Government Stats: compare key data on France & Netherlands

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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
Leaders > Prime minister: Government > Leaders > Prime minister
National symbol(s): A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
Flag description: A written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
Country name > Conventional short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
Constitutional form: Constitutional form of government.
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
Total businesses registered > Number: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward.
National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
Legislative branch > Election results: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
Legislative branch > Elections: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index: Compares countries by their degree of government censorship, according to the Press freedom index. This index, created by the non-governmental organization Reporters without borders (RWS), is ellaborated using data from an extensive annual survey sent to professional reporters throughout the world. The survey contains questions about the type and ownership of media present in the country, freedom of speech, violence exerted against reporters, election campaigns, access of political parties to the media, etc.
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage: Percentage of seats held by women in country's national parliament or legislative houses.
Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. "
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
Basis of executive legitimacy: Basis of executive legitimacy.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.
Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa.
Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics ...
Full definition
Country name > Local short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press: Compares countries by freedom of the press. The lower the score, the more free the press of that country is. The scores are taken from the Freedom of the Press Index, elaborated by Freedom House, self-defined as "an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world". The data used in the index come from an annual survey of media independence in 197 countries and territories, assessing the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in each of them.
Corruption > Bribe Payers Index: 2008
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament: Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber occupied by women.
Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote: Percentage of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
Democracy > Civil and political liberties: Civil and political liberties
Units: Index Ranging from 7 (High Levels of Liberties) to 1 (Low
Units: This is the average of two indicators - civil liberties and political liberties.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
National holiday: The primary national day of celebration - often independence day.
Capital > Geographic coordinates: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
Democracy > First female parliamentarian: Year first woman elected or appointed to parliament.
Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index: DI 2012.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
Politics: Country politics.
International law organization participation: This entry includes information on a country's acceptance of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and of the International Criminal Court (ICCt); 55 countries have accepted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations and 11 have accepted ICJ jurisdiction without reservations; 114 countries have accepted ICCt jurisdiction. Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups explains the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt.
Parliament > Seats held by men: Number of seats held by men in country's naitonal parliament or legislative houses.
Country name > Local long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency (years). Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
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.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel: Date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state. Note that some countries had a “de facto” recognition in place long before the legal recognition.
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating: Democratic institutions
Units: Scale ranging from -10 (autocratic) to +10 (democratic)
UN membership date: Date of United Nations Membership
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people: DI 2012. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
Total businesses registered > Number per 1000: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers.
Capital city: The location of the seat of government.
Capital > Name: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
Legal origin: Legal origin identifies the origin of the Company Law or Commercial Code in each country
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
Spending > Expense > Current LCU: Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends."
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure.
Democracy 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.
Leaders > Prime minister > Profile: Government > Leaders > Prime minister > Profile
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members: Members of the upper house of the legislature. Does not include countries with a unicameral system.
Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members: Members of the lower house of the legislature or of the only chamber in a unicameral system.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
Democracy > Female parliamentarians: Seats in parliament held by women (as % of total). Data are as of 8 March 2002. Where there are lower and upper houses, data refer to the weighted average of women's shares of seats in both houses.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
Role of head of state: Head of state.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote): This list shows the percentage of votes obtained by nationalist parties across Europe at the latest elections held in their respective countries. Note that the percentages show the votes from all the parties combined, and only for general elections (some parties may obtain a quite higher percentage in regional elections). Nationalist parties usually hold right-wing populist views, and among their common demands are a higher control of immigration, extended social/labor rights for country nationals, and a restriction of islamic customs -such as the veil or the construction of mosques-, though their ideologies and goals vary from country to country. Some parties have as their main goal the seggregation of a region from its parent country (with examples in Scotland, Catalonia and Northern Ireland). Most of nationalist parties with elected members in the European Parliament belong to the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong: Strength of legal rights index measures the degree to which collateral and bankruptcy laws protect the rights of borrowers and lenders and thus facilitate lending. The index ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating that these laws are better designed to expand access to credit."
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU: Subsidies, grants, and other social benefits include all unrequited, nonrepayable transfers on current account to private and public enterprises; grants to foreign governments, international organisations, and other government units; and social security, social assistance benefits, and employer social benefits in cash and in kind."
Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU: Compensation of employees consists of all payments in cash, as well as in kind (such as food and housing), to employees in return for services rendered, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions that provide benefits to employees."
