| STAT | Germany | United Kingdom | HISTORY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative divisions | 16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen (Hesse), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia)(Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat) | <strong>England: </strong>27 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 56 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*)<br /><strong>two-tier counties:</strong> Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire<br /><strong>London boroughs and City of London or Greater London:</strong> Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster<br /><strong>metropolitan districts:</strong> Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton <br /><strong>unitary authorities:</strong> Bath and North East Somerset, Blackburn with Darwen, Bedford, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, City of Bristol, Central Bedfordshire, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cornwall, Darlington, Derby, Durham County*, East Riding of Yorkshire, Halton, Hartlepool, Herefordshire*, Isle of Wight*, Isles of Scilly, City of Kingston upon Hull, Leicester, Luton, Medway, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Somerset, Northumberland*, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading, Redcar and Cleveland, Rutland, Shropshire, Slough, South Gloucestershire, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, Stockton-on-Tees, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, Telford and Wrekin, Thurrock, Torbay, Warrington, West Berkshire, Wiltshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, York<br /><strong>Northern Ireland:</strong> 26 district council areas<br /><strong>district council areas:</strong> Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Derry, Down, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane<br /><strong>Scotland:</strong> 32 council areas<br /><strong>council areas:</strong> Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian<br /><strong>Wales:</strong> 22 unitary authorities<br /><strong>unitary authorities:</strong> Blaenau Gwent; Bridgend; Caerphilly; Cardiff; Carmarthenshire; Ceredigion; Conwy; Denbighshire; Flintshire; Gwynedd; Isle of Anglesey; Merthyr Tydfil; Monmouthshire; Neath Port Talbot; Newport; Pembrokeshire; Powys; Rhondda Cynon Taff; Swansea; The Vale of Glamorgan; Torfaen; Wrexham |
|
| Capital city > Geographic coordinates | 52 31 N, 13 24 E | 51 |
|
| Capital city > Name | Berlin | London |
|
| Constitution | previous 1919 (Weimar Constitution); latest drafted 10 to 23 August 1948, approved 12 May 1949, promulgated 23 May 1949, entered into force 24 May 1949; amended many times, last in 2012 | unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice |
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address | Unit 5090, Box 1000, DPO AE09265 | PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040 |
|
| Executive branch > Cabinet | Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor | Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister |
|
| Executive branch > Chief of state | President Joachim GAUCK (since 23 March 2012) | Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948) |
|
| Executive branch > Head of government | Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005) | Prime Minister David CAMERON (since 11 May 2010) |
|
| Government type | federal republic | constitutional monarchy and Commonwealth realm |
|
| Judicial branch | Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat); Federal Court of Justice; Federal Administrative Court | Supreme Court of the UK (established in October 2009 taking over appellate jurisdiction formerly vested in the House of Lords is the final court of appeal); Senior Courts of England and Wales (comprising the Court of Appeal, the High Court of Justice, and the Crown Courts); Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland); Scotland's Court of Session and High Court of the Justiciary |
|
| Legal system | civil law system | common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998 |
|
| Legislative branch | bicameral legislature consists of the Federal Council or Bundesrat | bicameral Parliament consists of House of Lords |
|
| Political parties and leaders | Alliance '90/Greens [Cem OEZDEMIR]<br />Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]<br />Christian Social Union or CSU [Horst SEEHOFER]<br />Free Democratic Party or FDP [Philipp ROESLER]<br />Left Party or Die Linke [Katia KIPPING and Bernd RIEXINGER]<br />Social Democratic Party or SPD [Sigmar GABRIEL] | Conservative [David CAMERON]<br />Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) [Peter ROBINSON]<br />Labor Party [Ed MILIBAND]<br />Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) [Nick CLEGG]<br />Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Leanne WOOD]<br />Scottish National Party or SNP [Alex SALMOND]<br />Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Gerry ADAMS]<br />Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Alasdair MCDONNELL]<br />Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Mike NESBITT]<br />United Kingdom Independent Party or UKIP [Nigel FARAGE] |
