Enforcing contracts: Filing and service (days) by country
The time for filing and service captures the time from the moment plaintiff decides to sue until defendant is served.
Countries reporting
191
Highest
200 days
East Timor
Lowest
6 days
Singapore
Median
30 days
Years covered
9
2011–2019
Data points
1,711
What the numbers show
Enforcing contracts: Filing and service (days) is currently reported for 191 countries. The highest value is 200 days in East Timor; the lowest is 6 days in Singapore.
The median across all reporting countries is 30 days, and the mean is 41.39 days.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 33.
Over the past decade 21 countries rose and 21 fell. The largest increase was in Panama (up 185.7%), and the largest decrease in Italy (down 75.0%).
Enforcing contracts: Filing and service: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Timor | 200 days | 2019 | up 42.9% | rising |
| 2 | Suriname | 165 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 3 | Venezuela | 150 days | 2019 | up 57.9% | rising |
| 4 | Micronesia (country) | 120 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Laos | 119 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 105 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 7 | Argentina | 90 days | 2019 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 7 | Guinea-Bissau | 90 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 7 | Mozambique | 90 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 7 | Sudan | 90 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 7 | Sao Tome and Principe | 90 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Czechia | 88 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 13 | Angola | 86 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 14 | Trinidad and Tobago | 85 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 15 | Pakistan | 83.4 days | 2019 | down 13.1% | falling |
| 16 | Peru | 80 days | 2019 | down 2.4% | flat |
| 17 | Seychelles | 75 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | North Macedonia | 70 days | 2019 | up 75.0% | rising |
| 18 | El Salvador | 70 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Slovakia | 70 days | 2019 | down 22.2% | falling |
| 21 | Chile | 69 days | 2019 | down 2.8% | flat |
| 22 | Colombia | 68 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 23 | Guatemala | 66 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Myanmar | 65 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 25 | Cambodia | 63 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Sri Lanka | 62 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Estonia | 60 days | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 27 | Greece | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Honduras | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Hungary | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Indonesia | 60 days | 2019 | down 64.7% | falling |
| 27 | Ireland | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Iraq | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Libya | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Moldova | 60 days | 2019 | up 42.9% | rising |
| 27 | Montenegro | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Nicaragua | 60 days | 2019 | down 32.6% | falling |
| 27 | Panama | 60 days | 2019 | up 185.7% | rising |
| 27 | Poland | 60 days | 2019 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 27 | Qatar | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Russia | 60 days | 2019 | up 46.3% | rising |
| 27 | Thailand | 60 days | 2019 | down 39.4% | falling |
| 27 | Tanzania | 60 days | 2019 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 27 | Kosovo | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) | 60 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 46 | Philippines | 58 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 46 | Syria | 58 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 48 | Tunisia | 55 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 49 | Romania | 52 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 50 | Marshall Islands | 51 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 51 | Belarus | 50 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 51 | Brunei | 50 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 51 | Spain | 50 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 51 | Croatia | 50 days | 2019 | up 56.2% | rising |
| 51 | Vietnam | 50 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 56 | Latvia | 49 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 57 | Ukraine | 48 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 58 | Albania | 45 days | 2019 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 58 | Cape Verde | 45 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 58 | Costa Rica | 45 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 58 | India | 45 days | 2019 | up 125.0% | rising |
| 58 | Iceland | 45 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 58 | Lesotho | 45 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 58 | Nepal | 45 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 58 | Palau | 45 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 58 | Solomon Islands | 45 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 58 | San Marino | 45 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Turkey | 44 days | 2019 | up 46.7% | rising |
| 69 | Gambia | 43 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 70 | Malawi | 42 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 71 | Brazil | 41 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Afghanistan | 40 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Bolivia | 40 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Switzerland | 40 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Eritrea | 40 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Kenya | 40 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Lithuania | 40 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Mauritania | 40 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Norway | 40 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Puerto Rico | 40 days | 2019 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 72 | Tajikistan | 40 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 82 | Ecuador | 38 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 83 | Mexico | 37.41 days | 2019 | down 10.9% | falling |
| 84 | Jordan | 37 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 85 | Fiji | 36 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 86 | Nigeria | 35.63 days | 2019 | down 15.2% | falling |
| 87 | Georgia | 35 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 87 | Malaysia | 35 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 87 | Senegal | 35 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 87 | Chad | 35 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 87 | Uruguay | 35 days | 2019 | down 53.3% | falling |
| 87 | Samoa | 35 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 93 | China | 32.75 days | 2019 | up 56.0% | rising |
| 94 | Armenia | 30 days | 2019 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 94 | Austria | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Benin | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Bangladesh | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Bahrain | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Belize | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Botswana | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Central African Republic | 30 days | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 94 | Canada | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Cameroon | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Djibouti | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Denmark | 30 days | 2019 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 94 | Ethiopia | 30 days | 2019 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 94 | Gabon | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | United Kingdom | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Hong Kong | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Haiti | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Iran | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Jamaica | 30 days | 2019 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 94 | Liberia | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Maldives | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Niger | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Papua New Guinea | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Portugal | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Paraguay | 30 days | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 94 | Saudi Arabia | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Sierra Leone | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Somalia | 30 days | 2019 | — | flat |
| 94 | Serbia | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Slovenia | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | United States | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Uzbekistan | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Vanuatu | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Yemen | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | South Africa | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 94 | Taiwan | 30 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Germany | 29 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 133 | Grenada | 28 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 133 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 28 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 133 | Oman | 28 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 133 | South Sudan | 28 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 133 | Sweden | 28 days | 2019 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 138 | Azerbaijan | 27 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 139 | Kuwait | 26 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 140 | Cote d'Ivoire | 25 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 140 | Palestine | 25 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 142 | Togo | 23 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Burundi | 22 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | France | 22 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | United Arab Emirates | 21 days | 2019 | down 43.2% | falling |
| 145 | Antigua and Barbuda | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Burkina Faso | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Comoros | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Dominica | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Algeria | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Guinea | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Guyana | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Saint Lucia | 21 days | 2019 | up 90.9% | rising |
| 145 | Luxembourg | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Madagascar | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Zambia | 21 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Bahamas | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Barbados | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Bhutan | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Cyprus | 20 days | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 157 | Dominican Republic | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Egypt | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Equatorial Guinea | 20 days | 2019 | down 28.6% | falling |
| 157 | Japan | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Kyrgyzstan | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Kiribati | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | South Korea | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Morocco | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Rwanda | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Uganda | 20 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 172 | Congo | 18 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Belgium | 15 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Ghana | 15 days | 2019 | up 114.3% | rising |
| 173 | Israel | 15 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Kazakhstan | 15 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Lebanon | 15 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Mali | 15 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Malta | 15 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Mauritius | 15 days | 2019 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 181 | Australia | 14 days | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 181 | Finland | 14 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 181 | Mongolia | 14 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 181 | Eswatini | 14 days | 2019 | down 53.3% | falling |
| 181 | Zimbabwe | 14 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 186 | Italy | 10 days | 2019 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 186 | Namibia | 10 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 186 | Netherlands | 10 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 189 | New Zealand | 7 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 189 | Tonga | 7 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 191 | Singapore | 6 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
About this data
The time for filing and service captures the time from the moment plaintiff decides to sue until defendant is served.