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for upper house members: Members of the upper house*.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Per $ GDP figures expressed per 1 $ gross domestic product.
Parliament > Seats held by women per million people: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
Democracy > Female suffrage: Year in which women received the right to vote. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to vote.
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Syrian National Council: Date on which the Syrian National Council was recognized, at least as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people. For more information, please see http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Government/Foreign-relations/International-recognition-of-the-Syrian-National-Council-notes
Leaders > Prime minister > Summary: Government > Leaders > Prime minister > Summary
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Capital > Daylight saving time: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
Total businesses registered > Number > Per capita: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties: Absolute number of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador: Name of ambassador to the USA.
Democracy and rights > Major left wing party: Left-wing major party.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state. Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.
Dependent areas: This entry contains an alphabetical listing of all nonindependent entities associated in some way with a particular independent 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
Failed States Index: FSI 2013.
Democracy > Female candidacy: Year in which women received the right to stand for election. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to stand for election.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
Democracy and rights > Electoral system: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of electoral system (First Past the Post electoral system; Single-Member District Plurality, also known as First Past the Post (FPTP): There is one seat per district, the candidate with the most votes wins it; Proportional Representation: There are multiple seats for each voting district, allocation is based on either party lists, multi-member proportional (MMP), single transferable vote (STV) or semi-PR; FrenchTtwo-RoundSsystem; Alternative Vote (AV)).
Procedures to register property > Number: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers.
Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes: January 1, 2005
Democracy and rights > Party system: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of party system (two-party or multi-party).
Democracy and rights > Structure: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of structure (presidential or parliamentary).
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament: Number of members of the legislature (sum of members of all chambers of parliament where applicable).
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."
Legislature (parliament) > Strongly bicameral?: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of bicameralism, determing if there are two houses in the legislature, both with substantial powers. (Strongly bicameral or not strongly bicameral).
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current local currency.
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.
Capital city > Note: 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.
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.
Republic establishment date: The date on which each country (or its precursor) changed its form of government to a republic. In a republic, the power resides in the country’s people, the government and legislature is elected and the country is ruled according to its laws.
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Diplomatic representation from the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes: January 1, 2007
Council of EU > 2003 > Country votes: January 1, 2003
Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader: January 1, 2005
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader: January 1, 2007
Council of EU > 2002 > Country leader: January 1, 2002
Council of EU > 2001 > Country leader: January 1, 2001
Council of EU > 2002 > European party of leader: January 1, 2002
Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
Council of EU > 2001 > Country votes: January 1, 2001
Ruling party: In power now.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth: Annual percentage growth of general government final consumption expenditure based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2000 U.S. dollars. General government final consumption expenditure (general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.
Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader: January 1, 2005
Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader: January 1, 2007
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.
Council of EU > January–April 2004 > European party of leader: January 1, 2004
Democracy and rights > Strong judicial review?: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of judicial review, which is the power to declare unconstitutional laws duly passed by parliament and/or signed by the president. (As distinct from the ability to strike down acts of subordinate governments, such as states or provinces. (Strong judicial review or no strong judicial review).
Democracy and rights > Strongly federal?: Political scientist Robert A. Dahl compares the constitutions of countries which have been “steadily democratic since 1950” on the characteristic of federalism (strongly federal or not strongly federal).
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Democracy and rights > Last election: Last election.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
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.
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.
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."
Democracy and rights > Next election: Next election.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
Foreign relations > International recognition of the Syrian National Council notes:
Degree to which the Syrian National Council is recognized as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo: Date on which Kosovo was officially recognized as a state.
Democracy and rights > Major right wing party: Right-wing major party.
No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.
Legislature (parliament) > 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.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes: January 1, 2006
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."
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.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Capital city > Time difference: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant local currency.
Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant 2000 U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
Spending > Interest payments > % of expense: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
Spending > Other expense > % of expense: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
Spending > Other expense > Current LCU: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
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.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.