|
| Political pressure groups and leaders | business associations and employers' organizations<br />trade unions; religious, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups | Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament<br />Confederation of British Industry<br />National Farmers' Union<br />Trades Union Congress |
|
| 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, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
|
| Country name > Conventional long form | Federal Republic of Germany | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | |
| Executive branch > Elections | president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) by a Federal Convention, including all members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; election last held on 19 February 2012 (next to be held by June 2017); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Parliament for a four-year term; Federal Parliament vote for Chancellor last held after 22 September 2013 (next to be held September 2017) | the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister |
|
| National symbol(s) | golden eagle | lion (Britain in general); lion (England); lion, unicorn (Scotland); dragon (Wales); harp (Northern Ireland) | |
| Flag description | three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold; these colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field | blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories |
|
| Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days |
14.5
Ranked 103th. 21% more than United Kingdom |
12
Ranked 115th. |
|
| Country name > Conventional short form | Germany | United Kingdom | |
| Constitutional form | Republic | Constitutional monarchy | |
| Transnational Issues > Disputes > International | none | in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insisted on equal participation in talks between the two countries; Spain disapproved of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory); in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago, evicted 1967 - 1973, were granted U.K. citizenship and the right of return, followed by Orders in Council in 2004 that banned rehabitation, a High Court ruling reversed the ban, a Court of Appeal refusal to hear the case, and a Law Lords' decision in 2008 denied the right of return; in addition, the United Kingdom created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm |
|
| Total businesses registered > Number |
2.92 million
Ranked 8th. 45% more than United Kingdom |
2.02 million
Ranked 13th. |
|
| National anthem | <strong>name: </strong>"Das Lied der Deutschen" (Song of the Germans)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> August Heinrich HOFFMANN VON FALLERSLEBEN/Franz Joseph HAYDN | <strong>name: </strong>"God Save the Queen"<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> unknown | |
| FAX | 49 | 44 | |
| Legislative branch > Election results | Bundestag - percent of vote by party - CDU/CSU 41.5%, SPD 25.7%, Left 8.6%, Greens 8.4%, FDP 4.8%, other 11%; seats by party - CDU/CSU 311, SPD 192, Left 64, Greens 63 | House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative 36.1%, Labor 29%, Liberal Democrats 23%, other 11.9%; seats by party - Conservative 305, Labor 258, Liberal Democrat 57, other 30 |
|
| Legislative branch > Elections | Bundestag - last held on 22 September 2013 (next to be held no later than autumn 2017); most all postwar German governments have been coalitions | House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain there; elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary peerage arise); House of Commons - last held on 6 May 2010 (next to be held by June 2015) |
|
| Democracy and rights > Press freedom index |
10.24
Ranked 21st. |
16.89
Ranked 14th. 65% more than Germany |
|
| Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage |
32.9%
Ranked 26th. 46% more than United Kingdom |
22.46%
Ranked 64th. |
|
| Independence | 18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor) | 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); notable earlier dates: 927 (minor English kingdoms united); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England and Scotland as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland) |
|
| Judicial branch > Subordinate courts | Federal Administrative Court; Federal Finance Court; Federal Labor Court; Federal Social Court; each of the 16 German states or Land has its own constitutional court and a hierarchy of ordinary (civil, criminal, family) and specialized (administrative, finance, labor, social) courts | England and Wales - Court of Appeal (civil and criminal divisions); High Court; Crown Court; County Courts; Magistrates' Courts; Scotland - Court of Sessions; Sherrif Courts; High Court of Justiciary; tribunals; Northern Ireland - Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; High Court; county courts; magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals | |
