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Government Stats: compare key data on Estonia & Lithuania

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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 > Elections: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Legislative branch > Election results: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Democracy and rights > Press freedom index: Compares countries by their degree of government censorship, according to the Press freedom index. This index, created by the non-governmental organization Reporters without borders (RWS), is ellaborated using data from an extensive annual survey sent to professional reporters throughout the world. The survey contains questions about the type and ownership of media present in the country, freedom of speech, violence exerted against reporters, election campaigns, access of political parties to the media, etc.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage: Percentage of seats held by women in country's national parliament or legislative houses.
  • Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. "
  • Executive branch > Election results: Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election (if any)
  • Judicial branch > Subordinate courts: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Basis of executive legitimacy: Basis of executive legitimacy.

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

  • Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.
    Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
    Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
    Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
    Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
    Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
    Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.
    Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
    Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
    Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
    Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa.
    Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics ...
    Full definition
  • Country name > Local short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press: Compares countries by freedom of the press. The lower the score, the more free the press of that country is. The scores are taken from the Freedom of the Press Index, elaborated by Freedom House, self-defined as "an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world". The data used in the index come from an annual survey of media independence in 197 countries and territories, assessing the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in each of them.
  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament: Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber occupied by women.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
  • Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote: Percentage of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
  • Democracy > Civil and political liberties: Civil and political liberties
    Units: Index Ranging from 7 (High Levels of Liberties) to 1 (Low
    Units: This is the average of two indicators - civil liberties and political liberties.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
  • National holiday: The primary national day of celebration - often independence day.
  • Capital > Geographic coordinates: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Democracy > First female parliamentarian: Year first woman elected or appointed to parliament.
  • Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Leaders > President: Government > Leaders > President
  • Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient.
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Status Index 2006: The Status Index’s overall result represents the mean value of the scores for the dimensions “Political Transformationâ€? and “Economic Transformationâ€?. The mean value was calculated using the exact, unrounded values for both these dimensions, which, in turn, were derived from the ratings for the five political criteria (based on 18 indicators) and the seven economic criteria (based on 14 indicators). The table shows rounded scores for political and economic transformation as well as for the Status Index’s overall result. In some cases, therefore, the overall result differs slightly from the mean value.
  • Red tape > Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
  • 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 > 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.
  • 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 > 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.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses.
  • Leaders > President > Summary: Government > Leaders > President > Summary
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel: Date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state. Note that some countries had a “de facto” recognition in place long before the legal recognition.
  • Democracy > Democratic institutions rating: Democratic institutions
    Units: Scale ranging from -10 (autocratic) to +10 (democratic)
  • UN membership date: Date of United Nations Membership
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Democracy and rights > Year women first voted at national level: Year women first voted at national level.
  • 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.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members: Members of the lower house of the legislature or of the only chamber in a unicameral system.
  • Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state: Head(s) of state.

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

  • Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes: Notes and remarks about the date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state.
  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
  • Democracy > Female parliamentarians: Seats in parliament held by women (as % of total). Data are as of 8 March 2002. Where there are lower and upper houses, data refer to the weighted average of women's shares of seats in both houses.
  • Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Leaders > President > Profile: Government > Leaders > President > Profile
  • Role of head of state: Head of state.