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STAT	France	Netherlands
Administrative divisions	27 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy), Bretagne (Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica), Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Martinique, Mayotte, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion, Rhone-Alpes	12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	48 52 N, 2 20 E	52
Capital city > Name	Paris	Amsterdam
Constitution	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)	previous 1597, 1798; latest adopted 24 August 1815 (substantially revised in 1848); amended many times, last in 2010
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address	PSC 116, APO AE 09777	PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
Executive branch > Cabinet	Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister	Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Executive branch > Chief of state	President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012)	King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)
Executive branch > Head of government	Prime Minister Jean-Marc AYRAULT (since 16 May 2012)	Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010); Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk ASSCHER (since 5 November 2012)
Government type	republic	constitutional monarchy
Judicial branch	Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat	Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)
Legal system	civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts	civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General
Legislative branch	bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat	bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer
Political parties and leaders	Centrist and Republican Union or UCR [Francois ZOCCHETTO] (previously Centrist Union<br />Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union for French Democracy or UDF)<br />Europe Ecology - The Greens or EELV [Pascal DURAND]<br />French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre LAURENT]<br />Left Front Coalition or FDG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON]<br />Left Party or PG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON and Martine BILLARD]<br />Left Radical Party or PRG [Jean-Michel BAYLET] (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG)<br />Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]<br />National Front or FN [Marine LE PEN]<br />New Anticapitalist Party or NPA [collective leadership; main spokesperson Christine POUPIN]<br />New Center or NC [Herve MORIN]<br />Radical Party [Jean-Louis BORLOO]<br />Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]<br />Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean-Luc LAURENT]<br />Socialist Party or PS [Haerlem DESIR]<br />United Republic or RS [Dominique DE VILLEPIN]<br />Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [Jean-Francois COPE]<br />Worker's Struggle (Lutte Ouvriere) or LO [collective leadership; spokespersons Nathalie ARTHAUD and Arlette LAQUILLER]	Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Sybrand VAN HAERSMA BUMA]<br />Christian Union or CU [Arie SLOB]<br />Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]<br />Green Left or GL [Bram VAN OJIK]<br />Labor Party or PvdA [Diederik SAMSOM]<br />Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]<br />Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]<br />People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD [Halbe ZIJLSTRA]<br />Reformed Political Party of SGP [Kees VAN DER STAAIJ]<br />Socialist Party of SP [Emile ROEMER]<br />plus a few minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders	Confederation francaise democratique du travail or CFDT, left-leaning labor union with approximately 803,000 members<br />Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des cadres or CFE-CGC, independent white-collar union with 196,000 members<br />Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens of CFTC, independent labor union founded by Catholic workers that claims 132,000 members<br />Confederation generale du travail or CGT, historically communist labor union with approximately 700,000 members<br />Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere or FO, independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members<br />Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers' union with 750,000 companies as members (claimed)<br /><br /><strong>French Guiana:</strong><br />conservationists<br />gold mining pressure groups<br />hunting pressure groups<br /><br /><strong>Guadeloupe:</strong><br />Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG<br />General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G<br />General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG<br />Movement for an Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI<br />The Socialist Renewal Movement<br /><br /><strong>Martinique:</strong><br />Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC<br />Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM<br />Frantz Fanon Circle<br />League of Workers and Peasants<br />Proletarian Action Group or GAP<br /><br /><strong>Reunion:</strong><br />NA	Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Jaap SMIT]<br />Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES]<br />Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Hans BIESHEUVEL]<br />Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Ton HEERTS]<br />Social Economic Council or SER [Wiebe DRAIJER]<br />Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Reginald VISSER]
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	18 years of age; universal
International organization participation	ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC	ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Country name > Conventional long form	French Republic	Kingdom of the Netherlands
Civil law system	Based on the Napoleonic code ( code civil of 1804)	Influenced by the Napoleonic Code
Executive branch > Elections	president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 April and 6 May 2012 (next to be held in the spring of 2017); prime minister appointed by the president	the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Leaders > Prime minister	Jean-Marc Ayrault	Mark Rutte
National symbol(s)	Gallic rooster and Marianne	lion
Flag description	three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution when the "ancient French color" of white was combined with the blue and red colors of the Parisian militia; the official flag for all French dependent areas	three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century; originally the upper band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days	6.5 Ranked 155th. 63% more than Netherlands	4 Ranked 180th.
Country name > Conventional short form	France	Netherlands
Constitutional form	Republic	Constitutional monarchy
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International	Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia	none
Total businesses registered > Number	2.5 million Ranked 10th. 2 times more than Netherlands	1.14 million Ranked 16th.