| Basis of executive legitimacy | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence | |
| Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs | source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs; major financial center | producer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and synthetic drugs; money-laundering center | |
| Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press |
17
Ranked 174th. |
21
Ranked 161st. 24% more than Germany |
|
| Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament |
31.8%
Ranked 17th. 61% more than United Kingdom |
19.7%
Ranked 57th. |
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy | Clayallee 170, 14191 Berlin | 24 |
|
| Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number |
9
Ranked 39th. 50% more than United Kingdom |
6
Ranked 110th. |
|
| Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote |
1.5%
Ranked 3rd. |
1.9%
Ranked 3rd. 27% more than Germany |
|
| Democracy > Civil and political liberties |
5.5
Ranked 17th. The same as United Kingdom |
5.5
Ranked 27th. |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ |
518.82 billion$
Ranked 1st. 8% more than United Kingdom |
478.91 billion$
Ranked 3rd. |
|
| National holiday | Unity Day, 3 October | the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday |
|
| Capital > Geographic coordinates | 52 31 N, 13 24 E | 51 30 N, 0 05 W |
|
| Democracy > First female parliamentarian | 1919 (elected) | 1918 (elected) | |
| Time required to start a business > Days |
24 days
Ranked 118th. 33% more than United Kingdom |
18 days
Ranked 138th. |
|
| Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment |
1
Ranked 25th. About the same as United Kingdom |
0.999
Ranked 31st. |
|
| Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office | Federal Court of Justice judges selected by the Judges Election Committee, which consists of the Secretaries of Justice from each of the 16 federated States and 16 members appointed by the Federal Parliament; judges appointed by the president of Germany; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; Federal Constitutional Court judges - one-half elected by the House of Representatives and one-half by the Senate; judges appointed for 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 68 | judge candidates selected by an independent committee of several judicial commissions, followed by their recommendations to the prime minister, and appointed by Her Majesty The Queen; justices appointed during period of good behavior | |
| Democracy and rights > Democracy Index |
8.34
Ranked 14th. 2% more than United Kingdom |
8.21
Ranked 15th. |
|
| Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient |
4.9
Ranked 24th. |
5.1
Ranked 17th. 4% more than Germany |
|
| Red tape > Time required to register property > Days |
40
Ranked 82nd. 86% more than United Kingdom |
21.5
Ranked 128th. |
|
| Politics | Angela Merkel of the conservative Christian Democrats won a third term as chancellor in 2013 | Prime Minister David Cameron, from the centre-right Conservative Party, heads a coalition with the UK's third party, the Liberal Democrats. Scotland and Wales have a degree of political autonomy. A vote on Scottish independence is due in 2014. | |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | |
| Parliament > Seats held by men |
416
Ranked 13th. |
504
Ranked 2nd. 21% more than Germany |
|
| Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years |
1.2
Ranked 153th. 20% more than United Kingdom |
1
Ranked 160th. |
|
| Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million |
0.11
Ranked 163th. 16% more than United Kingdom |
0.0949
Ranked 170th. |
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery | None | None |
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission | Ambassador Niels Peter Georg AMMON (since 9 August 2011) | Ambassador Peter John WESTMACOTT (since 17 January 2012) |
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission | Ambassador John B. EMERSON (since 7 August 2013) | Ambassador Matthew W. BARZUN (since 15 August 2013) |
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone | [49] (30) 48305-0 | [44] (0) 20 7499-9000 |
|
| Parliament > Seats held by women |
204
Ranked 3rd. 40% more than United Kingdom |
146
Ranked 11th. |
|
| Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel |
None
|
None
|
|
| Democracy > Democratic institutions rating |
10
Ranked 2nd. The same as United Kingdom |
10
Ranked 16th. |
|
| UN membership date | 18 Sep. 1973 | 24 Oct. 1945 | |
| Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people |
0.102
Ranked 30th. |
0.13
Ranked 27th. 27% more than Germany |
|
| Total businesses registered > Number per 1000 |
35.32
Ranked 34th. 4% more than United Kingdom |
33.86
Ranked 35th. |
|
| Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number |
9
Ranked 163th. |
12
Ranked 129th. 33% more than Germany |
|
| Capital city | Berlin | London |
|
| Capital > Name | Berlin | London | |
