium
Country name > Local long form	Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie/Koenigreich Belgien	Republica Portuguesa
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years	0.9 Ranked 164th.	2 Ranked 119th. 2 times more than Belgium
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million	0.269 Ranked 140th.	0.38 Ranked 124th. 41% more than Belgium
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission	Ambassador Jan MATTHYSEN (since 17 February 2008)	Ambassador Nuno Filipe Alves Salvador e BRITO (since 10 February 2011)
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone	[32] (2) 811-4000	[351] (21) 727-3300
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery	None	None
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission	Ambassador Denise BAUER (since 7 August 2013)	Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John OLSON
Parliament > Seats held by women	57 Ranked 46th.	66 Ranked 36th. 16% more than Belgium
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating	10 Ranked 5th. The same as Portugal	10 Ranked 26th.
Executive branch > Note	government formation talks have been prolonged, but the current interim goverment consists of French and Flemish Christian Democrats or CD&V and CDh, Liberals or Open VLD and MR, and French Socialists or PS	there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president
UN membership date	27 Dec. 1945	14 Dec. 1955
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people	0.722 Ranked 17th.	0.752 Ranked 16th. 4% more than Belgium
Total businesses registered > Number per 1000	66.28 Ranked 20th.	105.66 Ranked 5th. 59% more than Belgium
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number	13 Ranked 101st. The same as Portugal	13 Ranked 110th.
Capital city	Brussels	Lisbon
Capital > Name	Brussels	Lisbon
Legal origin	<a href=/country/fr>French</a>	<a href=/country/fr>French</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita	8,161.06$ per capita Ranked 9th. 2 times more than Portugal	3,658.48$ per capita Ranked 18th.
Spending > Expense > Current LCU	146.39 billion Ranked 49th. 2 times more than Portugal	71.34 billion Ranked 55th.
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days	88 Ranked 97th. 38% more than Portugal	64 Ranked 133th.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout	90.6% Ranked 15th. 44% more than Portugal	62.8% Ranked 106th.
Legislature (parliament) > People per member	48,663 Ranked 59th. 5% more than Portugal	46,205 Ranked 62nd.
Capital > Time difference	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
International relations	Brussels is the home of the EU and Nato	Portugal is a founding member of Nato and joined the EEC (later EU) in 1986
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million	7.9 Ranked 108th. 30% more than Portugal	6.08 Ranked 118th.
Democracy > Female ministers	55% Ranked 1st. 6 times more than Portugal	9.5% Ranked 81st.
Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members	150 Ranked 61st.	230 Ranked 45th. 53% more than Belgium
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days	505 Ranked 114th.	547 Ranked 95th. 8% more than Belgium
Democracy > Female parliamentarians	24.9% Ranked 20th. 33% more than Portugal	18.7% Ranked 38th.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number	8 Ranked 27th. 8 times more than Portugal	1 Ranked 183th.
Role of head of state	Ceremonial	Executive
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita	8,161.08$ Ranked 8th. 2 times more than Portugal	3,658.49$ Ranked 18th.
Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote)	7.8% Ranked 2nd. 26 times more than Portugal	0.3% Ranked 13th.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number	4 Ranked 160th.	8 Ranked 117th. Twice as much as Belgium
Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong	7 Ranked 44th. 2 times more than Portugal	3 Ranked 150th.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million	0.44 Ranked 72nd.	0.456 Ranked 71st. 4% more than Belgium
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU	118.09 billion Ranked 39th. 3 times more than Portugal	35.46 billion Ranked 53th.
Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU	9.84 billion Ranked 62nd.	18.33 billion Ranked 54th. 86% more than Belgium
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP	0.231$ per $1 of GDP Ranked 20th. 9% more than Portugal	0.211$ per $1 of GDP Ranked 29th.
Parliament > Seats held by women per million people	5.46 Ranked 64th.	6.11 Ranked 58th. 12% more than Belgium
Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment	August 19, 1963	September 1, 1976
Democracy > Female suffrage	"1919 ,1948"	"1931 ,1976"
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days	214 Ranked 42nd. 2 times more than Portugal	99 Ranked 147th.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Syrian National Council	Verbal support Informal relations	Informal relations
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million	0.359 Ranked 157th. 8% more than Portugal	0.332 Ranked 160th.
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million	2.33 Ranked 124th.	3.23 Ranked 111th. 38% more than Belgium
