At stake in this election:

• 31 seats in the House of Representatives

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II *
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA
• Assembly: Belize has a bicameral National Assembly consisting of the Senate with 12 seats and the House of Representatives with 31 seats.

* Queen ELIZABETH II is represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr.

Description of electoral system:

• The Queen is N/A N/A.
• In the Senate 12 members are appointed by the governor-general to serve 5-year terms. In the House of Representatives 31 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 5-year terms.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: People's United Party (PUP)
  • Leader: Said MUSA
  • Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 6
  • Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 22
• Party: United Democratic Party (UDP)
  • Leader: Dean BARROW
  • Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 25
  • Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 7
• Party: National Reform Party (NRP)
  • Leader: Cornelius DUECK
  • Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 0
  • Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 0
• Party: National Belizean Alliance (NBA)
  • Leader: William MEHEIA
  • Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 0
  • Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 0
• Party: Vision Inspired by the People (VIP)
  • Leader: Paul MORGAN
  • Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 0
  • Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 0

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 294,385 (July 2007 est.)
• Registered Voters: 156,993 (January 2008 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 114,319 (1998)

·         Is Belize a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (7 March 1990)

·         Has Belize ratified CEDAW: Yes (16 May 1990)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 0 (House of Representatives; 5 (Senate) (following 2008 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 101 (2014)

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

Disability Data:

·         Is Belize a signatory to CRPD: Yes (9 May 2011)

·         Has Belize ratified CRPD: Yes (2 June 2011)

·         Population with a disability: 44,157 (est.)