| Legal origin | <a href=/country/gm>German</a> | <a href=/encyclopedia/England>English</a> | |
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita |
6,291.01$
per capita
Ranked 12th. |
7,951.89$
per capita
Ranked 10th. 26% more than Germany |
|
| Spending > Expense > Current LCU |
717.25 billion
Ranked 25th. 16% more than United Kingdom |
617.96 billion
Ranked 30th. |
|
| Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days |
17
Ranked 188th. |
126
Ranked 52nd. 7 times more than Germany |
|
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout |
79.1%
Ranked 45th. 33% more than United Kingdom |
59.4%
Ranked 118th. |
|
| Legislature (parliament) > People per member |
118,671
Ranked 23th. 3 times more than United Kingdom |
42,921
Ranked 64th. |
|
| Capital > Time difference | UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) | UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) | |
| International relations | Germany is a major player in Europe and a proponent of European integration. It is the third biggest troop supplier in Afghanistan | The UK is a key global player diplomatically and militarily. It plays leading roles in the EU, UN and Nato | |
| Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million |
0.208
Ranked 185th. |
1.66
Ranked 166th. 8 times more than Germany |
|
| Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members |
69
Ranked 34th. |
786
Ranked 1st. 11 times more than Germany |
|
| Democracy > Female ministers |
35.9%
Ranked 10th. 3 times more than United Kingdom |
14.3%
Ranked 58th. |
|
| Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members |
622
Ranked 6th. |
650
Ranked 4th. 5% more than Germany |
|
| Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days |
394
Ranked 158th. |
437
Ranked 134th. 11% more than Germany |
|
| Democracy > Female parliamentarians |
31%
Ranked 8th. 81% more than United Kingdom |
17.1%
Ranked 45th. |
|
| Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number |
5
Ranked 103th. |
6
Ranked 85th. 20% more than Germany |
|
| Role of head of state | Ceremonial | Ceremonial | |
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita |
6,291.01$
Ranked 12th. |
7,952.18$
Ranked 10th. 26% more than Germany |
|
| Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote) |
1.5%
Ranked 3rd. |
1.9%
Ranked 3rd. 27% more than Germany |
|
| Start-up procedures to register a business > Number |
9
Ranked 82nd. 50% more than United Kingdom |
6
Ranked 143th. |
|
| Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong |
7
Ranked 41st. |
9
Ranked 14th. 29% more than Germany |
|
| Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million |
0.0598
Ranked 124th. |
0.0807
Ranked 115th. 35% more than Germany |
|
| Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU |
39.56 billion
Ranked 43th. |
86.25 billion
Ranked 34th. 2 times more than Germany |
|
| Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU |
581.96 billion
Ranked 16th. 84% more than United Kingdom |
317.02 billion
Ranked 25th. |
|
| Foreign relations > Comprehensive National Power |
61.93
Ranked 5th. |
65.04
Ranked 2nd. 5% more than Germany |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP |
0.186$
per $1 of GDP
Ranked 43th. |
0.218$
per $1 of GDP
Ranked 26th. 17% more than Germany |
|
| Parliament > Seats held by women per million people |
2.51
Ranked 111th. 9% more than United Kingdom |
2.3
Ranked 117th. |
|
| Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment | April 4, 1958 | 1816 | |
| Democracy > Female suffrage | 1918 | "1918 ,1928" | |
| Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days |
97
Ranked 149th. 10% more than United Kingdom |
88
Ranked 160th. |
|
| Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Syrian National Council | Verbal support Rejection of Assad government Informal relations | Recognised on 24 February 2012 (As legitimate representative) | |
| Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million |
0.366
Ranked 176th. |
0.443
Ranked 171st. 21% more than Germany |
|
| Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million |
0.177
Ranked 169th. |
0.19
Ranked 168th. 7% more than Germany |
|
| Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million |
0.488
Ranked 152nd. 8% more than United Kingdom |
0.451
Ranked 157th. |
|
| Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million |
0.11
Ranked 173th. |
0.19
Ranked 166th. 73% more than Germany |
|
| Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million |
1.18
Ranked 175th. |
1.39
Ranked 171st. 17% more than Germany |
|
| 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 |
35.32
per 1,000 people
Ranked 34th. 4% more than United Kingdom |
33.85
per 1,000 people
Ranked 35th. |
|
| Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU |
41.34 billion
Ranked 27th. 27% more than United Kingdom |
32.51 billion
Ranked 29th. |
|
| Democracy and rights > Major left wing party | Social Democratic Party | Labour Party | |
| Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador | Ammon, Peter Peter Ammon | Westmacott, Peter Peter Westmacott | |
| Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties |