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million	5.74 Ranked 79th. 60 times more than Portugal	0.095 Ranked 177th.
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million	1.17 Ranked 112th.	1.23 Ranked 110th. 6% more than Belgium
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million	19.21 Ranked 93th. 2 times more than Portugal	9.4 Ranked 126th.
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	66.28 per 1,000 people Ranked 20th.	105.66 per 1,000 people Ranked 5th. 59% more than Belgium
Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU	12.18 billion Ranked 41st. 3 times more than Portugal	4.66 billion Ranked 54th.
Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties	506,697 Ranked 14th. 29 times more than Portugal	17,548 Ranked 36th.
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador	Matthysen, Jan Jan Matthysen	de Vallera, João João de Vallera
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people	0.35 Ranked 31st. 7 times more than Portugal	0.0525 Ranked 45th.
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons	3,898 Ranked 25th. 7 times more than Portugal	553 Ranked 43th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita	5,291.42 constant 2000 US$ per c Ranked 10th. 2 times more than Portugal	2,289.8 constant 2000 US$ per c Ranked 17th.
Time required to build a warehouse > Days	184 days Ranked 84th.	327 days Ranked 17th. 78% more than Belgium
Failed States Index	30.9 Ranked 19th.	32.6 Ranked 17th. 6% more than Belgium
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population	8 million Ranked 48th. 2% more than Portugal	7.81 million Ranked 51st.
Democracy > Female candidacy	1,921 Ranked 130th.	1,931 Ranked 120th. 1% more than Belgium
Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita	1.03 per 1,000 people Ranked 12th. 11 times more than Portugal	0.096 per 1,000 people Ranked 33th.
Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000	1.04 Ranked 15th. 11 times more than Portugal	0.0964 Ranked 34th.
Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment	March 10, 1992	February 3, 1992
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Votes	12 Ranked 10th. The same as Portugal	12 Ranked 11th.
National anthem > Name	"La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant)	"A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)
Executive branch > A note	<a href=/cat/Government>government</a> coalition - VLD, PRL-FDF, PS, MCC, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO	there is also a Council of <a href=/encyclopedia/U.S.-State><a href=/encyclopedia/U.S.-State>State</a></a> that acts as a consultative body to the <a href=/kp/president>president</a>
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote	6.65 million Ranked 39th. 19% more than Portugal	5.58 million Ranked 43th.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration	7.34 million Ranked 48th.	8.88 million Ranked 43th. 21% more than Belgium
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita	0.381 per 1 million people Ranked 127th.	0.755 per 1 million people Ranked 101st. 98% more than Belgium
Time required to enforce a contract > Days	328 days Ranked 131st.	495 days Ranked 80th. 51% more than Belgium
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > 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>
Procedures to register property > Number	7 Ranked 50th. 40% more than Portugal	5 Ranked 125th.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number	15 Ranked 103th.	20 Ranked 49th. 33% more than Belgium
Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes	12 Ranked 10th. The same as Portugal	12 Ranked 11th.
Key ministers > Defence	Andre Flahaut (PS)	Luis Amado
Stabilisation and Association process > Stabilisation and Association process > Republic of > Macedonia	29.12.2003	14.7.2003
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000	770.96 Ranked 24th. 3% more than Portugal	747.54 Ranked 35th.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general	Los Angeles, New York	Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco
Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia	Belgian foreign minister Karel De Gucht called the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia unacceptable and a violation of the territorial integrity of Georgia. He added that Russia has created a dangerous precedent that threatens the stability of Europe.	The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that "The respect for the sovereignty of the Georgia inside of its internationally recognised borders has been permanently underlined for United Nations , the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe ".
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo	None	None
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Votes	12 Ranked 10th. The same as Portugal	12 Ranked 11th.
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament	221 Ranked 54th.	230 Ranked 49th. 4% more than Belgium
Democracy and rights > Last election	June 2010	June 2011
Trademarks > Nonresidents	10,695 Ranked 13th. 11 times more than Portugal	1,012 Ranked 32nd.
Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue	8.54% Ranked 27th. 19% more than Portugal	7.16% Ranked 33th.
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense	80.67% Ranked 2nd. 62% more than Portugal	49.7% Ranked 39th.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > %	38% Ranked 18th. 32% more than Portugal	28.7% Ranked 39th.
Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours	160 hours Ranked 119th.	328 hours Ranked 53th. 2 times more than Belgium
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$	55.45 billion constant 2000 US$ Ranked 13th. 2 times more than Portugal	24.16 billion constant 2000 US$ Ranked 24th.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita	1.43 per 1 million people Ranked 102nd.	1.89 per 1 million people Ranked 89th. 32% more than Belgium
Parties in the European Council during 2006 > Leaders > January 1 > 2006 > Votes	12 Ranked 9th. The same as Portugal	12 Ranked 10th.
Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU	3.88 billion Ranked 69th.	4.61 billion Ranked 65th. 19% more than Belgium
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Leader	Guy Verhofstadt	Pedro Santana Lopes
Parties in the European Council during 2002 > Leaders > January 1 > 2002 > Votes	5 Ranked 6th. The same as Portugal	5 Ranked 7th.
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > National party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Democratic_and_Flemish">CD&V</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_%28Portugal%29">PS</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > National party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Democratic_and_Flemish">CD&V</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_%28Portugal%29">PS</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Liberal_Democrat_and_Reform_Party">ELDR</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2007 > Leaders > January 1 > 2007 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Liberal_Democrat_and_Reform_Party">ELDR</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 > 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 2009 > Leaders > January 1 > 2009 > Leader	Herman Van Rompuy	JosÃ‡Â¸ SÃ‡Ã¼crates
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > Votes	12 Ranked 10th. The same as Portugal	12 Ranked 11th.
Parties in the European Council during 2000 > Leaders > January 1 > 2000 > Leader	Guy Verhofstadt	AntÃ‡Ã¼nio Guterres
Parties in the European Council between January and April 2004 > Leaders > January 1 > 2004 > Leader	Guy Verhofstadt	JosÃ‡Â¸ Manuel DurÃ‡Âœo Barroso
National anthem > Note	adopted 1830; Louis-Alexandre DECHET was an actor at the theater in which the revolution against the Netherlands began; according to legend, he wrote the lyrics with a group of young people in a Brussels cafe	adopted 1910; "A Portuguesa" was originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa; the lyrics refer to the "insult" that resulted from the event
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number	26 Ranked 182nd.	34 Ranked 141st. 31% more than Belgium
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million	0.718 Ranked 86th. 8 times more than Portugal	0.095 Ranked 165th.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s)	Atlanta	New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX	[1] (202) 338-4960	[1] (202) 223-3926
Copyright > Reference	Art. 2, Loi relative au droit dâ€™auteur et aux droits voisins du 30 juin 1994	Art. 31, , as amended by Decree Law No. 334/97 of 27 November 1997
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Liberal_Democrat_and_Reform_Party">ELDR</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2003 > Leaders > January 1 > 2003 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Liberal_Democrat_and_Reform_Party">ELDR</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Votes	12 Ranked 9th. The same as Portugal	12 Ranked 10th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita	5,291.44 constant 2000 US$ Ranked 9th. 2 times more than Portugal	2,289.81 constant 2000 US$ Ranked 17th.
Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes	12 Ranked 11th. The same as Portugal	12 Ranked 12th.
Council of EU > 2003 > Country votes	5 Ranked 7th. The same as Portugal	5 Ranked 8th.
Trademarks > Residents > Per capita	2.03 per 1,000 people Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Portugal	0.773 per 1,000 people Ranked 15th.
Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader	Guy Verhofstadt	Pedro Santana Lopes
Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader	Guy Verhofstadt	JosÃ© SÃ³crates
Council of EU > 2002 > Country leader	Guy Verhofstadt	AntÃ³nio Guterres
Spending > Other expense > Current LCU	3.39 billion Ranked 53th. 3 times more than Portugal	1.14 billion Ranked 65th.
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Leader	Yves Leterme	JosÃ‡Â¸ SÃ‡Ã¼crates
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Leader	Yves Leterme	JosÃ‡Â¸ SÃ‡Ã¼crates
Council of EU > 2001 > Country leader	Guy Verhofstadt	AntÃ³nio Guterres