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

  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote): This list shows the percentage of votes obtained by nationalist parties across Europe at the latest  elections held in their respective countries. Note that the percentages show the votes from all the parties combined, and only for general elections (some parties may obtain a quite higher percentage in regional elections). Nationalist parties usually hold right-wing populist views, and among their common demands are a higher control of immigration, extended social/labor rights for country nationals, and a restriction of islamic customs -such as the veil or the construction of mosques-, though their ideologies and goals vary from country to country. Some parties have as their main goal the seggregation of a region from its parent country (with examples in Scotland, Catalonia and Northern Ireland). Most of nationalist parties with elected members in the European Parliament belong to the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group.
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
  • Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong: Strength of legal rights index measures the degree to which collateral and bankruptcy laws protect the rights of borrowers and lenders and thus facilitate lending. The index ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating that these laws are better designed to expand access to credit."
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU: Compensation of employees consists of all payments in cash, as well as in kind (such as food and housing), to employees in return for services rendered, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions that provide benefits to employees."
  • Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU: Subsidies, grants, and other social benefits include all unrequited, nonrepayable transfers on current account to private and public enterprises; grants to foreign governments, international organisations, and other government units; and social security, social assistance benefits, and employer social benefits in cash and in kind."
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Management Index 2006: This Index evaluates management by political decision-makers while taking into consideration the level of difficulty. The Management Index’s overall result is calculated by multiplying the intermediate result with a factor derived from the level of difficulty evaluation.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Per $ GDP figures expressed per 1 $ gross domestic product.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women per million people: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Democracy > Female suffrage: Year in which women received the right to vote. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to vote.
  • Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Red tape > 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 > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • 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."
  • Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador: Name of ambassador to the USA.
  • 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.
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index>Political Transformation: Political Transformation The score for â€?Political Transformation“ is obtained by calculating the mean value of the ratings for the following criteria: · Stateness · Political Participation · Rule of Law · Stability of Democratic Institutions · Political and Social Integration
  • 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.
  • Country name > Former: 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.
  • 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.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age
  • Democracy > Female candidacy: Year in which women received the right to stand for election. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to stand for election.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration: The number of registered voters. The figure represents the number of names on the voters' register at the time that the registration process closes, as reported by the electoral management body.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Turnout: The number of votes divided by the Voting Age Population figure, expressed as a percentage.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours: Time to prepare and pay taxes is the time, in hours per year, it takes to prepare, file, and pay (or withhold) three major types of taxes: the corporate income tax, the value added or sales tax, and labor taxes, including payroll taxes and social security contributions.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant 2000 U.S. dollars.
  • Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
  • 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.
  • Management time dealing with officials > % of management time: Time dealing with officials is the percentage of management time in a given week spent on requirements imposed by government regulations (taxes, customs, labor regulations, licensing and registration).
  • Red tape > Management time dealing with officials > % of management time: Management time dealing with officials (% of management time). Time dealing with officials is the percentage of management time in a given week spent on requirements imposed by government regulations (taxes, customs, labor regulations, licensing and registration).
  • Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes: January 1, 2007
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader: January 1, 2005
  • Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader: January 1, 2007
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Capital city > Time difference: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > %: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%). Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber held by women.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant local currency.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant 2000 U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Trademarks > Residents > Per capita: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
  • 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 > Interest payments > % of revenue: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • Parliamentary republic adoption date: Date each country adopted the parliamentary republic form of government.
  • 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 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.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth: Annual percentage growth of general government final consumption expenditure based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2000 U.S. dollars. General government final consumption expenditure (general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.
  • Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
  • Spending > 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."
  • Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes: January 1, 2006
  • Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader: January 1, 2007
  • Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader: January 1, 2005
  • 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 and rights > Last election: Last election.

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

  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes: The number of invalid votes, as reported by each country.
  • 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 in the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
  • Policy uncertainty > % of managers surveyed ranking this as a major business constraint: Policy uncertainty measures the share of senior managers who ranked economic and regulatory policy uncertainty as a major or very severe constraint.
  • Democracy and rights > Next election: Next election.

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

  • 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."
  • Informal payments to public officials > % of firms: Informal payments to public officials are the percentage of firms expected to make informal payments to public officials to ""get things done"" with regard to customs, taxes, licenses, regulations, services, and the like."
  • Spending > Other expense > % of expense: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
  • Spending > Other expense > Current LCU: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
  • 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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current local currency.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members: Members of the lower (or sole) house.