National anthem	<strong>name: </strong>"La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle	<strong>name: </strong>"Het Wilhelmus" (The William)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown
FAX	33	31
Legislative branch > Election results	Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS/Greens 140, UMP 132, UDF 31, PCF/MRC 21, PRG 17, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - PS 48.5%, UMP 33.6%, miscellaneous left wing parties 3.8%, Greens 3.0%, miscellaneous right wing parties 2.6%, NC 2.1%, PRG 2.1%, FDG 1.7%, other 2.6%; seats by party - PS 280, UMP 194, miscellaneous left wing parties 22, Greens 17, miscellaneous right wing parties 15, NC 12, PRG 12, FDG 10, other 15	First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VVD 16, PvdA 14, CDA 11, PVV 10, SP 8, D66 5, GL 5, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 26.6%, PvdA 24.8%, PVV, 10.1%, SP 9.7%, CDA 8.5%, D66 8.0%, CU 3.1%, GL 6.7%, other 2.5%; seats by party - VVD 41, PvdA 38, PVV 15, SP 15, CDA 13, D66 12, CU 5, GL 4, other 7
Legislative branch > Elections	Senate - last held on 25 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2014); National Assembly - last held on 10 and 17 June 2012 (next to be held in June 2017)	First Chamber - last held on May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015); Second Chamber - last held on 12 September 2012 (next to be held by September 2016)
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index	21.6 Ranked 10th. 3 times more than Netherlands	6.48 Ranked 33th.
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage	26.86% Ranked 40th.	38.67% Ranked 14th. 44% more than France
Independence	no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)	23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts	appellate courts or Cour d'Appel; regional courts or Tribunal de Grande Instance; first instance courts or Tribunal' d'instance	courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts
Basis of executive legitimacy	Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence	Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs	<strong>metropolitan France: </strong>transshipment point for South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics<br /><strong>French Guiana:</strong> small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe<br /><strong>Martinique:</strong> transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe	major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering; significant consumer of ecstasy
Country name > Local short form	France	Nederland
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press	24 Ranked 152nd. Twice as much as Netherlands	12 Ranked 190th.
Corruption > Bribe Payers Index	8.1 Ranked 10th.	8.7 Ranked 4th. 7% more than France
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament	12.2% Ranked 99th.	36.7% Ranked 7th. 3 times more than France
Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy	2	Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number	5 Ranked 147th. 25% more than Netherlands	4 Ranked 166th.
Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote	13.6% Ranked 3rd. 35% more than Netherlands	10.1% Ranked 6th.
Democracy > Civil and political liberties	5.5 Ranked 34th.	6 Ranked 14th. 9% more than France
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$	504.41 billion$ Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Netherlands	149.92 billion$ Ranked 8th.
National holiday	Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790)(on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)	Queen's Day (Birthday of deceased Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Capital > Geographic coordinates	48 52 N, 2 20 E	52 21 N, 4 55 E
Democracy > First female parliamentarian	1945 (elected)	1918 (elected)
Time required to start a business > Days	8 days Ranked 162nd.	10 days Ranked 158th. 25% more than France
Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment	0.988 Ranked 58th. 1% more than Netherlands	0.976 Ranked 74th.
Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office	Court of Cassation judges appointed by the president of the republic from nominations from the High Council of the Judiciary, presided by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judge term of appointment NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic and 3 each by the National Assembly and Senate presidents; members serve 9-year, non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years	justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the Second Chamber of the States General; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index	7.88 Ranked 23th.	8.99 Ranked 10th. 14% more than France
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient	4.6 Ranked 41st.	5.4 Ranked 9th. 17% more than France
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days	49 Ranked 67th. 20 times more than Netherlands	2.5 Ranked 180th.
Politics	Francois Hollande is France's first Socialist president since Francois Mitterrand in 1981-95	A left-right coalition government was formed in November 2012, after months of deadlock over plans to cut the budget deficit
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Parliament > Seats held by men	422 Ranked 11th. 5 times more than Netherlands	92 Ranked 106th.
Country name > Local long form	Republique francaise	Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years	1.9 Ranked 126th. 73% more than Netherlands	1.1 Ranked 157th.