Council of EU > 2002 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Liberal_Democrat_and_Reform_Party">ELDR</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Time to resolve insolvency > Years	0.9 years Ranked 144th.	2 years Ranked 113th. 2 times more than Belgium
Council of EU > 2001 > Country votes	5 Ranked 7th. The same as Portugal	5 Ranked 8th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth	1.46% Ranked 82nd.	1.78% Ranked 75th. 22% more than Belgium
Time required to register property > Days	132 days Ranked 32nd. 63% more than Portugal	81 days Ranked 52nd.
Stabilisation and Association process > Croatia	17.12.2003	14.7.2003
Foreign relations > Date of establishment of relations with China	October 25, 1971	February 8, 1979
Parties in the European Council during 1999 > Leaders > January 1 > 1999 > Votes	5 Ranked 6th. The same as Portugal	5 Ranked 7th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU	60182100000	26219100000
Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense	2.65% Ranked 87th.	6.47% Ranked 77th. 2 times more than Belgium
Parties in the European Council during 2002 > Leaders > January 1 > 2002 > Leader	Guy Verhofstadt	AntÃ‡Ã¼nio Guterres
Spending > Interest payments > % of expense	8.32% Ranked 28th. 27% more than Portugal	6.54% Ranked 34th.
Spending > Other expense > % of expense	2.32% Ranked 72nd. 46% more than Portugal	1.59% Ranked 77th.
Trademarks > Residents per million	2,033.33 Ranked 5th. 3 times more than Portugal	773.47 Ranked 15th.
Procedures to register property > Number per million	0.664 Ranked 78th. 40% more than Portugal	0.472 Ranked 96th.
Ruling party	Socialist / CDV	PSD / CDS\u2013PP
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million	1.42 Ranked 101st.	1.89 Ranked 89th. 33% more than Belgium
Spending > Expense > % of GDP	42.47% Ranked 9th.	42.86% Ranked 7th. 1% more than Belgium
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million	2.56 Ranked 101st. 13% more than Portugal	2.27 Ranked 109th.
FAX > Consulate(s) general	Los Angeles, New York	New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco
Parties in the European Council during 1999 > Leaders > January 1 > 1999 > Leader	Jean-Luc Dehaene	AntÃ‡Ã¼nio Guterres
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million	0.379 Ranked 126th.	0.756 Ranked 99th. Twice as much as Belgium
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number	27 Ranked 116th. 13% more than Portugal	24 Ranked 137th.
Council of EU > January–April 2004 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Liberal_Democrat_and_Reform_Party">ELDR</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Foreign relations > International recognition of the Syrian National Council notes	A group of Belgian Foreign Ministry officials, headed by Foreign Minister Didier Reynders met with a delegation of the Syrian National Council on 5 January 2012. At the meeting, Reynders informed the delegates that he would to refer the SNC requests for the establishment of a European assistance fund for the Syrian people to the European Union, and would work to "support the SNC's goals until they become a reality on the ground."	A Syrian National Council delegation, headed by Burhan Ghalioun, met on 3 January 2012 with Foreign Minister Paulo Portas in Lisbon. After a briefing on the current situation in Syria, Portas was requested by the delegation to formally reject the Assad regime, and to use Portugal's influence with Brazil to get the South American country to do the same.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU	68764100000	31034200000
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members	4 Ranked 116th. The same as Portugal	4 Ranked 162nd.
Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Liberal_Democrat_and_Reform_Party">ELDR</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Liberal_Democrat_and_Reform_Party">ELDR</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million	45.32 Ranked 113th.	51.96 Ranked 107th. 15% more than Belgium
European Union > Council of the European Union votes	12 Ranked 11th. The same as Portugal	12 Ranked 12th.
Trademarks > Residents	21,010 Ranked 15th. 3 times more than Portugal	8,123 Ranked 18th.
Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita	0.668 per 1 million people Ranked 79th. 42% more than Portugal	0.472 per 1 million people Ranked 97th.
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita	2.58 per 1 million people Ranked 101st. 14% more than Portugal	2.27 per 1 million people Ranked 108th.
Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes	12 Ranked 10th. The same as Portugal	12 Ranked 11th.
Parliament > Seats held by men per million people	8.9 Ranked 124th.	15.19 Ranked 95th. 71% more than Belgium
Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX	[32] (2) 811-4500	[351] (21) 726-9109
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes	6.6% Ranked 18th. 3 times more than Portugal	1.9% Ranked 66th.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone	[1] (202) 333-6900	[1] (202) 332-3007
Democracy and rights > Next election	May 2014	October 2015
Capital city > Time difference	1	UTC 0
Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense	6.72% Ranked 85th.	25.69% Ranked 37th. 4 times more than Belgium