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

  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Trademarks > Residents: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment.
  • Procedures to 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.
STAT Estonia Lithuania HISTORY
Administrative divisions 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond); Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) 10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus
Capital city > Geographic coordinates 59 54
Capital city > Name Tallinn Vilnius
Constitution several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992; amended several times, last in 2012 several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992; amended 2003
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address use embassy street address American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
Executive branch > Cabinet Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister and approval of the Parliament
Executive branch > Chief of state President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006) President Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (since 12 July 2009)
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005) Prime Minister Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS (since 22 November 2012)
Government type parliamentary republic parliamentary democracy
Judicial branch Supreme Court (chairman appointed for life by Parliament) Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for all courts appointed by the president, with Seimas approval required for judges on the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court
Legal system civil law system civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu unicameral Parliament or Seimas
Political parties and leaders Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]<br />Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Aleksander LAANE]<br />Estonian Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE [Margo MILJAND]<br />Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]<br />Social Democratic Party or SDE [Sven MIKSER]<br />Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) or IRL [Urmas REINSALU] Christian Party or KP [Gediminas VAGNORIUS]<br />Civil Democracy Party or PDP [Algimantas MATULEVICIUS]<br />Democratic Labor and Unity Party or DDVP [Kristina BRAZAUSKIENE]<br />Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI]<br />Emigrants Party or EP [Juozas MURAUSKAS]<br />Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Andrius KUBILIUS]<br />Labor Party or DP [Viktor USPASKICH]<br />Liberal and Center Union or LCS [Arturas MELIANAS]<br />Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS]<br />Lithuanian People's Party or LLP [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE]<br />Lithuanian People's Party or LZP [Joana SIMANAUSKIENE]<br />Lithuanian Russian Union or LRS [Sergejus DMITRIJEVAS]<br />Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS]<br />Nationalist Union or TS [Gintaras SONGAILA]<br />Order and Justice Party or TT [Rolandas PAKSAS]<br />Peasant and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]<br />Republican Party or RP [Valdemaras VALKIUNAS]<br />Russian Alliance or RA [Tamara LOCHANKINA]<br />Socialist People's Front or SLF [Algirdas PALECKIS]<br />Way of Courage or DK [Jonas VARKALA]<br />YES-Homeland Revival and Perspective or YES Union or TAIP Union or TAIP [Arturas ZUOKAS]<br />Young Lithuania Party or PJL [Stanislovas BUSKEVICIUS]
Political pressure groups and leaders Nochnoy Dozor/Night Watch anti-fascist movement (leader Alexander KOROBOV) Europe House (promotes the EU); European Movement (promotes the EU); Lithuanian Future Forum (promotes the EU)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens 18 years of age; universal
International organization participation Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Country name > Conventional long form Republic of Estonia Republic of Lithuania
Civil law system Largely influenced by German civil law. Modeled after Dutch civil law
Executive branch > Elections president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local councils) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest number of votes; election last held on 29 August 2011 (next to be held in the fall of 2016); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014); prime minister appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
National symbol(s) barn swallow, cornflower mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser)
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white; various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent of the sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil of the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian people; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and virtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red; yellow symbolizes golden fields, as well as the sun, light, and goodness; green represents the forests of the countryside, in addition to nature, freedom, and hope; red stands for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days 6.5
Ranked 154th. The same as Lithuania
6.5
Ranked 153th.

Country name > Conventional short form Estonia Lithuania
Constitutional form Republic Republic
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International Russia and Estonia in May 2005 signed a technical border agreement, but Russia in June 2005 recalled its signature after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia implements strict Schengen border rules with Russia Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to strict Schengen border rules; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation
Total businesses registered > Number 86,816
Ranked 48th.
230,868
Ranked 34th. 3 times more than Estonia

National anthem <strong>name: </strong>"Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS <strong>name: </strong>"Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Vincas KUDIRKA
FAX 372 370
Legislative branch > Elections last held on 6 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2015) last held on 14 and 28 October 2012 (next to be held in October 2016)
Legislative branch > Election results percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party 28.6%, Center Party of Estonia 23.3%, IRL 20.5%, SDE 17.1%, Estonian Greens 3.8%, Estonian People's Union 2.1%, other 4.6%; seats by party - Estonian Reform Party 33, Center Party 21, IRL 23, SDE 19, unaffiliated 5 percent of vote by party (proportional vote) - DP 19.8%, LSDP 18.4%, TS-LKD 15.1%, LS 8.6%, DK 8%, TT 7.3%, LLRA 5.8%, LVZS 3.9%, other parties 13.1%; seats by party - LSDP 38, TS-LKD 33, DP 29, TT 11, LS 10, LLRA 8, DK 7, unaffiliated 4, vacant 1
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index 9.26
Ranked 26th.
18.24
Ranked 143th. 97% more than Estonia
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage 20.79%
Ranked 78th.
24.46%
Ranked 51st. 18% more than Estonia

