Country Comparison :: Government type
This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.): Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition. Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority. Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives. Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good. Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society). Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government. Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government. Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution. Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom. Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed. Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them. Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws). Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church. Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority. Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which sovereign power is formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a central authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units. Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives. Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam. Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people. Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat," to, finally, a classless society - Communism. Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries. Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority. Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power. Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament. Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function. Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament). Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable). Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation. Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing, and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite. Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority. Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority. Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population.
Rank country Government type Date of Information
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Rank code: 2129
Country Comparison :: Unemployment rate
This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
Rank country (%) Date of Information
1 Andorra 0.00 2007 2 Monaco 0.00 2005 3 Qatar 0.40 2008 est. 4 Azerbaijan 0.90 2008 est. 5 Guernsey 0.90 March 2006 est. 6 Uzbekistan 1.00 2008 est. 7 Faroe Islands 1.40 2007 8 Thailand 1.40 2008 est. 9 Isle of Man 1.50 December 2006 est. 10 Moldova 1.50 2008 est. 11 Liechtenstein 1.50 31 December 2007 12 Belarus 1.60 2005 13 Cuba 1.60 2008 est. 14 Iceland 1.60 2008 est. 15 Vanuatu 1.70 1999 16 Denmark 1.80 2008 est. 17 Papua New Guinea 1.90 2004 18 Kiribati 2.00 1992 est. 19 Seychelles 2.00 2006 est. 20 Bermuda 2.10 2004 est. 21 Jersey 2.20 2006 est. 22 Singapore 2.20 2008 est. 23 Kuwait 2.20 2004 est. 24 Tajikistan 2.30 2008 est. 25 United Arab Emirates 2.40 2001 26 Laos 2.40 2005 est. 27 Bangladesh 2.50 2008 est. 28 Bhutan 2.50 2004 29 Norway 2.60 2008 est. 30 Switzerland 2.60 2008 est. 31 Mongolia 2.80 2008 32 Gibraltar 3.00 2005 est. 33 Macau 3.00 2008 34 Ukraine 3.00 2008 est. 35 San Marino 3.10 2008 36 Guatemala 3.20 2005 est. 37 Korea, South 3.20 2008 est. 38 Malaysia 3.30 2008 est. 39 Cambodia 3.50 2007 est. 40 Honduras 3.50 2008 est. 41 Hong Kong 3.50 2008 est. 42 Cyprus 3.60 2008 est. 43 British Virgin Islands 3.60 1997 44 Brunei 3.70 2008 45 Austria 3.90 2008 est. 46 China 4.00 2008 est. 47 Mexico 4.00 2008 est. 48 Netherlands 4.00 2008 est. 49 Japan 4.00 2008 est. 50 Taiwan 4.10 2008 est. 51 Australia 4.20 2008 est. 52 Palau 4.20 2005 est. 53 New Zealand 4.20 2008 est. 54 Cayman Islands 4.40 2004 55 Luxembourg 4.40 2008 est. 56 Romania 4.40 2008 est. 57 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.50 1997 58 Trinidad and Tobago 4.60 2008 est. 59 Vietnam 4.70 2008 est. 60 Costa Rica 4.90 2008 est. 61 Nigeria 4.90 2007 est. 62 Burma 5.00 2008 