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. Correspondence on year women received the right to vote and to stand for election and year first woman was elected or appointed to parliament. March. Geneva.; Source: Millennium Development Goals Database | United Nations Statistics Division; Wikipedia: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Indicators) ("Democracy Index 2012" (PDF). The Economist. March 2013 . Retrieved 2013-03-21 .); World Economic Forum, Global Competiveness Report and data files.; British Broadcasting Corporation 2014; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/). Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; Polity IV Project, University of Maryland, at Polity IV Project; United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook and Statistical Yearbook; Wikipedia: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Indicators) ("Democracy Index 2012" (PDF). The Economist. March 2013 . Retrieved 2013-03-21 .). Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; World Development Indicators database. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files.; Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2003; Wikipedia: List of legislatures by number of members; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. Correspondence on women in government at the ministerial level. March. Geneva; calculated on the basis of data on parliamentary seats from IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2002. Parline Database. March 2002; World Economic Forum, Global Competiveness Report and data files. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: Foreign relations of Nepal; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 1995. Women in Parliaments 1945-1995: A World Statistical Survey. Geneva and IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. Correspondence on year women received the right to vote and to stand for election and year first woman was elected or appointed to parliament. March. Geneva; Wikipedia: International recognition of the Syrian National Council (UN member states); Wikipedia: List of ambassadors to the United States; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. 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: 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; CIA World Factbook, December 2003; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2010; Wikipedia: Parties in the Council of the European Union, 2005; Economist Intelligence Unit; Wikipedia: Stabilisation and Association process; Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2003. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_recognition_of_Abkhazia_and_South_Ossetia#States_that_do_not_recognise_Abkhazia_or_South_Ossetia_as_independent; Wikipedia: International recognition of Kosovo (United Nations member states); Wikipedia: List of next general elections (Africa); Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (www.ipu.org); Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2006; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2005; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2002; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2008; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2007; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 1999; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2009; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2000; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council between January and April 2004; Wikipedia: List of countries' copyright length; Wikipedia: Parties in the European Council during 2003; Wikipedia: Parties in the Council of the European Union, 2007; Wikipedia: Parties in the Council of the European Union, 2003; Wikipedia: Parties in the Council of the European Union, 2002; Wikipedia: Parties in the Council of the European Union, 2001; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dates_of_establishment_of_diplomatic_relations_with_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates.; Wikipedia: Parties in the Council of the European Union, January–April 2004; Wikipedia: Term of office (Terms of office by country); "Council of the European Union" . Council of the European Union.; Wikipedia: Parties in the Council of the European Union, 2006; 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.

SHOW ALL

LESS

Citation

Compare Belgium and Portugal in

Agriculture	Environment	Military
Background	Geography	People
Conflict	Government	Religion
Cost of living	Health	Sports
Crime	Import	Terrorism
Culture	Industry	Transport
Disasters	Labor	Travel
Economy	Language	Weather
Education	Lifestyle
Energy	Media

Government Stats: compare key data on Belgium & Portugal

Definitions

Citation

Compare Belgium and Portugal in

Factoid #97

Stats

Country profiles

Compare

Adblocker detected! Please consider reading this notice.

Definitions

APA MLA MHRA CSE AMA Chicago Bluebook Bluebook/JOLT Citation

Compare Belgium and Portugal in

Factoid #97

Stats

Country profiles

Compare

Embed content

Adblocker detected! Please consider reading this notice.

Citation