At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Maldives

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku *
• Head of Government: President Mohammed WAHEED Hasssan Maniku
• Assembly: Maldives has a unicameral People's Council (Majlis) with 77 seats.

* On February 7, 2012, Maldives President Mohamed NASHEED stepped down amidst political unrest. Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku assumed the office of President.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 5-year term.
• In the People's Council (Majlis) 77 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.***

*** In February 2009, the number of seats increased from 50 to 77.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Mohamed NASHEED
  • Party: Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) / ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ
• Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku**
  • Independent(s): Independent
• Qasim IBRAHIM
  • Party: Republican Party / Jumhooree Party (JP)
• Abdulla YAMEEN
  • Party: Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) / ޕްރޮގްރެސިވް ޕާރޓީ އޮފް މޯލްޑިވްސް: ޕީ.ޕީ.އެމް

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 393,988 (July 2013 est.)
• Registered Voters: 239,593 (September 2013)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 195,943 (2013)

·         Is Maldives a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Maldives ratified CEDAW: Yes, acession (1 July 1993)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: No

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 5 (following the 2009 parliamentary elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 104 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Maldives a signatory to CRPD: Yes (2 October 2007)

·         Has Maldives ratified CRPD: Yes (5 April 2010)

·         Population with a disability: 59,098 (est.)