Independence 20 August 1991 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) 11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)
Executive branch > Election results Toomas Hendrik ILVES reelected president; parliamentary vote - Toomas Hendrik ILVES 73, Indrek TARAND 25 Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE elected president; percent of vote - Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE 69.1%, Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS 11.8%, Valentinas MAZURONIS 6.2%, others 12.9%; Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS approved by Parliament 90-40
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts Court of Appeals; district and local courts
Basis of executive legitimacy Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly important transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy transshipment and destination point for cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, and opiates from Southwest Asia, Latin America, Western Europe, and neighboring Baltic countries; growing production of high-quality amphetamines, but limited production of cannabis, methamphetamines; susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking legislation
Country name > Local short form Eesti Lietuva
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press 18
Ranked 173th.
23
Ranked 153th. 28% more than Estonia
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament 18.8%
Ranked 63th.
22%
Ranked 42nd. 17% more than Estonia

Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 5
Ranked 141st. 25% more than Lithuania
4
Ranked 158th.

Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote 20.1%
Ranked 3rd. 33% more than Lithuania
15.1%
Ranked 2nd.
Democracy > Civil and political liberties 5.5
Ranked 30th. The same as Lithuania
5.5
Ranked 26th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ 2.39 billion$
Ranked 73th.
4.29 billion$
Ranked 60th. 80% more than Estonia

National holiday Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union
Capital > Geographic coordinates 59 26 N, 24 43 E 54 41 N, 25 19 E
Democracy > First female parliamentarian 1919 (elected) 1920 (elected)
Time required to start a business > Days 35 days
Ranked 89th. 35% more than Lithuania
26 days
Ranked 114th.

Leaders > President Toomas Hendrik Ilves Dalia Grybauskaite
Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment 0.971
Ranked 104th.
0.993
Ranked 62nd. 2% more than Estonia

Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office the chief justice is proposed by the president and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu; justices appointed for life Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Seimas; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges selected by Seimas from among nominations by the president, by the Seimas chairperson, and Supreme Court chairperson; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient 5.2
Ranked 13th. 16% more than Lithuania
4.5
Ranked 44th.

Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Status Index 2006 9.29
Ranked 2nd. 3% more than Lithuania
9.02
Ranked 7th.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days 17.5
Ranked 138th. 7 times more than Lithuania
2.5
Ranked 179th.

Politics PM Andrus Ansip heads a centre-right coalition which was re-elected in 2011 Dalia Grybauskaite is Lithuania&#039;s first female president
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Parliament > Seats held by men 80
Ranked 121st.
105
Ranked 92nd. 31% more than Estonia

Country name > Local long form Eesti Vabariik Lietuvos Respublika
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years 3
Ranked 65th. 58% more than Lithuania
1.9
Ranked 125th.

Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 3.73
Ranked 48th. 59% more than Lithuania
2.34
Ranked 56th.

Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Marina KALJURAND (since 6 September 2011) Ambassador Zygimantas PAVILIONIS (since 5 August 2010)
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Jeffrey D. LEVINE (since 24 July 2012) Ambassador Deborah A. MCCARTHY (since 5 February 2013)
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery None None
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone [372] 668-8100 [370] (5) 266-5500
Parliament > Seats held by women 21
Ranked 107th.
34
Ranked 66th. 62% more than Estonia

Leaders > President > Summary Social Democrat Hendrik Toomas Ilves has occupied the largely cermonial role of president since 2006 Dalia Grybauskaite won the presidency in 2009
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel None
None
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating 6
Ranked 71st.
10
Ranked 14th. 67% more than Estonia
UN membership date 17 Sep. 1991 17 Sep. 1991
Total businesses registered > Number per 1000 64.14
Ranked 21st.
66.84
Ranked 19th. 4% more than Estonia

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 13
Ranked 108th.
16
Ranked 63th. 23% more than Estonia

Capital city Tallinn Vilnius
Capital > Name Tallinn Vilnius
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita 1,775.79$ per capita
Ranked 29th. 41% more than Lithuania
1,257.28$ per capita
Ranked 34th.