635,525
Ranked 10th. 13% more than United Kingdom |
563,743
Ranked 12th. |
|
| Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons |
5,683
Ranked 22nd. 28 times more than United Kingdom |
205
Ranked 48th. |
|
| Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people |
0.0694
Ranked 42nd. 21 times more than United Kingdom |
0.00324
Ranked 57th. |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita |
4,402.8 constant 2000 US$
per c
Ranked 13th. |
5,295.44 constant 2000 US$
per c
Ranked 9th. 20% more than Germany |
|
| Time required to build a warehouse > Days |
133 days
Ranked 128th. 16% more than United Kingdom |
115 days
Ranked 142nd. |
|
| Failed States Index |
29.7
Ranked 20th. |
33.2
Ranked 15th. 12% more than Germany |
|
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population |
66.31 million
Ranked 8th. 45% more than United Kingdom |
45.8 million
Ranked 13th. |
|
| Democracy > Female candidacy |
1,918
Ranked 145th. The same as United Kingdom |
1,918
Ranked 149th. |
|
| Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000 |
0.0405
Ranked 46th. |
0.0777
Ranked 37th. 92% more than Germany |
|
| Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita |
0.041
per 1,000 people
Ranked 45th. |
0.078
per 1,000 people
Ranked 37th. 90% more than Germany |
|
| Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment | January 15, 1992 | June 24, 1992 | |
| National anthem > Name | "Lied der Deutschen" (Song of the Germans) | "God Save the Queen" | |
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote |
48.58 million
Ranked 8th. 84% more than United Kingdom |
26.37 million
Ranked 15th. |
|
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration |
61.43 million
Ranked 9th. 38% more than United Kingdom |
44.4 million
Ranked 13th. |
|
| Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita |
0.109
per 1 million people
Ranked 154th. 10% more than United Kingdom |
0.099
per 1 million people
Ranked 155th. |
|
| Time required to enforce a contract > Days |
394 days
Ranked 113th. 72% more than United Kingdom |
229 days
Ranked 153th. |
|
| Democracy and rights > Electoral system | PR (MMP) | FPTP | |
| Procedures to register property > Number |
4
Ranked 127th. Twice as much as United Kingdom |
2
Ranked 161st. |
|
| Procedures to build a warehouse > Number |
11
Ranked 149th. |
19
Ranked 57th. 73% more than Germany |
|
| Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes |
29
Ranked 2nd. The same as United Kingdom |
29
Ranked 3rd. |
|
| Democracy and rights > Party system | Multi | Multi | |
| Democracy and rights > Structure | Parliamentary | Parliamentary | |
| Democracy > Jew > Legal equality granted > Year | 1871 | 1856 | |
| Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue |
5.81%
Ranked 39th. The same as United Kingdom |
5.81%
Ranked 40th. |
|
| Democracy and rights > Next election | September 2017 | May 2015 | |
| Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense |
81.14%
Ranked 1st. 58% more than United Kingdom |
51.3%
Ranked 36th. |
|
| Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > % |
36.5%
Ranked 20th. 62% more than United Kingdom |
22.5%
Ranked 69th. |
|
| Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours |
105 hours
Ranked 146th. The same as United Kingdom |
105 hours
Ranked 147th. |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ |
363.1 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 1st. 14% more than United Kingdom |
318.93 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 3rd. |
|
| Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita |
0.049
per 1 million people
Ranked 155th. 48% more than United Kingdom |
0.033
per 1 million people
Ranked 161st. |
|
| Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita |
0.364
per 1 million people
Ranked 154th. 16% more than United Kingdom |
0.315
per 1 million people
Ranked 160th. |
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX | [49] (30) 8305-1215 | [44] (0) 20 7629-9124 |
|
| National anthem > Note | adopted 1922, restored 1990; the anthem, also known as "Deutschlandlied" (Song of Germany), was abolished in 1945 because of the Nazi's use of the first verse, specifically the phrase, "Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles" (Germany, Germany above all) to promote nationalism; since restoration in 1990, only the third verse is sung | in use since 1745; by tradition, the song serves as both the national and royal anthem of the United Kingdom; it is known as either "God Save the Queen" or "God Save the King," depending on the gender of the reigning monarch; it also serves as the royal anthem of many Commonwealth nations | |
| Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number |
30
Ranked 164th. 7% more than United Kingdom |
28
Ranked 176th. |
|
| Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million |
0.0611
Ranked 172nd. |
0.0949
Ranked 166th. 55% more than Germany |
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX | [1] (202) 298-4261 | [1] (202) 588-7850 |