est. 63 Namibia 5.00 2008 est. 64 Sri Lanka 5.20 2008 est. 65 Czech Republic 5.40 2008 est. 66 Paraguay 5.40 2008 est. 67 Nicaragua 5.60 2008 est. 68 Panama 5.60 2008 est. 69 United Kingdom 5.60 2008 est. 70 Estonia 5.70 2008 est. 71 Lithuania 5.80 2008 est. 72 United States 5.80 2008 est. 73 Montserrat 6.00 1998 est. 74 Malta 6.00 2008 est. 75 Israel 6.10 2008 est. 76 Canada 6.20 2008 est. 77 Sweden 6.20 2008 est. 78 Virgin Islands 6.20 2004 79 Bulgaria 6.30 2008 est. 80 Ireland 6.30 2008 est. 81 Finland 6.40 2008 est. 82 Russia 6.40 2008 est. 83 Kazakhstan 6.60 2008 est. 84 Slovenia 6.70 2008 est. 85 Italy 6.80 2008 est. 86 Aruba 6.90 2005 est. 87 El Salvador 6.90 2008 est. 88 Belgium 7.00 2008 est. 89 Armenia 7.10 2007 est. 90 European Union 7.20 2008 est. 91 Mauritius 7.20 2008 est. 92 Ecuador 7.30 2008 est. 93 France 7.40 2008 est. 94 Philippines 7.40 2008 est. 95 Venezuela 7.40 2008 est. 96 Botswana 7.50 2007 est. 97 Latvia 7.50 2008 est. 98 Bolivia 7.50 2008 est. 99 Bahamas, The 7.60 2006 est. 100 Fiji 7.60 1999 101 Uruguay 7.60 2008 est. 102 Portugal 7.60 2008 est. 103 Greece 7.70 2008 est. 104 Slovakia 7.70 2008 est. 105 Chile 7.80 2008 est. 106 Germany 7.80 2008 est. 107 Hungary 7.80 2008 est. 108 Argentina 7.90 2008 est. 109 Brazil 7.90 2008 est. 110 Anguilla 8.00 2002 111 Central African Republic 8.00 2001 est. 112 Northern Mariana Islands 8.00 2005 est. 113 Belize 8.10 2008 114 Peru 8.10 2008 est. 115 Indonesia 8.40 2008 est. 116 Syria 8.60 2008 est. 117 Egypt 8.70 2008 est. 118 India 9.10 2008 est. 119 Lebanon 9.20 2007 est. 120 Greenland 9.30 2005 est. 121 Morocco 9.50 2008 est. 122 Suriname 9.50 2004 123 Poland 9.80 2008 est. 124 Turks and Caicos Islands 10.00 1997 est. 125 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 10.30 1999 126 Barbados 10.70 2003 est. 127 Antigua and Barbuda 11.00 2001 est. 128 Ghana 11.00 2000 est. 129 Jamaica 11.00 2008 est. 130 Turkey 11.00 2008 est. 131 Guyana 11.00 2007 132 Colombia 11.30 2008 est. 133 Spain 11.30 2008 est. 134 French Polynesia 11.70 2005 135 Saudi Arabia 11.80 2008 est. 136 Niue 12.00 2001 137 Puerto Rico 12.00 2002 138 Albania 12.50 2008 est. 139 Iran 12.50 2008 est. 140 Grenada 12.50 2000 141 Jordan 12.60 2008 est. 142 Algeria 12.80 2008 est. 143 Tonga 13.00 FY03/04 est. 144 Cook Islands 13.10 2005 145 Georgia 13.60 2006 est. 146 Pakistan 13.60 2008 est. 147 Croatia 13.70 2008 est. 148 Saint Helena 14.00 1998 est. 149 Dominican Republic 14.10 2008 est. 150 Tunisia 14.10 2008 est. 151 Maldives 14.40 2006 est. 152 Montenegro 14.70 2007 est. 153 Bahrain 15.00 2005 est. 154 Oman 15.00 2004 est. 155 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15.00 2001 est. 156 Wallis and Futuna 15.20 2003 157 Netherlands Antilles 15.50 2002 est. 158 West Bank 16.30 2008 est. 159 New Caledonia 17.10 2004 160 Kyrgyzstan 18.00 2004 est. 161 Iraq 18.20 2008 est. 162 Sudan 18.70 2002 est. 163 Serbia 18.80 2007 est. 164 Comoros 20.00 1996 est. 165 Timor-Leste 20.00 2006 est. 166 Saint Lucia 20.00 2003 est. 167 Cape Verde 21.00 2000 est. 168 Gabon 21.00 2006 est. 169 Mozambique 21.00 1997 est. 170 Micronesia, Federated States of 22.00 2000 est. 171 South Africa 22.90 2008 est. 172 Dominica 23.00 2000 est. 173 Mayotte 25.40 2005 174 Bosnia and Herzegovina 29.00 2007 est. 175 American Samoa 29.80 2005 176 Cameroon 30.00 2001 est. 177 Mauritania 30.00 2008 est. 178 World 30.00 2007 est. 179 Mali 30.00 2004 est. 180 Libya 30.00 2004 est. 181 Equatorial Guinea 30.00 1998 est. 182 Macedonia 33.80 2008 est. 183 Yemen 35.00 2003 est. 184 Marshall Islands 36.00 2006 est. 185 Afghanistan 40.00 2008 est. 186 Swaziland 40.00 2006 est. 187 Kosovo 40.00 2007 est. 188 Kenya 40.00 2008 est. 189 Gaza Strip 41.30 June 2008 190 Lesotho 45.00 2002 191 Nepal 46.00 2008 est. 192 Senegal 48.00 2007 est. 193 Zambia 50.00 2000 est. 194 Djibouti 59.00 2007 est. 195 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 60.00 2000 est. 196 Turkmenistan 60.00 2004 est. 197 Burkina Faso 77.00 2004 198 Zimbabwe 80.00 2005 est. 199 Liberia 85.00 2003 est. 200 Nauru 90.00 2004 est.
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