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million	0.0761 Ranked 174th.	0.298 Ranked 134th. 4 times more than France
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery	None	None
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission	Ambassador Francois M. DELATTRE (since 18 February 2011)	Ambassador Rudolf Simon BEKINK (since 20 July 2012)
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission	Ambassador Charles H. RIVKIN (since 3 August 2009) note - also accredited to Monaco	Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Adam STERLING
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone	[33] (1) 43-12-22-22	[31] (70) 310-2209
Parliament > Seats held by women	155 Ranked 8th. 3 times more than Netherlands	58 Ranked 45th.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel	None	None
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating	9 Ranked 41st.	10 Ranked 29th. 11% more than France
UN membership date	24 Oct. 1945	10 Dec. 1945
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people	0.12 Ranked 29th.	0.536 Ranked 20th. 4 times more than France
Total businesses registered > Number per 1000	40.13 Ranked 29th.	70.08 Ranked 17th. 75% more than France
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number	9 Ranked 170th.	14 Ranked 97th. 56% more than France
Capital city	Paris	Amsterdam
Capital > Name	Paris	Amsterdam
Legal origin	<a href=/country/fr>French</a>	<a href=/country/fr>French</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita	8,286.27$ per capita Ranked 8th.	9,186.08$ per capita Ranked 6th. 11% more than France
Spending > Expense > Current LCU	870.97 billion Ranked 20th. 4 times more than Netherlands	241.33 billion Ranked 43th.
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days	79 Ranked 107th.	143 Ranked 38th. 81% more than France
Democracy and rights > Year women first voted at national level	1944	1919
Legislature (parliament) > People per member	72,465 Ranked 46th.	73,561 Ranked 45th. 2% more than France
Capital > Time difference	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
International relations	France is a key European and world player. It has a strong military. France is influential in Africa, especially in former colonies	The Netherlands plays a central role in the European Union and Dutch forces have been active in UN peacekeeping efforts
Leaders > Prime minister > Profile	<p>Jean-Marc Ayrault, a long-standing ally of President Hollande, is a veteran leader of the Socialists' parliamentary bloc and mayor of Nantes. The premiership is his first senior government post. </p> <p>He has a reputation as a calm consensus-builder. Mr Ayrault is a German-speaker, seen as an asset for the president in handling France's relationship with Germany. </p>	<p>Mark Rutte won a second term in October 2012 when his liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) formed a coalition with the centre-left Labour Party after narrowly beating it in parliamentary elections.</p> <p>The VVD won 41 seats in the 150-member lower house - a lead of just two seats over Labour - in the September vote.</p> <p>Mr Rutte's previous cabinet - a minority coalition with the centre-right Christian Democratic Appeal - had collapsed after only two years in office.</p> <p>It resigned in April 2012 when populist politician Geert Wilders' eurosceptic, anti-immigration Freedom Party, which had been propping up the government without joining it, refused to back a tough austerity package.</p> <p>The cuts were intended to comply with EU deficit targets.</p> <p>Mark Rutte's new cabinet was seen as more pro-austerity and pro-EU than his last one.</p> <p>The new coalition warned that tough measures would be needed to weather the financial crisis and secure the Netherlands' economic future.</p> <p>The Freedom Party, which had held the balance of power in the previous parliament, suffered heavy losses in the September 2012 poll and came a distant third, tying with the left-wing Socialist Party.</p>
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million	1.2 Ranked 171st.	8.53 Ranked 104th. 7 times more than France
Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members	321 Ranked 2nd. 4 times more than Netherlands	75 Ranked 30th.
Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members	577 Ranked 9th. 4 times more than Netherlands	150 Ranked 65th.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days	395 Ranked 157th.	514 Ranked 108th. 30% more than France
Democracy > Female parliamentarians	10.9% Ranked 79th.	32.9% Ranked 6th. 3 times more than France
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number	8 Ranked 39th. 60% more than Netherlands	5 Ranked 133th.
Role of head of state	Executive	Ceremonial
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita	7,984.17$ Ranked 9th.	9,186.07$ Ranked 6th. 15% more than France
Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote)	13.6% Ranked 3rd. 35% more than Netherlands	10.1% Ranked 6th.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number	7 Ranked 134th. 17% more than Netherlands	6 Ranked 149th.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million	0.07 Ranked 120th.	0.322 Ranked 78th. 5 times more than France
Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong	7 Ranked 63th. 17% more than Netherlands	6 Ranked 83th.
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU	465.29 billion Ranked 20th. 2 times more than Netherlands	192 billion Ranked 33th.
Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU	183.84 billion Ranked 20th. 10 times more than Netherlands	18.34 billion Ranked 53th.