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US > Consulate(s) general | Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich | Belfast, Edinburgh | |
| Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes |
29
Ranked 2nd. The same as United Kingdom |
29
Ranked 3rd. |
|
| Capital city > Time difference | UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) | UTC 0 |
|
| Council of EU > 2003 > Country votes |
10
Ranked 4th. The same as United Kingdom |
10
Ranked 3rd. |
|
| Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader | Gerhard Schröder | Tony Blair | |
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU | 394104700000 | 210778000000 |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita |
4,402.8 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 13th. |
5,295.63 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 8th. 20% more than Germany |
|
| Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader | Angela Merkel | Tony Blair | |
| Trademarks > Residents > Per capita |
0.758
per 1,000 people
Ranked 17th. 95% more than United Kingdom |
0.388
per 1,000 people
Ranked 33th. |
|
| Council of EU > 2002 > Country leader | Gerhard Schröder | Tony Blair | |
| Council of EU > 2001 > Country leader | Gerhard Schröder | Tony Blair | |
| Council of EU > 2002 > European party of leader | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> | |
| Trademarks > Residents per million |
758.35
Ranked 17th. 96% more than United Kingdom |
387.29
Ranked 32nd. |
|
| Time to resolve insolvency > Years |
1.2 years
Ranked 132nd. 20% more than United Kingdom |
1 years
Ranked 140th. |
|
| Ruling party | Christian Democrat | Conservative / LibDem | |
| Council of EU > 2001 > Country votes |
10
Ranked 4th. The same as United Kingdom |
10
Ranked 3rd. |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth |
0.1%
Ranked 101st. |
2.9%
Ranked 58th. 29 times more than Germany |
|
| Time required to register property > Days |
40 days
Ranked 100th. 90% more than United Kingdom |
21 days
Ranked 132nd. |
|
| Trademarks > Nonresidents |
3,342
Ranked 16th. |
4,653
Ranked 14th. 39% more than Germany |
|
| Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million |
0.364
Ranked 153th. 16% more than United Kingdom |
0.314
Ranked 159th. |
|
| FAX > Consulate(s) general | Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich | Edinburgh | |
| 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/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> | |
| Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> | |
| Stabilisation and Association process > Stabilisation and Association process > Republic of > Macedonia | 20.6.2002 | 17.12.2002 | |
| Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million |
0.109
Ranked 154th. 10% more than United Kingdom |
0.099
Ranked 155th. |
|
| Foreign relations > International recognition of the Syrian National Council notes | In a 6 August 2011 interview, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle remarked that "I don't believe that Assad has a political future ahead of him which is supported by the Syrian people". The German foreign ministry is reportedly in talks with the Syrian opposition. In November 2011, a Syrian National Council delegation met with Westerwelle and other high level foreign policy decision makers to brief them on developments in Syria. Westerwelle said "we cannot remain quiet to the human rights violations in Syria.\u201d He then lauded the efforts of the National Council and discussed future cooperation with the SNC regarding the transition phase to democracy. | url= http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=668666482|title=Foreign Office Minister meets Syrian National Council members |date=12 October 2011|accessdate=2012-01-23|publisher=UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office}}</ref> The following month, Foreign Secretary William Hague met with representatives of the SNC and National Coordination Body on 21 November. Speaking about the meeting, Hague remarked, \u201cWe will continue our contacts with the Syrian opposition. I\u2019ve appointed a senior official to lead our liaison and coordination with them... The message for the regime is that the rest of the world is talking to the Syrian opposition, that we are looking to a different future for Syria, for the Syrian people to decide for themselves what, what we want is what so many people in Syria want, a free and democratic future for the people of Syria. And I think the Assad regime will find that more and more Governments around the world are willing to work with the opposition to step up the level of their contacts as we have done today as part of the increasing pressure on this regime and its completely unacceptable behaviour.\u201d After a meeting with the Friends of Syria in Tunis, William Hague said the UK will recognise the Syrian National Council as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people | |
| Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo |
None
|
None
|
|
| Democracy and rights > Major right wing party | Christian Democratic Union | Conservative Party | |
| Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament |
691
Ranked 10th. |
1,436
Ranked 2nd. 2 times more than Germany |
|
| Democracy and rights > Last election | September 2013 | May 2010 | |
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU | 417180000000 | 263403000000 |
|
| Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita |
0.133
per 1 million people
Ranked 157th. |
0.315
per 1 million people
Ranked 143th. 2 times more than Germany |
|
| Spending > Expense > % of GDP |
28.74%
Ranked 46th. |
42.67%
Ranked 8th. 48% more than Germany |
|
| Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense |
5.52%
Ranked 87th. |
13.96%
Ranked 65th. 3 times more than Germany |
|
| Parliament > Seats held by men per million people |
5.13
Ranked 158th. |
7.95
Ranked 130th. 55% more than Germany |
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general | Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco | Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco | |
| Stabilisation and Association process > Croatia | 18.10.2002 | 3.9.2004 | |
| Council of EU > January–April 2004 > European party of leader | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> | |
| Democracy and rights > Strong judicial review? | Yes | No | |
| Democracy and rights > Strongly federal? | Yes | No | |
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000 |
803.47
Ranked 11th. 4% more than United Kingdom |
768.96
Ranked 25th. |
|
| Procedures to enforce a contract > Number |
30
Ranked 98th. 58% more than United Kingdom |
19
Ranked 160th. |
|
| Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia | Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "this contradicts the principle of territorial integrity, a principle based on the international law of nations and for this reason it is unacceptable". | Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband accused Russian President Dmitry Medvedev of "inflaming" the crisis. He said that "the announcement by President Medvedev that Russia will recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia is unjustifiable and unacceptable. It will also not work. It is contrary to the principles of the peace agreement, which Russia recently agreed, and to recent Russian statements. It takes no account of the views of the hundreds of thousands of Georgians and others who have been forced to abandon their homes in the two territories. We fully support Georgia's independence and territorial integrity, which cannot be changed by decree from Moscow." He called on Russia to "abide by international law as the basis for resolving this crisis" and stated that he will assemble the "widest possible coalition against Russian aggression". British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged the EU to review ties with Russia and that the group must intensify its support for Georgia and others who may face Russian aggression. Brown said the G7 should consider meeting more regularly, thus excluding Russia, which belongs to the G8 . Brown commenting on the conflict in Georgia and Russia's recognition of the two breakaway regions said "My message to Russia is simple: if you want to be welcome at the top table of organisations such as the G8, OECD and WTO , you must accept that with rights and responsibilities". Brown said that Russia "cannot pick and choose which rules to adhere to." | |
| Legislature (parliament) > Strongly bicameral? | Yes | No | |
| Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members |
4
Ranked 107th. |
5
Ranked 65th. 25% more than Germany |
|
| Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million |
4.81
Ranked 176th. |
6.91
Ranked 168th. 44% more than Germany |
|
| European Union > Council of the European Union votes |
29
Ranked 2nd. The same as United Kingdom |
29
Ranked 3rd. |
|
| Trademarks > Residents |
62,576
Ranked 5th. 3 times more than United Kingdom |
23,186
Ranked 10th. |
|
| Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU |
36.2 billion
Ranked 38th. |
108.34 billion
Ranked 22nd. 3 times more than Germany |
|
| Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes |
29
Ranked 2nd. The same as United Kingdom |
29
Ranked 3rd. |
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone | [1] (202) 298-4000 | [1] (202) 588-6500 |
|
| Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense |
5.05%
Ranked 83th. |
17.53%
Ranked 27th. 3 times more than Germany |
|
| Spending > Interest payments > % of expense |
5.76%
Ranked 39th. 10% more than United Kingdom |
5.26%
Ranked 43th. |
|
| Spending > Other expense > % of expense |
3.72%
Ranked 60th. |
12.95%
Ranked 13th. 3 times more than Germany |
|
| Spending > Other expense > Current LCU |
26.66 billion
Ranked 31st. |
80.01 billion
Ranked 19th. 3 times more than Germany |
|
| Procedures to register property > Number per million |
0.0486
Ranked 154th. 47% more than United Kingdom |
0.033
Ranked 160th. |
|
| Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million |
0.134
Ranked 156th. |
0.314
Ranked 142nd. 2 times more than Germany |
|
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