Spending > Expense > Current LCU 78.09 billion
Ranked 54th. 2 times more than Lithuania
35.06 billion
Ranked 63th.

Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days 111
Ranked 69th.
148
Ranked 35th. 33% more than Estonia

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout 57.4%
Ranked 122nd.
58.2%
Ranked 120th. 1% more than Estonia
Democracy and rights > Year women first voted at national level 1917 1918
Legislature (parliament) > People per member 13,271
Ranked 101st.
23,758
Ranked 91st. 79% more than Estonia
Capital > Time difference UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
International relations Estonia joined Nato and the EU in 2004. It has a troop contingent in Afghanistan Lithuania joined Nato and the EU in 2004. Relations with Russia have been fraught since independence in 1990
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million 82.87
Ranked 39th. 67% more than Lithuania
49.57
Ranked 50th.

Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members 101
Ranked 83th.
141
Ranked 66th. 40% more than Estonia
Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state 5
Ranked 93th. The same as Lithuania
5
Ranked 77th.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes Date full diplomatic relations established Date full diplomatic relations established
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days 425
Ranked 141st. 42% more than Lithuania
300
Ranked 174th.

Democracy > Female parliamentarians 17.8%
Ranked 42nd. 68% more than Lithuania
10.6%
Ranked 82nd.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number 3
Ranked 170th. The same as Lithuania
3
Ranked 168th.

Leaders > President > Profile <p>Mr Ilves was first sworn in as president in October 2006.</p> <p>As head of state, the president is supreme commander of the armed forces and represents Estonia abroad. However, the role is mainly ceremonial.</p> <p>The president is elected to a five-year term by MPs and local officials. Mr Ilves was re-elected for a second five-year term in August 2011.</p> <p>Born in 1953, Mr Ilves is a member of the centre-left Social Democratic Party.</p> <p>Dalia Grybauskaite was voted in as Lithuania&#039;s first woman president with an emphatic election victory in May 2009.</p> <p>She won 69% of the vote, against 11% for her closest rival, Algirdas Butkevicius of the opposition Social Democratic Party.</p> <p>Previously the European Union budget commissioner, she stood as an independent, but with backing from the four-party centre-right coalition of Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius.</p> <p>A former finance minister, Ms Grybauskaite&#039;s reputation for plain speaking helped win over an electorate nervous about the severe economic downturn that hit Lithuania in 2008.</p> <p>She is sometimes dubbed the &quot;Iron Lady&quot;, the nickname of former British PM Margaret Thatcher, a steely free-marketeer she describes as one of her political models.</p> <p>Ms Grybauskaite has said that her decision to stand came after anger at the economic slump boiled over in a riot in front of the parliament building in Vilnius in January 2009.</p> <p>She declared herself broadly in support of the centre-right government&#039;s response to the crisis, but criticised some of its tax increases and called on some ministers to &quot;correct mistakes of the past or go&quot;.</p> <p>She took an unprecedentedly interventionist approach after the 2012 parliamentary election, when she initially said that she could not accept a coalition that included the Labour Party, after the party had been accused of electoral irregularities.</p> <p>Born in 1956 in Vilnius - then still part of the Soviet Union - Ms Grybauskaite studied in the Russian city of Leningrad - today&#039;s St Petersburg.</p> <p>A senior civil servant since Lithuania&#039;s independence in 1990, she served as finance minister from 2001 to 2004, when the country nominated her the European Commission after joining the EU that year.</p>
Role of head of state Ceremonial Ceremonial
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita 1,775.8$
Ranked 29th. 41% more than Lithuania
1,257.28$
Ranked 34th.

Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote) 20.1%
Ranked 3rd. 33% more than Lithuania
15.1%
Ranked 2nd.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 6
Ranked 146th.
7
Ranked 130th. 17% more than Estonia

Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong 6
Ranked 78th. 20% more than Lithuania
5
Ranked 91st.

Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million 3.88
Ranked 13th. 3 times more than Lithuania
1.51
Ranked 27th.

Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU 17.11 billion
Ranked 56th. 3 times more than Lithuania
6.19 billion
Ranked 66th.

Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU 34.59 billion
Ranked 54th. 52% more than Lithuania
22.8 billion
Ranked 57th.

Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Management Index 2006 7.29
Ranked 7th. 4% more than Lithuania
7
Ranked 9th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP 0.182$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 47th. 8% more than Lithuania
0.168$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 54th.

Parliament > Seats held by women per million people 16.58
Ranked 24th. 71% more than Lithuania
9.67
Ranked 44th.

Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment April 20, 1992 February 8, 2005
Democracy > Female suffrage 1918 1921
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days 148
Ranked 96th. 41% more than Lithuania
105
Ranked 140th.

Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million 4.85
Ranked 66th.
6.53
Ranked 57th. 35% more than Estonia

Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 26.13
Ranked 42nd. 2 times more than Lithuania
10.72
Ranked 61st.

Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million 13.07
Ranked 53th. 16 times more than Lithuania
0.837
Ranked 146th.

Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million 110.5
Ranked 42nd. 3 times more than Lithuania
35.17
Ranked 71st.

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 9.71
Ranked 41st. 81% more than Lithuania
5.36
Ranked 57th.

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 64.14 per 1,000 people
Ranked 21st.
66.84 per 1,000 people
Ranked 19th. 4% more than Estonia

Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU 211.1 million
Ranked 77th.
684.8 million
Ranked 69th. 3 times more than Estonia

Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador Kaljurand, Marina Marina Kaljurand Pavilionis, Zygimantas Zygimantas Pavilionis
Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties 118,023
Ranked 25th.
206,590
Ranked 23th. 75% more than Estonia
Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index>Political Transformation 9.4
Ranked 5th. 2% more than Lithuania
9.25
Ranked 8th.
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people 70.36
Ranked 1st. 51 times more than Lithuania
1.38
Ranked 12th.
Country name > Former Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons 94,235
Ranked 7th. 23 times more than Lithuania
4,130
Ranked 24th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita 1,077.75 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 24th. 23% more than Lithuania
873.87 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 29th.

Time required to build a warehouse > Days 117 days
Ranked 140th.
151 days
Ranked 110th. 29% more than Estonia

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population 1.07 million
Ranked 117th.
3.05 million
Ranked 90th. 3 times more than Estonia
Democracy > Female candidacy 1,918
Ranked 151st.
1,921
Ranked 133th. About the same as Estonia
Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000 0.432
Ranked 13th. 3 times more than Lithuania
0.166
Ranked 24th.

Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita 0.432 per 1,000 people
Ranked 13th. 3 times more than Lithuania
0.166 per 1,000 people
Ranked 24th.

Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment March 2, 1992 March 18, 1992
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Votes 4
Ranked 24th.
7
Ranked 18th. 75% more than Estonia
National anthem > Name "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy) "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration 857,270
Ranked 112th.
2.65 million
Ranked 88th. 3 times more than Estonia
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Turnout 46
Ranked 95th.
50.4
Ranked 84th. 10% more than Estonia
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote 492,356
Ranked 116th.
1.54 million
Ranked 94th. 3 times more than Estonia
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita 4.47 per 1 million people
Ranked 39th. 2 times more than Lithuania
2.06 per 1 million people
Ranked 60th.

Time required to enforce a contract > Days 275 days
Ranked 145th. 66% more than Lithuania
166 days
Ranked 167th.

Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > 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>
Procedures to register property > Number 3
Ranked 155th. The same as Lithuania
3
Ranked 152nd.

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 13
Ranked 134th.
14
Ranked 126th. 8% more than Estonia

Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes 4
Ranked 23th.
7
Ranked 17th. 75% more than Estonia
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 4.47
Ranked 39th. 2 times more than Lithuania
2.06
Ranked 58th.

Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > National party Reformierakond <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_Union_%E2%80%93_Lithuanian_Christian_Democrats">TS-LKD</a>
Diplomatic relations with China > Establishment date 9/11/1991 9/14/1991
Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated "Russia's move is a deliberate breach of international law and the principles of stability in Europe. Estonia, like all European Union and NATO member states, adheres firmly to the principles of Georgia\u2019s territorial integrity". Lithuania's Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas said that Russia's decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia was a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo None
None
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Leader Juhan Parts Algirdas Brazauskas
Parties in the European Council during 2006 > Leaders > January 1 > 2006 > Votes 4
Ranked 22nd.
7
Ranked 16th. 75% more than Estonia
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament 101
Ranked 88th.
141
Ranked 73th. 40% more than Estonia
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > National party Reformierakond <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_Union_%E2%80%93_Lithuanian_Christian_Democrats">TS-LKD</a>
FAX > Consulate(s) general New York New York
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 2009 > Leaders > January 1 > 2009 > Leader Andrus Ansip Andrius Kubilius
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > Votes 4
Ranked 24th.
7
Ranked 18th. 75% more than Estonia
Foreign relations > Date of establishment of relations with China September 11, 1991 September 14, 1991
European Union > Council of the European Union votes 4
Ranked 26th.
7
Ranked 20th. 75% more than Estonia
Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours 104 hours
Ranked 148th.
162 hours
Ranked 117th. 56% more than Estonia

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ 1.45 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 68th.
2.98 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 53th. 2 times more than Estonia

Council of Europe > Date joined 5/14/1993 5/14/1993
Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita 2.24 per 1 million people
Ranked 39th. 3 times more than Lithuania
0.883 per 1 million people
Ranked 68th.

Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita 18.64 per 1 million people
Ranked 36th. 3 times more than Lithuania
7.07 per 1 million people
Ranked 63th.

National anthem > Note adopted 1920, though banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; the anthem, used in Estonia since 1869, shares the same melody with that of Finland but has different lyrics adopted 1918, restored 1990; the anthem was written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; it was banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU 10.26 billion
Ranked 54th. 2 times more than Lithuania
4.42 billion
Ranked 66th.

Date of transition to republican system of government > Republic since March 15, 1917 October 18, 1918
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 35
Ranked 132nd. 9% more than Lithuania
32
Ranked 158th.

Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million 2.24
Ranked 50th. 2 times more than Lithuania
1
Ranked 72nd.

Management time dealing with officials > % of management time 2.29%
Ranked 33th.
5.1%
Ranked 14th. 2 times more than Estonia
Red tape > Management time dealing with officials > % of management time 5.5%
Ranked 40th.
9.3%
Ranked 24th. 69% more than Estonia

Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes 4
Ranked 25th.
7
Ranked 19th. 75% more than Estonia
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general New York Chicago, New York
Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader Juhan Parts Algirdas Brazauskas
Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader Andrus Ansip Gediminas Kirkilas
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX [1] (202) 588-0108 [1] (202) 328-0466
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Votes 4
Ranked 24th.
7
Ranked 18th. 75% more than Estonia
Capital city > Time difference 2 2
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > % 20.8%
Ranked 79th.
24.1%
Ranked 62nd. 16% more than Estonia

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU 24635400000 11934600000
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > European party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita 1,077.76 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 24th. 23% more than Lithuania
873.87 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 29th.

Trademarks > Residents > Per capita 0.92 per 1,000 people
Ranked 9th. 64% more than Lithuania
0.561 per 1,000 people
Ranked 21st.

Time to resolve insolvency > Years 3 years
Ranked 76th. 76% more than Lithuania
1.7 years
Ranked 123th.