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for upper house members	6 Ranked 6th. 50% more than Netherlands	4 Ranked 52nd.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP	0.237$ per $1 of GDP Ranked 18th.	0.24$ per $1 of GDP Ranked 16th. 1% more than France
Parliament > Seats held by women per million people	2.35 Ranked 114th.	3.45 Ranked 89th. 47% more than France
Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment	April 20, 1949	April 2, 1960
Democracy > Female suffrage	1944	1919
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days	184 Ranked 58th. 17% more than Netherlands	157 Ranked 86th.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Syrian National Council	Recognised on 21 November 2011 (as legitimate interlocutor) , on 13 November 2012 (as sole legitimate representative)	Verbal support Rejection of Assad government Informal relations
Leaders > Prime minister > Summary	Jean-Marc Ayrault was elected as prime minister in May 2012	Mark Rutte won a fresh mandate in September 2012
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million	0.441 Ranked 172nd.	1.55 Ranked 138th. 4 times more than France
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million	0.0989 Ranked 181st.	0.298 Ranked 162nd. 3 times more than France
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million	0.898 Ranked 144th. 3 times more than Netherlands	0.328 Ranked 163th.
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million	2.8 Ranked 161st.	9.36 Ranked 127th. 3 times more than France
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million	0.137 Ranked 170th.	0.835 Ranked 125th. 6 times more than France
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	41.53 per 1,000 people Ranked 30th.	70.08 per 1,000 people Ranked 17th. 69% more than France
Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU	49.58 billion Ranked 24th. 5 times more than Netherlands	10.72 billion Ranked 45th.
Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties	3.53 million Ranked 3rd. 4 times more than Netherlands	950,263 Ranked 6th.
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador	Delattre, François François Delattre	Jones-Bos, Renée Renée Jones-Bos
Democracy and rights > Major left wing party	Socialist Party	Labour Party
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people	0.0184 Ranked 46th.	0.12 Ranked 40th. 6 times more than France
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons	1,210 Ranked 37th.	2,005 Ranked 33th. 66% more than France
Dependent areas	Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna	Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita	5,427.38 constant 2000 US$ per c Ranked 7th.	5,763.66 constant 2000 US$ per c Ranked 6th. 6% more than France
Time required to build a warehouse > Days	155 days Ranked 106th.	184 days Ranked 86th. 19% more than France
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population	44.52 million Ranked 14th. 4 times more than Netherlands	12.28 million Ranked 40th.
Failed States Index	32.6 Ranked 16th. 21% more than Netherlands	26.9 Ranked 21st.
Democracy > Female candidacy	1,944 Ranked 105th. 1% more than Netherlands	1,917 Ranked 154th.
Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment	April 24, 1992	February 11, 1992
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Votes	29 Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Netherlands	13 Ranked 7th.
National anthem > Name	"La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)	"Het Wilhelmus" (The William)
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita	0.115 per 1 million people Ranked 152nd.	0.366 per 1 million people Ranked 129th. 3 times more than France
Time required to enforce a contract > Days	331 days Ranked 130th.	408 days Ranked 105th. 23% more than France
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Democracy and rights > Electoral system	2 round	PR (list)
Procedures to register property > Number	9 Ranked 20th. 5 times more than Netherlands	2 Ranked 164th.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number	10 Ranked 159th.	18 Ranked 73th. 80% more than France
Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes	29 Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Netherlands	13 Ranked 7th.
Democracy and rights > Party system	Multi	Multi
Democracy and rights > Structure	Parliamentary	Parliamentary
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament	898 Ranked 4th. 4 times more than Netherlands	225 Ranked 53th.
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense	53.42% Ranked 34th.	79.56% Ranked 3rd. 49% more than France
Legislature (parliament) > Strongly bicameral?	No	Yes
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU	405596000000	120547000000
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > %	26.9% Ranked 45th.	38.7% Ranked 15th. 44% more than France
Capital city > Note	applies to metropolitan France only, not to its overseas departments, collectivities, or territories	The Hague is the seat of government; time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components
Parties in the European Council during 2006 > Leaders > January 1 > 2006 > Votes	29 Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Netherlands	13 Ranked 6th.
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Leader	Jacques Chirac	Jan Peter Balkenende
Parties in the European Council during 2002 > Leaders > January 1 > 2002 > Votes	10 Ranked 2nd. Twice as much as Netherlands	5 Ranked 8th.
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > National party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_for_a_Popular_Movement">UMP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Party_for_Freedom_and_Democracy">VVD</a>
European Union > Council of the European Union votes	29 Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Netherlands	13 Ranked 8th.
Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours	128 hours Ranked 134th.	250 hours Ranked 85th. 95% more than France
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$	330.38 billion constant 2000 US$ Ranked 2nd. 4 times more than Netherlands	94.06 billion constant 2000 US$ Ranked 8th.
Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita	0.147 per 1 million people Ranked 137th. 20% more than Netherlands	0.122 per 1 million people Ranked 145th.
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita	0.344 per 1 million people Ranked 158th.	1.34 per 1 million people Ranked 128th. 4 times more than France
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > National party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_for_a_Popular_Movement">UMP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Democratic_Appeal">CDA</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU	53.84 billion Ranked 34th. 3 times more than Netherlands	17.46 billion Ranked 48th.
Republic establishment date	September 4, 1870	July 26, 1581
Parties in the European Council during 2007 > Leaders > January 1 > 2007 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2009 > Leaders > January 1 > 2009 > Leader	Nicolas Sarkozy	Jan Peter Balkenende
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > Votes	29 Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Netherlands	13 Ranked 7th.
Parties in the European Council during 2000 > Leaders > January 1 > 2000 > Leader	Jacques Chirac	Wim Kok
Parties in the European Council between January and April 2004 > Leaders > January 1 > 2004 > Leader	Jacques Chirac	Jan Peter Balkenende
National anthem > Note	adopted 1795, restored 1870; originally known as "Chant de Guerre pour l'Armee du Rhin" (War Song for the Army of the Rhine), the National Guard of Marseille made the song famous by singing it while marching into Paris in 1792 during the French Revolutionary Wars	adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century, making it the oldest national anthem in the world; also known as "Wilhelmus van Nassouwe" (William of Nassau), it is in the form of an acrostic, where the first letter of each stanza spells the name of the leader of the Dutch Revolt
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number	29 Ranked 174th. 12% more than Netherlands	26 Ranked 184th.
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million	0.122 Ranked 156th.	0.298 Ranked 123th. 2 times more than France
Diplomatic representation from the US > Consulate(s) general	Marseille, Strasbourg	Amsterdam
Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes	29 Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Netherlands	13 Ranked 8th.
Council of EU > 2003 > Country votes	10 Ranked 2nd. Twice as much as Netherlands	5 Ranked 9th.
Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader	Jacques Chirac	Jan Peter Balkenende
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX	[1] (202) 944-6166	[1] (202) 362-3430
Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader	Jacques Chirac	Jan Peter Balkenende
Parties in the European Council during 2002 > Leaders > January 1 > 2002 > Leader	Jacques Chirac	Wim Kok
Parties in the European Council during 2003 > Leaders > January 1 > 2003 > European party	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Votes	29 Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Netherlands	13 Ranked 6th.
Council of EU > 2002 > Country leader	Jacques Chirac	Wim Kok
Council of EU > 2001 > Country leader	Jacques Chirac	Wim Kok
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Leader	Nicolas Sarkozy	Jan Peter Balkenende
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Leader	Nicolas Sarkozy	Mark Rutte
Council of EU > 2002 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Time to resolve insolvency > Years	1.9 years Ranked 117th. 12% more than Netherlands	1.7 years Ranked 125th.
Council of EU > 2001 > Country votes	10 Ranked 2nd. Twice as much as Netherlands	5 Ranked 9th.
Ruling party	Socialist	VVD /Coalition
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth	1.07% Ranked 88th. 2 times more than Netherlands	0.49% Ranked 96th.
Time required to register property > Days	183 days Ranked 23th. 37 times more than Netherlands	5 days Ranked 158th.
Stabilisation and Association process > Stabilisation and Association process > Republic of > Macedonia	4.6.2003	9.9.2002
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million	0.33 Ranked 156th.	1.35 Ranked 127th. 4 times more than France
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/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Foreign relations > Date of establishment of relations with China	January 27, 1964	May 18, 1972
Council of EU > January–April 2004 > European party of leader	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Parties in the European Council during 1999 > Leaders > January 1 > 1999 > Votes	10 Ranked 2nd. Twice as much as Netherlands	5 Ranked 8th.
Democracy and rights > Strong judicial review?	No	No
Democracy and rights > Strongly federal?	No	No
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general	Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC	Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Democracy and rights > Last election	April 2012	September 2012
Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue	6.09% Ranked 38th. 42% more than Netherlands	4.3% Ranked 45th.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000	715.3 Ranked 43th.	756.56 Ranked 30th. 6% more than France
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number	21 Ranked 153th.	22 Ranked 147th. 5% more than France
Parliament > Seats held by men per million people	6.4 Ranked 144th. 17% more than Netherlands	5.47 Ranked 155th.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia	The French Foreign Ministry spokesman said, "We consider this is a regrettable decision and I recall our attachment to the territorial integrity of Georgia". French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that "in a certain way, yes, ethnic cleansing is taking place" in villages previously controlled by the Georgian side. "We cannot accept these violations of international law, of accords for security and cooperation in Europe, of United Nations resolutions, and the taking ... of a territory by the army of a neighbouring country."	Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen expressed on behalf of the cabinet his "great concern" about the Russian position and said that "for the Netherlands, the territorial integrity of Georgia within the internationally recognised borders, also earlier recognised by Russia, remains the basis for a solution to this crisis. The one-sided recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia does not bring this solution nearer".
Parties in the European Council during 1999 > Leaders > January 1 > 1999 > European party	Independent	<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense	21.11% Ranked 46th. 3 times more than Netherlands	7.6% Ranked 83th.
Democracy and rights > Next election	April 2017	March 2017
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Votes	29 Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Netherlands	13 Ranked 7th.
Stabilisation and Association process > Croatia	4.6.2003	30.4.2004
Parties in the European Council during 1999 > Leaders > January 1 > 1999 > Leader	Jacques Chirac	Wim Kok
FAX > Consulate(s) general	Strasbourg	Amsterdam
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million	0.11 Ranked 153th.	0.367 Ranked 127th. 3 times more than France
Foreign relations > International recognition of the Syrian National Council notes	"The Syrian National Council is the legitimate interlocutor with which we will continue to work," French foreign minister Alain Juppe stated on November 21, 2011.	Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal met with Burhan Ghalioun, the leader of the Syrian National Council on 17 January 2012. Rosenthal has pledged to continue to increase pressure on the Assad government, specifically by promoting EU sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions toward this end. Rosenthal further stated, "It\u2019s time for this to stop: Assad must step down and make way for a democratic Syria." He went on to praise the courage of the Syrian demonstrators and the SNC's role in "representing Syrian issues at an international level."
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo	None	None
Democracy and rights > Major right wing party	Union for a Popular Movement	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members	5 Ranked 92nd. 25% more than Netherlands	4 Ranked 174th.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million	5.94 Ranked 172nd.	30.65 Ranked 128th. 5 times more than France
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita	0.164 per 1 million people Ranked 154th.	1.1 per 1 million people Ranked 110th. 7 times more than France
Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes	29 Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Netherlands	13 Ranked 7th.
Spending > Expense > % of GDP	44.7% Ranked 5th. 10% more than Netherlands	40.5% Ranked 12th.
Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX	[33] (1) 42 66 97 83	[31] (70) 310-2207
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone	[1] (202) 944-6000	[1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443
Capital city > Time difference	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	1
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU	358595200000	102095000000
Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense	6.18% Ranked 79th.	7.24% Ranked 76th. 17% more than France
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/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita	5,229.51 constant 2000 US$ Ranked 10th.	5,763.66 constant 2000 US$ Ranked 6th. 10% more than France
Spending > Interest payments > % of expense	5.69% Ranked 40th. 28% more than Netherlands	4.44% Ranked 46th.
Spending > Other expense > % of expense	1.94% Ranked 75th.	3.25% Ranked 67th. 68% more than France
Spending > Other expense > Current LCU	16.91 billion Ranked 34th. 2 times more than Netherlands	7.84 billion Ranked 48th.
Procedures to register property > Number per million	0.141 Ranked 138th. 16% more than Netherlands	0.122 Ranked 144th.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million	0.157 Ranked 152nd.	1.1 Ranked 110th. 7 times more than France

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); British Broadcasting Corporation 2014; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).; Wikipedia: List of countries by system of government (Alphabetical list of countries); All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; World Development Indicators database; Wikipedia: Censorship by country (Censorship by country) ("Press Freedom Index 2013" , Reporters Without Borders, 30 January 2013); United Nations Statistics Division; "2012 Freedom of the Press Data" , Freedom House, 1 May 2012; Wikipedia: Bribe Payers Index; 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. 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Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; Wikipedia: International recognition of Israel (UN member states); Polity IV Project, University of Maryland, at Polity IV Project; United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook and Statistical Yearbook; Wikipedia: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Indicators) ("Democracy Index 2012" (PDF). The Economist. March 2013 . Retrieved 2013-03-21 .). Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. 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