Spending > Interest payments > % of expense 0.27%
Ranked 84th.
1.95%
Ranked 72nd. 7 times more than Estonia

Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue 0.27%
Ranked 85th.
2.03%
Ranked 65th. 8 times more than Estonia

Parliamentary republic adoption date 1918 1918
Trademarks > Residents per million 919.74
Ranked 9th. 64% more than Lithuania
561.48
Ranked 20th.

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 9.68
Ranked 34th. 2 times more than Lithuania
4.12
Ranked 57th.

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth 7.48%
Ranked 26th. 35% more than Lithuania
5.56%
Ranked 34th.

Time required to register property > Days 51 days
Ranked 79th. 17 times more than Lithuania
3 days
Ranked 162nd.

Trademarks > Nonresidents 583
Ranked 39th. 2% more than Lithuania
570
Ranked 40th.

Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 25
Ranked 132nd. 4% more than Lithuania
24
Ranked 135th.

Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense 44.29%
Ranked 45th.
65.03%
Ranked 21st. 47% more than Estonia

Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes 4
Ranked 23th.
7
Ranked 17th. 75% more than Estonia
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_People%27s_Party">EPP</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX [372] 668-8134 [370] (5) 266-5510
Democracy and rights > Last election March 2011 October 2012
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes 1.6%
Ranked 72nd.
4.4%
Ranked 27th. 3 times more than Estonia
Parliament > Seats held by men per million people 63.17
Ranked 35th. 2 times more than Lithuania
29.86
Ranked 53th.

Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone [1] (202) 588-0101 [1] (202) 234-5860
Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense 13.14%
Ranked 41st. 4% more than Lithuania
12.62%
Ranked 44th.

Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Votes 4
Ranked 22nd.
7
Ranked 16th. 75% more than Estonia
Policy uncertainty > % of managers surveyed ranking this as a major business constraint 5.12%
Ranked 36th.
22.06%
Ranked 18th. 4 times more than Estonia
Democracy and rights > Next election March 2015 October 2016
Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense 21.91%
Ranked 45th. 24% more than Lithuania
17.66%
Ranked 57th.

Informal payments to public officials > % of firms 1.6%
Ranked 48th.
8.48%
Ranked 40th. 5 times more than Estonia

Spending > Other expense > % of expense 3.6%
Ranked 62nd.
6.38%
Ranked 41st. 77% more than Estonia

Spending > Other expense > Current LCU 2.81 billion
Ranked 57th. 26% more than Lithuania
2.24 billion
Ranked 58th.

Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Leader Andrus Ansip Andrius Kubilius
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Leader Andrus Ansip Andrius Kubilius
Procedures to register property > Number per million 2.23
Ranked 38th. 3 times more than Lithuania
0.884
Ranked 67th.

Ruling party Estonian Reform Party Social Democrat
Spending > Expense > % of GDP 31.05%
Ranked 35th.
31.53%
Ranked 34th. 2% more than Estonia

Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 18.61
Ranked 36th. 3 times more than Lithuania
7.07
Ranked 60th.

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000 791.58
Ranked 16th.
883.86
Ranked 2nd. 12% more than Estonia
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU 30090300000 11908200000
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members 4
Ranked 152nd. The same as Lithuania
4
Ranked 141st.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million 317.31
Ranked 43th. 3 times more than Lithuania
100.49
Ranked 77th.

Trademarks > Residents 1,241
Ranked 36th.
1,929
Ranked 30th. 55% more than Estonia

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita 9.69 per 1 million people
Ranked 34th. 2 times more than Lithuania
4.12 per 1 million people
Ranked 57th.

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.; British Broadcasting Corporation 2014; Source: Millennium Development Goals Database | United Nations Statistics Division; World Economic Forum, Global Competiveness Report and data files.; Bertelsmann Transformation Index online, 2006; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/). Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; Wikipedia: International recognition of Israel (UN member states); Polity IV Project, University of Maryland, at Polity IV Project; United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook and Statistical Yearbook; World Development Indicators database. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. 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